TV2

TV2 continues to be the channel of choice for 18-39-year-olds, reaching an impressive milestone on Saturday night by achieving 150 consecutive weeks in the number one ratings spot for this demographic. 

The big hitters amongst this demographic are local drama Shortland Street, and the comedy Wednesday line up of Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory. Research shows that in the past 150 weeks, 44 of the 50 highest rating series’ were screened on TV2*, and 143 of the 150 most watched episodes among 18-39 year olds have been on TV2*.

Head of TV ONE and TV2 Jeff Latch says that TV2 is the consistent hit channel with outstanding comedies, dramas and movies, both locally and internationally.

“We have positioned TV2 as the home of entertainment, and this fantastic achievement cements it as Kiwis’ favourite channel. This has been made possible by a commitment from the entire TV2 team from programming to marketing to commissioning to promo directors.”

Head of Sales and Marketing Paul Maher says this achievement highlights TVNZ’s ability to deliver consistent high ratings to its customers.

“We strive to deliver value across our entire schedule, every day of the week, week in and week out. TV2′s achievement is testament to this; we are not relying on one programme, or one night to deliver ratings.”

TV2 Programmer John Kelly says the best is yet to come.

“The distributors and production houses that we work with continue to deliver us outstanding content, and the whole TV2 team are excited about the fantastic line up of shows that we are launching in New Season 2012.”

Other big success stories for TV2 have been Neighbours at War, Desperate Housewives, Hot in Cleveland, My Kitchen Rules, Police Ten 7, Grey’s Anatomy and Motorway Patrol, all shows that will be returning in 2012. They will be joined by new shows that are already proving popular in the US, such as Once Upon a Time, Two Broke Girls and Revenge.

So far in 2011, 19 of the most watched 20 programmes in the 18-39 demographic have been on TV2.**

We’ve tried to to make kiwi reality TV, we’ve gave it our best shot, but was it worth the ride? Depends on how you look at it. I think we don’t have the skills, or the brains to do so. We are not there with the Americans or the British, (a.k.a, Poms).

For example, let’s look at NZ Idol. At the time when it was coming out, lots of people got excited, because we’d saw the American and Australian version. But when they made the kiwi version, did it had the same effect? Was it as nearly as good? No. Because A: it was cheap, B: there was hardly anyone good enough to become a pop star, and C: it had average ratings. Not to mention the people who won disappeared and became a laughing stock. Ben Lumis and Rosita Vai brought out one album each. As for Matt Sonnua, he just put out a single. Blow that for a joke.

It might as well not have been made at all. Because all it did was put them down. It’s a kind of sad story.

What about Dancing With The Stars. Slightly happier story. It was a fun show to watch. (I just liked it because Jason Gunn hosted it.) But it got axed because TVNZ didn’t have the money to make it anymore. A perfectly good excuse. But on the same token, it could’ve lasted one more season. (Just an opinion.)

So, then came Stars In Their Eyes. Ahhhh yes. Weird weird story. It had so much potential. Only lasted two seasons. I’ve only seen clips off YouTube, so I can’t say much. I moved to Australia just before it was on.

Last but not least come New Zealand’s Got Talent. Again, I can’t say much because I moved to Oz, but I’ve seen clips on YouTube, but to be honest, I didn’t like it that much. I kind of envied it. I wasn’t happy that it was on Prime, because I didn’t think it would get enough ratings. But it did alright I guess.

Again, this is just my opinion, not everybody has the same point of view. So please share your opinion.

Have a fantastic day.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority has labelled TV2’s decision to edit out expletives in the first few scenes of a movie on Sunday night as unnecessary.

TV2 edited the beginning of the comedy movie Zack and Miri Make a Porno, which began at 9pm, due to the fact it was preceded by a family-friendly show in My Kitchen Rules.

The first 17 minutes of the movie were edited accordingly due to the transition between the G-rated cooking show and the AO movie.

Many viewers took to Twitter to vent their frustration that the movie was edited despite airing in an adults-only timeslot.

BSA chief executive Dominic Sheehan says TV2 are passing the blame.

“They can’t put that onto us as the Broadcasting Standards Authority.

“If the viewing public is saying ‘we don’t want anything censored from 9pm onwards they should be listening to the viewing public.

“To me they’re using the BSA as a shield here. You certainly can’t say ‘we can’t do that because the BSA says we can’t’ in this circumstance. There is no precedent to show that.”

However, TV2 argues that the BSA influenced the decision.

“It’s not because we liked the extra editing work – BSA rules about going from a family show into AO,” said TV2 Twitter editor Chris Hooper.

