TV2

Every year around this time the TV networks in New Zealand roll out their new season packages, giving us a glimpse as to what lies ahead for the following year.  Head of TV One and TV2, Jeff Latch described TVNZ’s 2013 new season as offering “a stronger and more exciting range of programmes than ever before”. I beg to differ.

In the 50 plus years of television in New Zealand, does he honestly believe that statement?  There is no new hit like a Grey’s Anatomy or Desperate Housewives so I’m not sure what he’s referring to at all.

Latch also believes “the strong local programme line-up, the new and returning News and Current Affairs programming and the extensive showcase of outstanding international content means that TVNZ will continue to deliver the nation’s most watched content”.  But as we know, most watched does not equate to best. Continue reading »

This is a copy of my latest blog post on WordPress:

When I got next week’s TV Guide in the post this past Friday I noticed that on Saturday and Sunday, on TV2, they will be screening six hours worth (12 in total) of My Kitchen Rules and when I saw this I said to myself that this has to be the stupidest thing they’ve done in ages.

But actually it wasn’t.

When Body of Proof returned to Tuesday nights recently I noticed that the season preimere episode was replayed the next day between 2pm-3pm and then, looking ahead to that weekend, I noticed it was on again.

Clearly, this idiotic programming decision is an indication that the programmers at TVNZ have lost their way and that we, as viewers, deserve something a hell of a lot better.

So buck up your ideas TVNZ and don’t re-screen the same episode within the same week because it’ll make you look like Sky and we sure as hell don’t want that.

And also when are you going to retire Friends? Because you and I both know that this question has been put to you in TV Guide and I actually don’t believe you’ve ever responded to a single correspondent on this.

It’s no bloody wonder TVNZ is a shell of it’s former self and, unfortunately, getting worse by the day.

(Update: 14/8/2012, 3:04pm): They did it again with last nights season premiere of Private Practice, but this time it was on some 3hrs after the original screening.

It would seem that everything I’ve said in this post is absolutely correct.

I’d really like some feedback on this because I feel it concerns all of us, as viewers.

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