Classic NZ TV Listings

TV History
1960

Today’s TV: Tuesday 6 February 1979 (Waitangi Day)
from the NZ Listener

TV One
Noon News
12.05 The Young and the Restless
12.30 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 Special Edition
1.15 Days of Our Lives
2.00 Sport on One Special - Cricket
NZ v Pakistan - first test, day four; live from Lancaster Park, Christchurch
6.00 Pot Black
6.30 News
Includes regional news from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
7.00 Close to Home
7.30 Be My Guest (Final)
8.25 Lady of the Camellias (Part 2, final)
9.25 News
9.35 Summertime Movie - Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
11.30 Sport on One Special - Cricket
NZ v Pakistan - first test, day four; highlights
12.00am News and Weather
12.05 Closedown

South Pacific Television (SPTV)
3.00pm Chic Chat, including:
3.00 Romper Room
3.30 Clutch Cargo (Rpt)
3.35 Rainbow
3.50 The Undersea Adventures of Captain Nemo
4.00 Good Time Show with Tracy, including:
4.00 The Flintstones (Rpt)
4.30 Batman (Rpt)
5.00 Dominic (Starting today, part 1)
5.30 My Three Sons (Rpt)
6.00 News at Six
6.30 Wonder Woman
7.30 The Sullivans (Double episode)
8.30 Hawaii Five-O
9.30 Odd Man Out
10.00 Late News
10.15 S.W.A.T.
11.15 Radio with Pictures
12.10am Goodnight Kiwi (Closedown)

Today’s TV: Monday 6 February 1989 (Waitangi Day)
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
9.35am Teletext in Vision
9.50 Play School (Rpt)
10.20 Sports Special - Cricket
NZ v Pakistan - first test, day four; live from Carisbrook, Dunedin
12.35pm WKRP in Cincinnati (Rpt)
1.05 Sports Special - Cricket (Continued)
NZ v Pakistan - first test, day four; live from Carisbrook, Dunedin
6.00 Network News at Six
6.35 Foreign Correspondent (Starting tonight)
7.00 Our World - Mountains of Water
8.00 Boon
9.00 A Kind of Living (Starting tonight)
9.30 Network News
9.45 A Fine Romance (Final) (Rpt)
10.15 Falcon Crest
11.15 Dynasty (Series return)
12.15am Closedown

Network Two
11.00am Teletext in Vision
11.15 The Young and the Restless
12.15pm Love Connection
12.40 Waitangi Day Movie - Who’s Minding the Mint? (1967)
2.45 It’s an Adventure, Charlie Brown
3.10 3-2-1 Contact (Rpt)
3.45 Kids’ Movie - Swallows and Amazons (1974)
5.30 The Beverly Hillbillies (B&W) (Rpt)
6.00 Taxi (Rpt)
6.30 Me and My Girl (Rpt)
7.00 Neighbours
7.30 EastEnders
8.00 Fighter Pilot (Part 6) (Rpt)
8.30 Mini-Series - The Winds of War (Part 5) (Rpt)
10.30 Entertainment This Week
11.25 Late Movie - The Fall of the Giants (“Hora cero: Operación Rommel” - aka “Battle Giants”) (1969)
1.05am Closedown

1961

Today’s TV: Thursday 9 February 1984
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
10.00am Sports Special - Bowls
1984 Countrywide International Classic - live from the Tawa Bowling Club, Wellington
Noon The Young and the Restless
12.55 Making It Move (Rpt)
1.05 Days of Our Lives
2.00 Sports Special - Bowls (Continued)
1984 Countrywide International Classic - live from the Tawa Bowling Club, Wellington
4.30 World of Plant and Animal Communities
4.40 Star Trek (Rpt)
5.30 Wildtrack (Rpt)
6.00 M-A-S-H (Rpt)
6.30 News
7.00 Taking Over
7.30 Coronation Street (Double episode)
8.30 Players to the Gallery (Part 3)
9.25 Not the Nine O’Clock News
9.55 Sarajevo ‘84 (Part 3)
10.55 Stay with Me Till Morning (Part 3, final) (Rpt)
11.50 News
11.55 Closedown