Source: Herald

TVNZ has begun to roll out their “One Love” campaign for the upcoming Rugby World Cup this year alongwith a range of new idents for 2011 on both TV One and TV2.

Here is the full set of TV One and TV2 idents for 2011 created by Spicer & Martin Ltd.

Rugby World Cup One love #2:

Rugby World Cup One love #3:

 

TV One idents:

TV One – travel:

TV One – NZ:

TV One – laugh:

TV One – Family:

TV One – Tamati:

TV One: Colours:

TV One: Marcus:

TV One – Food:

TV One – Jim:

 

TV2 idents:

TV2 – The Bomb:

TV2 – The Kiss:

TV2 – The Trip:

TV2 – The Tease:

TV2 – The 5 Second Rule:

TV2 – The Birthday Party:

This week TV2 reached an impressive milestone when it hit a century by achieving 100 consecutive weeks of the highest ratings among 18-39 year olds.

TV2 continues to be the channel 18-39 year olds want to watch as it dominates the ratings and serves up the biggest and most entertaining shows year after year. This year, 19 of the top 20 programmes among 18-39 year olds have been on TV2. Top performers include Grey’s Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, Two And A Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, and local hits Go Girls, Shortland Street and Motorway Patrol.

Head of TV ONE and TV2 Jeff Latch says that this milestone proves that TV2 has got the right formula for its audience.

“TV2 aims to be the biggest and most entertaining channel and audiences are proving with their remotes that we are achieving this result. Our programming team have done a sterling job formatting our schedule to feature all the biggest returning hits, the biggest new shows – both locally and internationally, and big line-ups that viewers clearly want to watch week after week. We are 18-39 year olds first choice for entertainment.”

Head of Sales and Marketing, Paul Maher, says this ratings coup highlights TVNZ’s ability to deliver consistent high ratings to its customers.

“We strive to deliver value for money across our entire schedule, every day of the week, week in and week out. TV2′s achievement is testament to this; we are not relying on one programme, or one night to deliver ratings.

“I am confident our 2011 programming line-up will continue this winning trend with newcomers, the international sensation No Ordinary Family, and new comedy Better With You as well as returning proven performers Cougar Town, Two And A Half Men, and local hits Go Girls and Shortland Street will continue to deliver viewers programming they love and in return deliver to our customers high ratings.” 

 

What is going on with TV2!

Looking at the TV listings it seems almost every night on TV2 there are double episodes everywhere! The 2x Mentalist on Monday, 2x The Apprentice on Tuesday, 2x Two & a Half Men & 2x Chuck on Wednesday and 2x Vampire Diaries on Thursday! Understandably these shows generally pull in good audiences but it’s a little cheap to just double up the episodes to burn through the seasons! And what shows will replace these ones they finish? This just goes to show the TV Schedule person for TV2 is doing a terrible job!

Fridays on TV2 are terrible, what tacky TV choices, lucky TV3 have got it sorted! TV2 put fairly popular shows on the weekend daytime schedule (Gossip Girl, Greek), yet they could actually capture that audience during the week in prime time slots. They need to rethink the February New Season launch and bring the airing dates closer to the US, Australia seems to be doing this and it’s a great idea to help combat people just watching them online. Surely if TV3 can play Glee & The Event semi-close to their original air dates TV2 can do the same. And why put shows such as Smallville & Ghost Whisperer at 10:30 when their core audience are in bed by that time!

TV2 are in serious trouble next year with TV3 and Four(C4) revitalising their schedules to bring us new and exciting shows. After seeing what TV2 has purchased things are looking that exciting! I’m a big fan of TV2 and am saddened by how poor their current schedule is. It’ll be time soon when they put movies on every night like years previously. Time to step up TV2 and sort things out, February is too far away!

Anyone know what the music is that TV2′s using?

To mark 50 years of television in NZ, TVNZ has trawled back through the archives and compiled a list of the most notable programs to have graced our screens over the past five decades.

Divided into decade blocks, this list features some cracker shows but also one or two that should never have made it to TV in the first place.

Check it out below.

1960s Programmes:

Sportsroom – fronted by lan Richards

Lassie

Boyd Q.C

Have a Shot – Auckland talent programme hosted by Ian Watkins

The Stranger – first drama production

I Love Lucy

Perry Mason

On Safari

Children’s Corner – with Judy-Ann and Fergie Fang the snake puppet

Entertaining with Kerr – Graham Kerr cooks cordon bleu

Club Columbus – begins with 19 year old Ray Columbus.

