Three Sharpens Axe for 7pm Project

News of The Project’s axing has led to tonight’s show being canned — and possibly the rest of the programme’s run.

The pre-emption follows revelations that Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to replace The Project with a new format. A WBD spokesperson is quoted as saying “we have commenced consultation to discontinue The Project on Three from the end of the year”.

The show is off-air tonight “to give time to staff to digest the news” – but a question mark hangs over its return given it’s being replaced with a re-run of Bay Patrol, from episode one of season one.

“If the proposed change is confirmed, we will design a redefined news show in the 7pm time slot as part of the broader Newshub proposition,” outgoing news director Sarah Bristow said in an email to staff.

The Project has occasionally rivalled Seven Sharp in the 25-54 ratings but has never seriously challenged its reign.

“The Project has served Newshub and Three incredibly well since its commission back in 2017,” Brostow said, “however, audience behaviour has changed dramatically since that time.”

Changes to 7pm on Three are part of WBD’s move from a broadcast model to one that’s digitally-led and drives “online engagement as we have successfully done with Paddy Gower Has Issues,” Bristow said.

“There are no proposed format changes to other Newshub shows.”

In other WBD programming news, Eden is replacing Selling Ireland’s Most Expensive Homes with The Secret Life of the Airport (8.30 Tuesdays from November 7).