Are audience ratings still relevant?

Campbell Live, TV3's longrunning 7pm current affairs show broadcast its final episode on the 29th May 2015. Three's main rival, TVNZ, had already replaced Campbell Live's equivalent, Close Up, with Seven Sharp, billed as more dynamic and interactive than its predecessor.  Both channels responded to their critics by claiming Campbell Live and Close Up were failing to attract the lifeblood of commercial TV: ratings. But should news be forced to compete with entertainment-only media such as live sport or scripted TV? Should programming be based solely on ratings or does news have an importance that transcends financial concerns? 95bFM reporter Ben Goldson speaks to Associate Professor Geoff Lealand of Waikato University and Senior Lecturer Peter Thompson of Victoria.