The Flintstones

Clutch Cargo

Rawhide

Dr. Kildare

The Loretta Young Show

Note for Note – John Daly compares this music quiz show

Z Cars

Bonanza

Steptoe and Son

Mr. Ed

Compass – fronted by Alan Morris

The Dick Van Dyke Show

Petticoat Junction

Dr Who

Huckleberry Hound

New Faces – John Daly compares a variety show featuring up and coming NZ talent

Night Sky – Fronted by Peter Reid, a monthly astronomy show.

Golden Disc Awards – Loxene Golden Disc Awards Shows

Peyton Place

Town and Around – begins a long running season in all 4 centers.

Get Smart

The Avengers

The Dean Martin Show

The Man from U.N.C.L.E

The Andy Griffith Show

On Camera – Presents topics of particular appeal to women

Forsythe Saga

Rolf Harris Show

Bewitched

Big Valley

Studio One – a talent quest for performers involving viewer participation

Rugby Racing and Beer – episode of Looking at NZ, item looking at average man set to music

Mission Impossible

Black and White Minstrel Show

The Frost Report

Ironside

Disneyland

The Seekers

Cilla

The Untouchables 
 

1970s Programmes:

Happen In – Music show hosted by Peter Sinclair

Ngaio Marsh Television Playwriting Competition

Do Re Max – Max Cryer fronts children’s programme

Tank Busters – features Bruno Lawrence, Geoff Murphy University students break into a safe

Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau

Marcus Welby M.D

Softly Softly

Column Comment – fronted by Hamish Keith

Personality Squares – hosted by Les Andrews

Name of The Game

This Day – examines issues of the day, fronted by Rhys Jones, Craig Little, Karen Jackman, John Bowler and Ian Watkins

Dad’s Army

Monty Python Flying Circus

The Two Ronnies

Onedin Line

Boney

Alias Smith and Jones

All In The Family

Black Beauty

Tangata Whenua – by Michael King, produced by Pacific Pictures, endeavours to help Pakeha understand Maori

Tom Brown’s School Days

M*A*S*H

Upstairs Downstairs

Barlow at Large

Close to Home – locally produced regular drama

The Inventors – features both Australian and New Zealand inventions

Opportunity Knocks  – local talent show

Fred Dagg: The Wonderful World of Fred Dag

The Pallisers

Colditz

The Six Million Dollar Man

Kojak

The Basil Brush Show

It’s In the Bag – rates as the top entertainment show

Bon Appétit – Des Britain’s cooking show

Friday Conference – with Gordon Dryden is the first current affairs show to regularly use studio audiences

Bill and Boyd – Variety show featuring well known NZers

Top Town
Poldark

Porridge

Starsky and Hutch

Benson & Hedges Fashion Awards – fashion design awards

A Week of It

The Generation Game

The Muppet Show

George and Mildred

The Planet of The Apes

The Invisible Man

When the Boat Comes In

Question Mark – presented by Sharon Crosbie & Gordon Dryden

The Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin

Are You Being Served?

I, Claudius

Rumpole of the Bailey

Children of Fire Mountain – the third ‘Kidult’ series from South Pacific Television

The Professionals

Who Pays The Ferryman

Happy Days

Soap

George and Mildred 
 
 
1980s Programmes:

Mortimer’s Patch – NZ’s first police series starring Terence Cooper as Detective Sergeant Doug Mortimer

Beauty & The Beast

Mork and Mindy

Fawlty Towers

Minder

Dukes of Hazzard

Dallas

To The Manor Born

Benson

Penmarric

Billy T James/|Radio Times

Gliding On

University Challenge

Morecombe and Wise

Hill Street Blues

Battlestar Galactica

Ready To Roll

Radio With Pictures

Shazam

RTR Video Releases

After School with Olly Olsen

Hudson & Halls

Brideshead Revisited

Not The nine O’Clock News

Dynasty

The Sullivans

Brass

Country GP

Auf Widersehen Pet

The Outsider

The Love Boat

Threes Company

Hogans Hereos

The A Team

Night Rider

With A Bucket On Your Head – Nick Tansley hosts an amateur talent show

Blind Date

Alison Holst’s Microwave Cooking

A Week of It

Dig This

Inside Straight 
 
 
1990s Programmes:

Te Karere

Play School

The Bugs Bunny Show

Wheel of Fortune

Holmes

Sale of the Century

Foreign Correspondent

Funny Business – Homegrown comedy series

Shark In The Park – Police Drama Series

What Now

A Dogs Show

NZs Funniest Home Videos

Tagata Pacifika

Praise Be

Marae

Frontline

Crimewatch – with Carol Hirschfield, Ian Johnstone

Magic Kiwis – presented by Neil Roberts

On The Mat

Son of a Gunn Show

Face The Music – Simon Barnett hosts a musical knowledge game show

Counterpoint – Lindsay Perigo, Kim Hill, Maggie barry host regular guests to discuss topical issues

