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TV3 reverses decision to can 'Underbelly' after uproar

complaints from viewers.

The network earlier said it was pulling the show from its 9.30pm Sunday slot because of weak ratings.

nzherald.co.nz received feedback from many incensed viewers after reporting the decision (below) this morning.

TV3 now says it will resume showing the drama this Sunday at 9.30pm with the fourth episode.

A spokeswoman said the network will monitor audience numbers for the next couple of weeks but would not rule out scrapping the show again if viewership did not pick up.

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Sunday night's Underbelly was compulsory viewing here in the Herald office, but apparently not everyone approached the drama with such fervour.

TV3 has announced it will scrap the show from its Sunday night line-up, just three episodes in, after it failed to perform "as expected in the timeslot".

Last Sunday, the programme pulled in just 188,000 viewers compared with the 224,000 viewers that tuned in for the season premiere.

We're not sure what people were watching instead of the critically acclaimed drama but we can guarantee it wasn't as good.

Based on the real-life events of the Melbourne gangland wars, the compulsive crime show rated strongly in Australia, despite not screening in Victoria, where it was banned due to pending legal proceedings.

The series starred a host of top acting talent, including Blue Heelers actress Caroline Craig, former Home and Away stars Les Hill and Rodger Corser, and New Zealand's Callan Mulvey (currently seen on Home and Away as bad boy Johnny Cooper).

TV3 confirmed the series will return later in the year but will be rescheduled to a different time slot. American paint-by-numbers crime series Numb3rs will replace the Aussie series from this weekend onwards. Oh goody.

BY NZ Herald Staff
April 16, 2008
New Zealand Herald