Throng

PRIME’s coverage of the Olympic Games increased PRIME’s audience share by more than 39% compared to 2009.

Over 2.3 million kiwis viewed the Winter Olympics on PRIME - the Opening Ceremony alone reached an audience of more than 500,000 (all 5+) with the Closing Ceremony being viewed LIVE by over a quarter of million people.

The most popular events were Figure Skating which peaked with 20% of the audience (over 200,000 people), followed by Downhill Skiing and the Luge.

Why do we have to be subjected to idiots masked as sports presenters who think they're so funny when all we want is some proper expert analysis/commentary on sport? I'm mainly talking about The Crowd Goes Wild. Why can't they just give us a proper sports show? Are Sky TV really that mean-spirited that they want us to endure this lame show rather than give us a decent half hour review of recent sports games/competitions?

As part of Prime TV's coverage of Winter Olympics they've also brought along some guy with black, thick-rimmed glasses to ask for their opinion. I have no idea who he is but from what is coming out of his mouth I'm guessing he thinks he's funny.

Crowd Goes Wild and that guy have been the only blip on what has been decent coverage of the Winter Olympics by Prime.

The thing I love about hanging with the folk at Prime is that while they are genuinely nice people, they really love television.  I mean, they really love television.  So much so that they're quite comfortable acknowledging that they're self confessed TV geeks.  Listening to the banter between the presenters at their 2010 Season Launch definitely cemented that.

Prime has experienced some pretty good growth this year, recently achieving its highest peak share.  One can only assume 2010 will see that peak moved higher with a fantastic lineup as well as the Winter Olympics.

So what's on the cards for next year?  Check out the list below and let us know what you think:

New Shows

Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics - 6am - 6pm daily

When TiVo goes on sale in a weeks time, although you'll be able to watch Prime and Maori Television you won't be able to view the listing information or program any shows to record from either of the channels.

Both Maori Television and Sky have refused to allow their listings to appear in the TiVo EPG.  Some are speculating that Maori Television's decision is based on the 2011 Rugby World Cup broadcast rights but the official line is that there just wasn't a compelling business case.

Sky are "slightly uncomfortable" with TiVo's exclusive arrangement with Telecom while they prefer to partner with all internet service providers.  On top of that, TiVo isn't planning on measuring ratings data until 2012 which would likely be the incentive both broadcasters needed in order for the scenario to change.

I think Prime deserves some belated credit for bringing us True Blood as quickly as they could and also bringing back Mad Men on the first of November, only ten or so weeks after it's premiere in the States.

I don't know whether their quick moving is reflected in ratings but I think TVNZ and TV3, who are struggling with low ad revenues, should start figuring out ways to close the gap between U.S. and N.Z. air times. I believe this will become more and more of an issue as broadband speeds (arguably) become faster and more people start using P2P software.

I know for a fact that True Blood being on air has saved me from the temptation of downloading it.

Well done Prime and keep it up!

SKY TV is moving to expand its programming roles as part of a commitment to developing its in-house channel management team.

Current Prime Channel Manager Karen Bieleski has been promoted to the newly created position of Head of General Entertainment and Prime, overseeing SKY’s in-house channels Prime, The Box, Vibe and Arts.

Prime’s Associate Channel Manager Kathy Wright will move up to the position of Channel Manager Prime.

SKY’s Director of Entertainment Programming, Travis Dunbar, says “SKY’s in-house channels are not only a crucial part of our offerings to viewers, but also an area of expanding importance to the company going forward. As such, the time is right to take a broader management view of their operation.

Over the last 10 years, NZ TV has lost the magic it once had. And maybe it's just the people at TVNZ and the other networks, but it's lacking color and shape.

TVNZ should at least get The Goodnight Kiwi back on air.

The production on most NZ shows, (if not, all of them), is absolute crap! It's no wonder shows like NZ idol get cut. It's called low level production. L.L.P, + bad outline,= a sh*t show. Nobody like's that.

Someone like Pat Mesii, (mentor), should sort them out. Someone should say to them this...

"HEY, NZ T.V SUCKS RIGHT NOW! AND BECAUSE OF THAT, PEOPLE ARE NOT WATCHING IT! SO YOU HAVE TO IMPROVE THE STANDARD TO GET MORE PEOPLE WATCHING TV AGAIN!"

I'm not saying NZ TV is the worst kind, what I'm saying is that I think that it can improve. We need less dramas, more entertainment shows.

Hey, wouldn't it be nice if there was a Litterman type show in NZ?