Open House – Susan Wood & Dave Cull look at houses of notable NZers

Benson & Hedges Fashion Awards

Heroes

Counterpoint – Kim Hill, Barry Soper and Ian Fraser

Tux Wonder Dogs

Waka Huia

Eyewitness – national and International current affairs show hosted by Ali Mau

Mountain Dew: On the Edge

Placemakers Home Front

Assignment – Susan Wood presents an investigative doco series

Maggies Garden Show

Mai Time

Letter to Blanchy – comedy series about trio of kiwi jokers

Showcase – Ian Fraser presents a NZ talent show

Who Dares Wins

Garage Sale – Suzanne Paul, Anthony Ray Parker & design guru Brett Schwilters go bargain hunting

Aprils Angels

Queer Nation

Corbans Taste of NZ – Peta Matthias

Mitre 10 Changing Rooms

Asia Dynamic

Location Location Location

Ralston Live

Weddings – presented by Jayne Kiely

Unichem Medical File – with Hine Elder and Pharmacist Peter McSweeny

Epitaph – NZ stories from beyond the graveyard

5:30 With Jude – Jude Dobson

Neighbours

Santa Barbara

Allo Allo!

Beyond 2000

The Flying Doctors

LA Law

Keeping Up Appearances

Cheers

Police Rescue

The Young Ones

Bergerac

48 Hours

The Bill

The Simpsons

Married With Children

Rescue 911

The Comedy Company

It Ain’t Half Hot Mum

The Fresh Prince of Belair

The Thunderbirds

Dastardly & Mutley

Dr.Who

Eastenders

Hard Copy

Dad’s Army

Hill Street Blues

Baywatch

Family Ties

Miami Vice

Magnum PI

Star Trek

Night Court

Doogie Houser

Macgyver

The Cosby Show

Kate and Allie

The Jetsons

Candid Camera

Studs

Beverly Hills 90210

Saturday Night Clive

21 Jump Street

Casualty

Roseanne

E Street

Ren & Stimpy

Totally Hidden Video

American Gladiators

Darling Buds of May

Sally Jessy Raphael

Sylvania Waters

Barrymore

WKRP in Cincinnati

Antiques Roadshow

Home and Away

Bananas In Pyjamas

Whose Line Is it Anyway?

Seinfeld

Absolutely Fabulous

Stars in Their Eyes

Frasier

ER

The Nanny

Friends

The X Files

Chicago Hope

Spin City

All Rise For Julian Clarey

French and Saunders

Ally McBeal

Middlemore

Everybody Loves Raymond

 

2000s Programmes:

Private Practice

Third Watch

Police Ten 7

Band of Brothers

Brothers and Sisters

Ghost Whisperer

Ugly Betty

Celebrity Treasure Island

Game of 2 Halves

Burying Brian

Mercy Peak

Go Girls

Shortland Street

The Zoo

Matthew and Marc’s Rocky Road

Ice

South

Intrepid Journey

Ends of the Earth

Extreme Make Over

Desperate Housewives

Grey’s Anatomy

Sensing Murder

The Apprentice

Masterchef NZ

American Idol

NZ Idol

Friends

Two & a half men

The Osbornes

McLeod’s Daughters

Piha Rescue

Fair Go

Coronation Street

Criminal Minds

Cold Case

The F Word

Unauthorised History of NZ

Eating Media Lunch

Dancing with the Stars

Mucking In

Animal House

Wild Vets

Big Brother

TVNZ has compiled a comprehensive timeline of significant and memorable events that have occured in and around the television industry in New Zealand over the past 50 years.

From the broadcast of the Wahine disaster footage in 1968, to the very first screening of Shortland Street in 1992, it’s all there.

Take a trip down memory lane below.

1930s

BBC in Britain broadcast the first television images in 1936

NBC began broadcasting in the United States in 1939.

1949

NZ Government formed departmental committee to study the new medium of television

1951

Experimental closed-circuit demonstration broadcasts began on the proviso that they did not include anything that could be classified as ‘entertainment’

1956

TV begins in Australia

1959

NZ Prime Minister Walter Nash declared that public broadcasts of TV could proceed.  Television would be introduced as an entertainment medium

1960

The first official transmission of television began at 7.30 pm on the 1st of June from Shortland Street Studios in Auckland. (1st June)

 AKTV2 broadcast for 3 hours but could only be received in Auckland.

