"Hostage drama coverage draws ire of 'Coronation St' fans

TV One cut into its scheduled programmes at 9.20pm on Friday to screen the CNN coverage of Russian troops storming the school in North Ossetia being held by Chechen rebels.

Most advertising breaks were abandoned and the network's normal programming did not return until 11.30pm.

A TVNZ spokeswoman said the decision caused a flurry of calls from viewers complaining they had lost the last 10 minutes of Coronation St Secrets: Undressed.

She said some viewers complained the action had nothing to do with New Zealand and so should not cost them their normal Friday evening viewing"