In 2009, TVNZ still managed to turn a profit which, it has to be said, is a fairly praiseworthy achievement in the current environment. But what about 2010? What is TVNZ banking on that will return another dividend?
As revenue is directly related to ratings, it has been interesting to watch TVNZ deliberately remove what one would have expected to have been two of the most watched events of 2010. Firstly, the 2010 Dehli Commonwealth Games, which they had the rights to but decided that the income would not have justified the expense. Secondly, Tuesday nights Jason Gunn extravaganza Dancing with the Stars.
While the screening of these offers enormous revenue opportunities independently, they also provide TVNZ with lead ins to other shows and the ability to promote other TVNZ content. So what do they have in store instead? Are there any major television events that will reach the same audience and achieve a better result?
The only thing that has any potential may be Masterchef New Zealand. The Australian version did incredibly well in Australia and has proved a worthy show for the pre One News time slot but when would it air here? If it follows a similar format, where could it fit in the schedule? Would it find space on TV One? Would the pre-news time slot deliver enough audience to justify the expense?
In a few days, TVNZ announce their line up for 2010 and I for one am incredibly intrigued to see just what they have lined up to deliver another profit.
theidolwhorocks
I think the keyword at this point is "interactive". They need to ask public for suggestons of what to put on. Because I don't think they know what to put on.
Sky TV
QI has not been cleared for international sale until the latest series, which will be screening next year on Prime TV
Jase
I think TVNZ need to pick up something different
off the top of my head, a BBC show called QI: Quite Interesting springs to mind.
Marcus
TVNZ managed a profit. Yeah right. Made about 90 people redundant!
Then invested $13m in TiVo - the Telecom Monopoly
Grabate
I think the Cult will be cancelled. Go Girls was popular, I think they even sold the rights for a US adadption so that will probably return. I wonder if NZ Who Wants to be a Millionare will return. Don't forget that Dream Home is isn't returning next year. It'll be intersting to see how TVNZ fills these gaps.
ockel
No broadcaster ever makes money from large sports events like the Commonwealth Games or Olympics. Whenever they win the rights they claim sponsorship revenue plus the ability to promote the post-event shows on their network justifies the event. Unfortunately the ratings are never sustained for very long, if the audiences dont hit the promised levels then they need to make-good with sponsors (displacing valuable ad revenue after the event) and invariably the end up writing down the value of the rights in a Profit & Loss sense.
Its hard to monetise a large event where the total hours broadcast are greater than the ability to show those hours. TVNZ did a damned fine job with Beijing (online plus broadcast) but the Commonwealths dont hold as great an audience appeal (unfortunate I know).
As for DWTS - even with higher cost per episode (compared with offshore content), the high ratings and appropriate ad dollars should make this a bankable event. What we dont (and will never) know is what has happened to the format rights. How much more does the owner of the DWTS format want for next year compared to this year? Given its success around the world its likely to be significantly more. The same thing happened with iterations of Big Brother but worse, higher content costs but declining audiences......
theidolwhorocks
I think they made a big mistake cutting dancing with the stars. It's gonna come back to bite TVNZ on the arse.
It will be interesting how masterchef gose.
Will the programs on TV3 effect TVNZ? I think so. Especially after loosing dancing with the stars. Unless they have a show like NZ's got talent or something like that.
Whether or not theres more demand for other sorts of shows, I'm not sure. I kind of thinking there will, but at the same time it depends on the programs they put on.
Jussie
When is NZ apprentice coming out
jhjh2000
canceling local shows like The Cult, Go Girls ?
openit
They're not really "banking" on any stand out performances in 2010.
Most of next years profit will come from a reduction in expenses (read: canceling local shows like DWTS, Wheel Of Fortune, The Cult, Go Girls and others. I might be wrong about Go Girls, but pretty sure they're not planning to commission a season 3, and they will book this last season as part of the '09 FY.
I'm not sure why turning a profit this year is such an accomplishment. TV3 turned a pretty awesome profit (in comparison to TVNZ).
If TVNZ keeps going like this (which seems likely), it looks like New Zealand scripted Drama will be a thing of the past).
TV3's not much better, only one more season of Outrageous Fortune, and then that's wrapped.
smctainsh
I'd like to see them finally play Reaper. It's been on the cards for 2 years now (having appeared in the 2008 and 2009 new season launches), and is the only program TV2 haven't played from their 2009 new season launch. I have my doubts though, because they may not see it as profitable, considering it has now been cancelled, and they may be afraid that the New Zealand audience mightn't want to see it.
Although I personally like Two and a Half Men, the fact that it's on three days a week is just plain repetitive. And in primetime slots too. I'll be very interested when the 2010 new season launch is revealed, because I'd like to know what TVNZ has up their sleeve.
jhjh2000
1tv news is on a continued downward spiral? how 3 tv news is so bad
bobscoffee
Has TV2 run out of shows to play? They seem to be filling every slot with that show. They can't even replace Friends.
I've lost all hope for TVNZ. Their news is on a continued downward spiral. With Drinnan now commenting that Flannery wants to bring back Tim Wilson from America, why not bring back Crysall from Europe? How often does he provide any reports for the news hour? Why not disestablish Barbara Dreaver's Pacific Correspondent position? She's banned from half the islands anyway, and mostly spends her time in Auckland with others covering Pacific Island-related stories. What's the point? ONE News is turning into a joke.
Label
More reruns of Two and a Half Men.