The first night of programming included an episode of The Adventures of Robin Hood with the Howard Morrison Quartet performing live

Ian Watkins became the first TV presenter when he interviewed English ballerina, Beryl Grey.

Transmission increased from 2 to 4 nights a week in July

Alma Johnson became first female TV presenter in August

TV License Fee introduced and cost £4 per year, the equivalent of $159.25 in 2010.

The Bell 21” TV Consolette sold for £149.10 (Equivalent cost in 2010 of $5,935)

1961

Advertising introduced on TV to off-set costs. Ads could only play Tuesday – Thursday and Saturday (April).

Christchurch TV channel CHTV3 began broadcasting (1st of June)

Wellington TV channel WNTV1 began broadcasting (1st of July)

1962

Daily news bulletins began (March)

NZ Broadcasting Corporation established by legislation that puts broadcasting in public control.  (April)

NZBC assumes responsibility for 35 radio stations and 4 TV stations around the country.

Dunedin TV channel DNTV2 began broadcasting (July)

All 4 TV stations were allowed to broadcast 35 hours a week (Oct)

1963

The Queen opened NZ Parliament and the event was broadcast live from Wellington.

The Wellington channel produces the first television play called All Earth to Love

TV was used by politicians in the lead up to the November General Election.  Two hours of pre-recorded speeches were broadcast on the 4 regional television stations.

But most politicians appeared stiff and uncomfortable in front of the camera, and the telecasts were described as ‘animated waxworks’

The first programme named Close Up debuts with interviewer Ian Johnstone

1964

Coronation Street first screens (May)

Increasing pressure for extended coverage prompts NZBC to license community groups so they could build and operate their own TV translators to receive, boost and re-transmit the signal to their local areas

Peter Snell won two gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics.  The games spark a boom in sales of TVs.  (Oct)

NZBC establishes a Maori programme section

275,000 TV license holders in NZ. (Nov)

Annual income from radio and TV licenses exceeds £5,000,000, more than £250,000 being paid in taxation.  (Equivalent collection today of $175 million)  

1965

License Fee data shows nearly 50% of households have TVs.

305,410 licensed sets across NZ, 1/3 of them in Auckland. (Feb)

The 4 stations broadcast seven nights a week – a total of 50 hours

1966

Country Calendar screens for the first time (March).

C’mon debuts, filmed in front of a live audience and hosted by Peter Sinclair (Nov).

Compass episode on the change to Decimal Currency banned. Compass producer, Gordon Bick resigns over it.

NZBC decides to allow journalists to fully investigate political issues, a decision that significantly changed current affairs in NZ. 

1967

The Town and Around Show tops the ratings

1968

Current Affairs show ‘Gallery’ debuts

A new season of Compass begins.  The first episode features an interview with the Duke of Edinburgh by Ian Cross and David Beatson

Wellington TV captures the Wahine Disaster on film and the coverage wins an international news award

1969

Microwave link created to form the first network to broadcast pictures of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.  1.5 million viewers tuned in for the broadcast (July).

Political advertising aired on TV in the lead up to the election.

Network News begins with Bill Toft, Philip Sherry, Dougal Stevenson and Stewart MacPherson alternating as newsreaders.

First networked bulletin read by Dougal Stevenson at 7:35pm on 3rd of November from Wellington.

Political debates and election covered widely on TV (Nov) 
 
1970

Dr Brian Edwards wins inaugural Feltex TV Award for interview with surgeon who performed first heart transplant, Dr Christiaan Barnard.

1971

First satellite established that links NZ to world

Current Affairs programme, Survey debuts replacing Compass and achieves top ratings

Melbourne Cup Race is first event to be broadcast via satellite (Nov).

1972

First live All Black test broadcast – NZ vs Australia (Sept).

Playschool debuts, runs for 80 episodes.

Central Otago, the West Coast and the central North Island finally get TV reception. 

1973

Colour TV arrives and license for it costs $35, the equivalent of $361.19 today.

 
First colour broadcast on Halloween by continuity announcer, Marama Martin wearing a purple dress (photo attached)

The marriage of H.R.H Princess Anne to Captain Mark Philips broadcast in colour

600,000 viewers watch direct telecasting of FA Cup Final, Leeds vs Sunderland

Keith Quinn does his first rugby test commentary for TV, England v All Blacks at Eden Park.