TV2
2.30pm Upstairs, Downstairs (Rpt)
3.25 Snow Dogs (Rpt)
3.30 Summer Cinema - Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939) (B&W) (Rpt)
5.50 News
6.00 The Young Doctors
6.30 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Rpt)
7.20 The Goodies (Rpt)
7.50 Hudson & Halls
8.20 Hart to Hart
9.20 News
9.35 The Sweeney (Rpt)
10.35 Soap (Rpt)
11.00 Closedown

Today’s TV: Wednesday 9 February 1994
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
7.25am Te Karere (Rpt)
A repeat screening of the previous day’s bulletin
7.35 eTV - MediaTelevision (Rpt, G)
8.00 ITN World News
8.30 eTV, including:
8.30 Psychology: The Study of Human Behaviour (Rpt, G)
9.00 Death: Trip of a Lifetime (Part 3) (G)
10.00 Neighbours (Double episode) (Rpt, G)
10.55 Trainer (Part 5) (Rpt, PGR)
Noon Bergerac (Rpt, AO)
1.00 CBS Evening News
1.30 Barney Miller (Rpt, G)
2.05 Sally Jessy Raphaël (PGR)
3.10 I’ll Fly Away (G)
4.10 Home and Away (G)
4.40 Families (G)
5.15 Te Karere
5.25 Strike It Lucky (G)
6.00 One Network News
6.30 Holmes
7.00 Wheel of Fortune (G)
7.30 Coronation Street (G)
8.00 The Bill (PGR)
8.35 Soldier Soldier (AO)
9.40 PrimeTime (News)
10.15 One World of Sport - Castrol Motorsport
11.15 Matlock (AO)
12.15am Film on One - The Servant (1963) (B&W) (Rpt, PGR)
2.20 Closedown

Channel 2
6.25am We All Have Tales (Rpt, G)
6.55 Saban’s Gulliver’s Travels (Rpt, G)
7.25 The Jetsons (Rpt, G)
7.55 Madeline (G)
8.30 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (Rpt, G)
8.35 Bananas in Pyjamas (Rpt, G)
8.40 eTV - Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
9.40 Chatterbox (Rpt, G)
10.00 Aerobics Oz Style (G)
10.30 Evening Shade (G)
11.00 Santa Barbara
Noon The Young and the Restless (PGR)
1.00 Days of Our Lives (G)
2.00 The Bold and the Beautiful (G)
2.30 Chatterbox
2.50 Toucan Tecs (Rpt, G)
3.00 The Son of a Gunn Show
Includes The Adventures of T-Rex (at 3.15pm)
4.00 The Legend of Prince Valiant (G)
4.30 The Cartoon Company (G)
5.00 Paradise Beach (G)
5.30 M-A-S-H (Rpt, G)
6.00 Neighbours (G)
6.30 Cheers (Rpt, G)
7.00 Shortland Street (PGR)
7.30 Roseanne (PGR)
8.00 Code 3 (Final) (PGR)
8.30 A Kid Called Troy
9.30 17: Snapshot of a Generation (Starting tonight, part 1)
10.30 The Best of The Comedy Company (PGR)
11.00 American Detective (Starting tonight, double episode) (AO)
12.00am Pros and Cons (Starting tonight) (AO)
A revamped version of Gabriel’s Fire
1.05 Closedown

TV3
6.30am OWL/TV (G)
7.00 The Muppet Show (G)
7.30 Charles in Charge (G)
8.00 Transformers (Rpt, G)
8.30 You and Me (Rpt, G)
8.55 The Magic Box (Rpt, G)
9.25 The Infomercial Hour
10.25 Carol & Company (G)
10.55 Morning Cooking, including:
10.55 Today’s Gourmet (G)
11.30 The Graham Kerr Show (G)
Noon Donahue (PGR)
1.00 The Oprah Winfrey Show (Rpt, G)
2.00 ABC World News Tonight
2.30 Parent Time (G)
2.35 You and Me (G)
3.00 Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers (Rpt, G)
3.30 DuckTales (Rpt, G)
4.00 Transformers (Rpt, G)
4.30 Dinosaurs (G)
5.00 Blossom (G)
5.30 5.30 Live
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Entertainment Tonight (G)
7.30 Home Improvement (Double episode) (G)
8.30 Inside New Zealand - The Battle of the Gunns (AO)
9.30 Hard Copy (AO)
10.30 Nightline
11.00 Midnight Caller (Rpt, AO)
12.05am Closedown

