#SHOWBIZ: Fiza stays at helm as WHI gets total revamp

VETERAN television presenter and executive producer Fiza Sabjahan has revealed that her plans to step down from TV3's long-running flagship talk show, 'Wanita Hari Ini' (WHI), have been put on hold due to advertiser demand and strong viewer support.

Having fronted the popular programme since 2010, Fiza admitted she had originally planned for this to be her final year in front of the camera.

However, a combination of divine timing, warm audience reception and ongoing commercial commitments convinced her to stay at the helm.

STAYING BY POPULAR DEMAND

"Since last year, I had planned for 2026 to perhaps be my final year. But this is a blessing from God, and the audience response has been wonderful — Praise be to God, they still accept me.

"Beyond that, we have existing commitments with clients that must be honoured," she shared during a recent media gathering at Balai Berita to unveil the show's new format and presenter line-up.

TV3 and TV9 Content and Audience Strategy general manager Khairunnisa Kamarulzaman confirmed Fiza had repeatedly expressed a desire to retire from her hosting duties on WHI.

However, management urged her to stay, citing her irreplaceable presence and strong pull with sponsors.

"Fiza has voiced her intention to step down many times, but we asked her to remain with WHI because no one can replace her right now," Khairunnisa said.

"Many sponsors still insist on Fiza handling their promotional segments. Even when we suggest other hosts, they specifically ask for her. When Fiza is absent, they inevitably ask where she is."

MENTORING THE NEXT GENERATION

Khairunnisa stressed that Fiza's leadership remains essential for mentoring the next generation of presenters. While WHI is actively nurturing new talent, no single host is ready to take over her mantle just yet, making her presence crucial to guiding the fresh crew.

For her part, Fiza clarified that her goal is not to produce carbon copies of herself, but to give incoming hosts space to carve out their own distinct broadcasting styles.

To facilitate this transition, her on-screen appearances have been deliberately scaled back, allowing her to balance off-camera executive producer duties while opening doors for new talent.

Reflecting on the show's evolution over the years, Fiza acknowledged that she learns plenty from her younger co-hosts.

Since she first joined the programme over a decade ago, the viewership demographic has shifted significantly, prompting a move away from rigid, formal hosting towards a warmer, more spontaneous and conversational tone.

NEW SUNDAY FORMAT UNVEILED

First launched on Jan 1, 2001, WHI recently underwent a major structural overhaul to adapt to changing media habits, with audiences spending more time on social and digital platforms.

Under the new schedule, WHI now broadcasts as a robust, one-hour showcase every Sunday from 2pm to 3pm in the former Nona timeslot, allowing the production team to conduct deeper research and deliver higher-impact episodes.

The weekday broadcasts have been replaced by drama programming, though the essence of WHI lives on digitally and through short five-minute daily capsules titled WHI 5.

The refreshed show features an all-female line-up designed to represent a broader cross-section of women, spanning Gen-Z newcomers to established personalities over 40.

Addressing the departure of long-time co-host Fahrin Ahmad, Khairunnisa said the change was purely strategic rather than contractual, aligning with the show's new all-female directive as Fahrin moves on to other projects.

TACKLING TOUGH SOCIETAL ISSUES

Despite the structural shift, Fiza affirmed that WHI will continue with hard-hitting features on societal issues and trending online topics.

The season premiere explored the complex issue of closeted husbands, adapting on the fly with pre-recorded accounts when their scheduled guest withdrew at the last minute.

Fiza added that moving to a weekly Sunday slot will also allow them to expand their enhanced community outreach — a core pillar developed over the last two years.

IMPRESSIVE RATINGS AND REACH

WHI remains Malaysia's premier women's talk show, attracting an average television audience of 600,000 to 700,000 viewers, with peak episodes pulling in up to two million.

Its digital footprint is equally formidable, regularly crossing the one-million-views mark.

The programme also features segments like WHI Trend, WHI Cantik, WHI Menu, WHI Curhat, WHI Kasih and Pesona Nona, which provide fresh, vibrant content.

The new line-up sees fresh faces Hanna Faresha, Nurin Razmyn and Izza Izelan joining veteran hosts Fiza, Syahira Izzaty and Sugeeta Chandran.