Fred Dagg debuts with John Clarke

It’s in the Bag debuts on TV (Oct)

1974

Coverage of Christchurch Commonwealth Games is the largest undertaking ever for NZBC (Jan-Feb)

Network didn’t have enough equipment to broadcast the entire games in colour so everything but swimming, track & field and boxing was in black & white.

Muhammad Ali – George Foreman fight gathers an afternoon audience of 880,000.

Spot On debuts

Advertising is allowed on Fridays

The South Tonight debuts with Rodney Bryant and Bryan Allpress

1975

NZBC dismantled and re-established as TV One, TV Two & Radio NZ

Avalon opens in April, the Lower Hutt television centre is the biggest and most technically advanced facility in the country. It cost $10 million to build the equivalent of $160 million in 2009.

Close to Home debuts (May)

Jennie Goodwin becomes first woman in the Commonwealth to anchor a prime time network news programme

TV Two begins broadcasting in November and airs first Telethon a week later

First telethon raises $593,878 for St John Ambulance

1976

The newly elected National Government decides to merge all broadcasting services, including radio back into one corporation a year after it was split.  The new model is called BCNZ.

Radio with Pictures debuts in September and runs for 10 years – hosts include Barry Jenkins, Karyn Hay, Phil O’Brien and Dick Driver

Telethon ’76 raised $1.6 million for the Child Health Foundation

Ian Johnstone becomes the first NZ television reporter to visit South Africa and interviewed Desmond Tutu, journalist Donald Woods and Prime Minister John Vorster.  South Africa – the Black Future won Johnstone a Feltex Award.

Nice One Stu debuts with Stu Dennison as the naughty schoolboy poking fun at straight-laced sidekick, Roger Gascoigne.

1977

First episode of Fair Go screens (April) and is favourably received

Close To Home attracting nearly 1 million viewers every episode and by 1977 was NZ’s longest running drama production

Spot On wins award for best children’s show

Telethon ‘77 raised $2,005,750 for the Mental Health Foundation

The Governor, The God Boy and Richard Pearse are 3 of several programmes sold to overseas television networks.

Stu Dennison’s programme ‘Nice One Stu’ on TV One and Andrew Shaw’s programme ‘Hey Hey It’s Andy” on TV Two compete for the younger audience.

Stu and Andrew still work for TVNZ, Stu is Deputy Head of Sport and Andrew is General Manager of Commissioning, Production & Acquisitions.

Dateline Monday debuts and investigates the controversial pesticide 2-4-5-T

A Week of It debuts, the satirical look at NZ political issues runs until 1979

1978

Telethon ‘78 raised $3 million for the Arthritis and Rheumatism Foundation

Mastermind BBC invites Mastermind NZ to take part in an international programme

1979

95% of homes in NZ have a television

Close To Home clocks up its 500th episode

Bill Ralston joins TV2 as a reporter

Gordon Harcourt makes his debut as a 9 year old child actor on Close to Home playing Eddie (today he co-presents Fair Go with Ali Mau & Kevin Milne.)

TV2’s Sport screens an exclusive 90 min interview on Muhammad Ali

Telethon ‘79 raises $2, 767,351 for the Year of The Child

1980

TVNZ was established, with the two previously competing channels becoming part of a single organisation.

The National newsroom was transferred from Avalon to Auckland (Feb).

Judy Bailey & John Hawkesby begin co-presenting regional news show, Top Half

Main news anchor Dougal Stevenson resigns electing to stay in Wellington instead of moving to Auckland.

Trial starts of News in Maori

Angela d’Audney presents Kaleidoscope

More than 100 documentaries are completed in 1980 and the bulk screen on programmes ‘Contact’ and ‘Look Out’

Island of Strange Noises wins a silver prize at the New York Film Festival – part of the Natural History film series The Wild South

Radio with Pictures moves to TV One with new frontman Phil O’Brien

Miss NZ/Miss Universe debuts in 1980 and runs for 8 years

1981

Mark Sainsbury starts work as a researcher for current affairs show, Close Up (the first current affairs show with that name)

Nine films are screened in one week in a NZ feature film festival

What Now debuts and still screens on TV2.  It has had a long roll-call of presenters including Steve Parr, Danny Watson, Simon Barnett, Jason Gunn, Michelle A’Court, Tamati Coffey and Antonia Prebble.

Telethon ‘81 raises $5 million for the International Year of Disabled Persons 

1982

Beauty and The Beast does its 1500th episode in front of a live audience in the James Hay Theatre, Christchurch

Private TV makes a brief foray into the market, when in June Northern TV (owned by a consortium of newspapers led by the NZ Herald) went to air with a one hour magazine style programme called ‘Good Morning’. It survived for one year. 

