Throng

Official data detailing August’s viewing behaviour shows 3 News has lost to ONE News in its own target demographic for the first time since the Beijing Olympics.

The average audience across the month of August 2010 shows that ONE News had 205,190 viewers aged 18-49 watching the main 6pm bulletin every evening compared to 198,650 viewers in the same age group watching 3 News.  July data showed ONE and 3 News were neck and neck with ONE News just slightly behind in TV3’s own target demographic.

The last time ONE News beat 3 News in 18-49 age group was in August 2008 (during the Beijing Olympics).

Total viewership data for all news and current affairs television programmes during August on FTA is detailed below.

AVERAGE TELEVISION NEWS VIEWERSHIP FOR AUGUST 2010

Television New Zealand today reported underlying earnings1 of $12.9 million for the financial year to 30 June 2010, a $2.8 million (28%) increase on the previous financial year.

TVNZ Chief Executive Rick Ellis said today that the company would be paying a dividend to the Shareholder of $4.87 million, an uplift on the previous year dividend of $1.47 million.

Mr Ellis said the performance of the company, in the middle of the media industry’s greatest international downturn, had been very pleasing.

“The hard work of management and staff to respond rapidly to the downturn in advertising revenue, to reduce costs and maintain advertising market share have produced this great result.”

The International Netball Series between the Silver Ferns and Australia will screen LIVE on TV ONE with the first test in this much anticipated series getting underway this Sunday afternoon.
 
The afternoon game LIVE from Adelaide will begin at 5pm (NZT) which will mean the delay of the news on Sunday evening.  A half hour bulletin of ONE News will be broadcast at the conclusion of the netball, expected to be around 7pm.
 
The second test will screen on Thursday September 2nd at 7.30pm from Wellington and the third is scheduled for Sunday September 5th at 4pm from the Vector Arena in Auckland and will have concluded by 6pm.

TVNZ's website tvnz.co.nz has taken out Best Media Site at the 2010 NetGuide Web Awards.

The website beat off its two major competitors, nzherald.co.nz and stuff.co.nz for the prestigious award last night in Auckland.

The NetGuide Web Awards are voted on by the public, and more than 200,000 votes were received across the categories.

“I’m still buzzing as there’s no greater accolade than winning an award that’s voted for by our users”, said TVNZ’s General Manager of Digital Media Tom Cotter.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for us, it really means a lot. For us it’s all about providing the best multiplatform media experience possible and it’s a great thing to have those efforts recognised."

TV ONE meteorologist, Karen Olsen will make a little bit of history this evening with the first live broadcast from Antarctica during winter.

Karen and Christchurch-based cameraman James Marshall were the first media to be allowed on a winter flight to the ice and they landed in Scott Base yesterday.

“Over the next few days Karen will be reporting from Antarctica, this is a trip of a lifetime for her and a place she’s wanted to visit since she was a kid”, says ONE News Editor, Paul Patrick.

“Tonight Karen will present the first live broadcast from Antarctica during winter about 6:20pm, she will also be talking to some of the kiwi scientists who have wintered-over studying the weather and looking at climate change”.

ONE News’ Australian correspondent, Steve Marshall has been elected as president of the Foreign Correspondents Association of Australia & South Pacific.

“Steve’s election is terrific recognition for a journalist who thrives on the difficult stories. He is pushing the boundaries of what a journalist should do in the field, with his ability to report, shoot and cut (tape-edit) his own stories. He is an asset to TVNZ and we hope he can gain much from his presidency”, says ONE News Editor Paul Patrick.

Marshall was elected to the position last Thursday at the FCA’s 2010 Annual General Meeting in Sydney where the membership elected a new board for its 25th year of incorporation.

TVNZ and NZ On Air are delighted to announce the commissioning of the telemovie, Panic At Rock Island. A joint venture between Wellington's Gibson Group and Sydney's Goalpost Pictures, the telemovie is for Channel 9 in Australia and TV2 in New Zealand.

Panic At Rock Island will star top Kiwi talent Grant Bowler (True Blood, Ugly Betty, Outrageous Fortune), Simone Kessell (Stickmen, Underbelly: A Tale Of Two Cities) and Anna Hutchison (TV2's Go Girls).

It will also include performances by top New Zealand acts Smashproof and Gin Wigmore.

TVNZ General Manager of Programming Jane Wilson says: "We are thrilled to be bringing viewers this quality production and commend Gibson Group and Goalpost Pictures on this successful partnership."

Legendary Kiwi chef Josh Emett will be joining Simon Gault and Ray McVinnie for series two of the local version of the worldwide hit format screening early next year on TV ONE.

Emett is no stranger to pressure in the kitchen having successfully run restaurants for Gordon Ramsay in London, New York, Los Angeles and now Melbourne where he has opened Ramsay’s first two restaurants in Australia – maze and maze Grill.

Emett has conquered kitchens across the globe, picking up four prized Michelin stars along the way. He is guaranteed to fire up the temperature in the MasterChef kitchen.