Jury still out on Naked News bulletin

DAVID WHITE/Sunday Star-Times

TAKE IT OFF: Alt TV's Lisa Lewis is New Zealand's first naked newsreader.

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Uplifting or a flop? It is too early to tell how well topless newsreading will hold up with New Zealand television viewers.

It was not yet known how many people tuned in to see former bikini streaker Lisa Lewis read the news naked on Monday night but thousands were watching online, Alt TV says.

Lewis took to the air as New Zealand's first TV naked newsreader on Alt TV's Naked News Flash at 10pm.

Her appearance was preceded by an "adults only" warning, and then Lewis appeared topless and read a few brief items.

She then crossed to naked weather man Levi, claimed by his own website to be "Auckland's hottest male stripper".

Thane Kirby of Alt TV said he thought the first broadcast went well.

Viewer numbers would not be available for a week, he said.

"But we had 3500 people on our stream (watching live online), which is quite big."

This was a higher number than would generally be watching the channel online, he said.

Mr Kirby was told by a rock based radio station that it had received some good feedback from listeners.

He said it was Lewis' first night and she had had to learn new skills, like reading off an autoprompter.

"I think she is going to be a bit more relaxed as the shows roll on," he said.

"She'll deliver it probably with more personality, once you get your head around the whole reading part of it."

A Broadcasting Standards Authority spokeswoman said she was not aware of any complaints being received as yet.

The procedure for complaints was that they were made to the broadcaster in the first instance, then passed on to the authority.

Lewis made her name when she ran on to the pitch during the All Black vs Ireland rugby test in Hamilton in 2006 wearing only a bikini.

For that escapade she was charged with disorderly behaviour and fined $200, court costs $130, though she was reported to have collected $4010 when she auctioned the bikini she wore.

Despite the colder weather being upon us, last night's show was just the latest in a flurry of incidents of nudity making the news in recent days.

Topless waitress Thursdays at a Manurewa bar have angered several city councillors who want the place shut down.

Jo's Place in the Southmall shopping centre recently introduced the topless nights but Manurewa councillors last week called the stunt "tacky and demeaning".

This week images of a topless, teenage New Zealand model in an Australian magazine have led to it being investigated.

Lifestyle and fashion magazine Russh Australia hired 16-year-old Auckland teen Zippora Seven for an 18-page fashion spread with Levi Clarke,
also 16.

One image showed the pair in a bubble bath, with four bottles of champagne visible, and Zippora also appeared in the magazine riding a horse topless.

-NZPA