1983

Whai Ngata and Derek Fox set up Te Karere, the first Māori news programme (Feb).  It is still broadcast today on TV ONE at 4pm and repeated on TVNZ 7.

Close To Home comes to an end after 8 years of almost continuous programming

Telethon ‘83 raises $4.5 million in aid of the NZ Family Trust

1984

Gallipoli screens, an historical documentary about NZ’s involvement in the WWI campaign

Geoff Steven’s hour long documentary, Pacific Tattoo airs with Peter Fonda doing the narration

Malcolm Hall produces a series that features kiwis doing unconventional things, called The Pacemakers

Kevin Milne joins Fair Go as a reporter

Karyn Hay began presenting Radio with Pictures and copped a lot of flak for her kiwi accent. 

1985

NZ television celebrates 25 years on-air.

Research shows 7out of the 10 most popular programmes of 1984 were locally made shows including the 6.30 News, McPhail & Gadsby, Miss NZ, Decision ’84, the rugby tests against Australia and the Olympics.

TVNZ HQ moved from Wellington to Auckland

1986

State-Owned Enterprises Act requires SOEs to be run as commercial businesses

Judy Bailey and Neil Billington co-present revamped 6pm Network News

Modelling competition, Revlon Face of the 80s debuts

1987

TVNZ host broadcaster for inaugural Rugby World Cup

Gloss debuts

Paul Henry debuts on NZ television as host of the game show, Every Second Counts. It runs until 1989.

Dougal Stevenson presents the Krypton Factor, a game show where contestants compete against each other in a variety of physical and mental challenges

1988

TVNZ braced itself for the introduction of TV3 by securing rights to many popular overseas programmes, cancelling Channel 2 news to concentrate news resources on Channel One and locking-in sporting rights.

TVNZ won the rights to the 1992 Olympics.

ONE News moves to 6pm from 6:30pm

Jim Hickey begins presenting weather on TVNZ after many small acting parts in Gloss, Mortimer’s Patch and time working on Country Calendar.

1989

Paul Holmes hits the screen with Holmes following the 6pm news (April).

Advertising allowed to run 24/7 except for Sunday mornings and public holidays.

Bernadine Oliver-Kerby gets her first job in television presenting youth show, ‘Life in the Fridge’

Broadcasting Act removes restrictions on entry to broadcasting for private companies including the ability to operate cable TV, direct satellite broadcasting and UHF frequencies (July).

Journalist, Cathy Campbell becomes the first woman to present her own sports show, Mobil Sports Night (Sept).

TV 3 goes to air five months late on November 27 just as viewership reduces over summer and TVNZ gears up to broadcast the 1990 Commonwealth games in Auckland. 

1990

TVNZ host broadcaster for The Commonwealth Games in Auckland.

Wheel of Fortune debuts

Introduction of NZ’s first pay TV service, Sky Television launched three channels.

TV 3 goes into receivership

1992

Shortland Street debuts on May 25th

TVNZ became an independent satellite operator providing the company with one of the most sophisticated satellites networks in the world. 

1993

Yachting reporter, Martin Tasker joins TVNZ

1994

End of the Goodnight Kiwi TV2 begins broadcasting 24/7

Thingee’s eye pops out during a recording of The Son of a Gunn Show

Asia Downunder debuts

Simon Dallow gets his first job in broadcasting as a news presenter on TV2’s Newsnight

Karen Olsen begins presenting weather on TV ONE

Alison Mau starts begins presenting Eye Witness News

1995

ONE News is extended to an hour per night

The Holmes Show moves to 7pm

Sports Café debuts on Sky TV

1996

Tonight presenter, Greg Boyed gets first start in television working for Auckland regional station, ATV.

1997

Neil Roberts re-joins TVNZ as Head of Television.

Breakfast debuts on TV ONE with Alison Mau and Mike Hosking presenting and Liz Gunn reading the news.

Canadian Company, CanWest increases ownership from 20% to 100% of TV3

CanWest launch C4 youth channel

TVNZ sells 80% of the Dunedin based Natural History Unit to Fox TV Studios. As NHNZ it would become one of the world’s leading producers of factual programmes.  

1998

Wendy Petrie gets her first job in television, writing and presenting newsbreaks for TV3

Pippa Wetzell starts in the TVNZ newsroom as the overnight reporter on the assignments desk.

Neil Roberts dies of cancer (Nov).

1999

Public Broadcasting fee phased out

TVNZ sells a number of assets that were not essential to core business including shareholding in Sky TV.

APEC Summit held in Auckland and became NZ’s biggest news event to be covered by TVNZ. 

2001

TV ONE & TV2 transmitted on Sky TV’s digital platform

TVNZ runs uninterrupted coverage of September 11 terrorism attacks for 36 hours

Reality police show, Motorway Patrol debuts

TVNZ launches www.nzoom.com

2002

NZ Television Archive opens in Lower Hutt

Reality TV police show, Police 10-7 debuts presented by retired Detective Inspector, Graham Bell

2003

TVNZ becomes Crowned Owned Company

TVNZ Charter officially adopted

TVNZ’s advertising revenue passes $300 million for the first time

Bill Ralston becomes TVNZ’s Head of News & Current Affairs (July).

Jim Mora presents new feel-good show Mucking-In.

Sports Café moves from Sky TV to TV2

2004

Maori Television begins broadcasting in March

TV2’s kids show Studio 2 debuts (March)

Tamati Coffey gets his first job in television as a presenter on What Now

2005

Judy Bailey leaves TVNZ after presenting the news for 18 years

Paul Holmes leaves TVNZ for a new rival current affairs show on Prime.

Flagship TV ONE programme Dancing with the Stars debuts drawing audiences of 700,000 each episode.  2005 series won by former rugby player, Norm Hewitt

Debut of Attitude, a series that profiles the issues and interests of people living with a disability with a strong thread of advocacy journalism

Sports Café canned after celebrity drug scandal involving regular presenter Marc Ellis

2006

Simon Dallow & Wendy Petrie begin co-presenting ONE News at 6pm in January.

2007

Bill Ralston resigns from TVNZ as head of News & Current Affairs (Jan).

TVNZ ondemand launched in March

Australian newsman Anthony Flannery takes over from Ralston as head of News & Current Affairs in May.

Simon Dallow voted sexiest man on TV for the sixth year in a row as well as best news presenter in the Best On The Box Awards.

Former Silver Fern, Jenny May Coffin starts working for TV ONE Sport.

TVNZ 6 begins broadcasting on the Freeview Platform in September.

2008

TVNZ 7 begins broadcasting on the Freeview Platform in March.

In July Tony Veitch resigns from his role as the main sports anchor for ONE News after allegations that he physically assaulted a former partner.

In August http://tvnz.co.nz launches award winning Beijing Olympics site and four separate live streams during the event – a first for NZ.

http://tvnz.co.nz relaunches news platform in December. 

2009

Paul Holmes returns to TVNZ as co-interviewer with Guyon Espiner on TV ONE’s award winning political show Q+A (March).

http://tvnz.co.nz launches entertainment platform in May.

TVNZ 6 & TVNZ 7 are added to the Sky platform (July)

TVNZ News and Current Affairs wins 11 of the 12 Qantas Awards in the news section.

http://tvnz.co.nz launches iphone application – considered one of the best iphone apps in the world.

2010

NZ series of The Apprentice debuts fronted by controversial Wellington property developer, Terry Serepisos and won by contestant Thomas Ben.

Inaugural series of Masterchef NZ debuts with Christchurch schoolteacher, Brett McGregor taking the first title.

TVNZ commission second series of Masterchef NZ after a successful first series and outstanding ratings.

Alison Mau joins a revamped Fair Go to co-present with Kevin Milne and Gordon Harcourt.

TVNZ & Sony partner to put TVNZ ondemand on PS3 – the first commercial television broadcaster in the world to be on the PS3.

TVNZ launches a new channel on Sky TV’s pay platform that will feature 100% local content called Heartland.

Ok how to begin…..

First you give away the finalists for American Idol in the Advert Break just before it was announced in the Top 3 show. Shocking.. Really shocking. You should know better.

Next you make a big deal about Lost being shown this coming weekend.. Heck you are a week late.. This is the 21st Century.. Do you really have any idea how hard it is to avoid spoilers? A week for a show that is this big globally is a long time.

Coming back to Idol.. Great we are getting the final a couple of hours behind the US.. Fail on two levels.

One…. You cut the end of the final performance. Why? I’d be happy with the overrun for once to hear the winner finish their track..

Two…. Too late in the game. I tried really hard to avoid spoilers but I knew the who the winner was before I left the office. Then driving home it was being discussed on the radio. Last I got home and caught up with some news from the website of a UK paper and guess what was on the home page.. Yes the winner. It has got to the point were either I turn off my phone, avoid social media, the internet, radio, and other TV until I watch the show… OR…. You show it at the same time as the US. Guess what, hot off the satellite isn’t enough, we need it LIVE.

I personally favor the live option..