Sky Movies (HBO)
Noon Hot Shots! (1991) (GA)
1.30 Roxanne (1987) (GY)
3.30 Starlight (1988) (G)
5.00 Queen of Hearts (1989) (GA)
7.00 Dying Young (1991) (GA)
9.00 Showcase International - Dancin’ Thru the Dark (1991) (RP16)
10.45 The Twelve Chairs (1970) (G)
12.15am Playboy - Inside Out (R18)
12.45 Closedown

Canterbury Television (CTV), Christchurch
6.00am Welcome to Canterbury
This programme repeats at 7am, 8am, 9am, 10am, 11am, straight after closedown and 1am
Noon Trackside
Includes live greyhound racing from Addington and Manukau
5.00 Susan Sells
5.30 First Report
6.00 CTV’s City Life
7.00 Oderings Homes and Gardens
7.30 CTV News
8.00 Jim Hopkins Live
8.30 Gifford & Balani
10.00 CTV World Tonight
10.30 Susan Sells (Rpt)
A repeat screening of tonight’s programme
11.00 Canterbury Upfront
11.30 Closedown

CRY Television, Christchurch
11.00am Jason/Leighton (Rap, metal and alternative) (Rpt)
A repeat screening of the previous day’s programme
1.00pm Petra (‘Goodies’ from the past) (Rpt)
A repeat screening of last night’s programme
4.00 Jason/Leighton (Rap, metal and alternative)
6.00 Petra (Includes some part greats)
9.00 Shannon (Alternative and specialist areas [including extremes])
12.00am Closedown

1 Like
1962

I wonder if the bowls classic stopped for their daily dose of the soaps?

A tourist program? Also, why say it keeps going straight after closedown and 1am - would’nt
you move closedown to 2am after the 1am repeat?

1 Like
1963

It was like a “what to do in Canterbury” thing that broadcast in dead zones so hotels/motels could say to guests you could watch it on CTV channel 6 and see what you can do around the region. Or holidaymakers might flick around the channels and watch.

And I guess if you lived there you might see the odd thing too that appealed while flicking channels.

1 Like
1964

@OnAir As part of my research, I have some information regarding Welcome to Canterbury.

Welcome to Canterbury

Welcome to Canterbury was launched by Canterbury Television (CTV) in December 1992. Designed as a comprehensive guide for visitors and locals alike, the hour-long programme utilised an advertorial-style format to showcase the region’s tourism, business and lifestyle highlights.

The programme served a dual purpose: promoting Christchurch as a premier tourist destination and marketing the city as an ideal venue for large-scale conferences and conventions.

Origins and concept
Welcome to Canterbury was the brainchild of Julie Woodham, who joined CTV as a producer after spending eight years living in the North Island. Upon her return to Canterbury, she was struck by the significant development and vibrancy of the region.

“I could not get over the number of new sidewalk cafes and bars in Christchurch. We also have the Mount Cavendish Gondola, the Antarctic Centre, and punting on the Avon, and new projects are happening all the time.” - Julie Woodham

Recognising the potential for further growth in tourism and commerce, Woodham developed the format to highlight these emerging attractions.

Key content

  • Tourist attractions: Featured major sites such as the Mount Cavendish Gondola and the Antarctic Centre.
  • Events and businesses: Covered forthcoming local events and profiled local enterprises.
  • Updates: The content was refreshed on a monthly basis to ensure relevance.

Broadcast history and evolution
The scheduling of Welcome to Canterbury evolved significantly between 1992 and 1994, reflecting CTV’s expanding operational hours.

The programme premiered on 1 December 1992. It was broadcast multiple times throughout the day and night to maximise viewership. Examples include 6am, 7am, 8am, 9am, noon (Mon-Fri), 1pm (Mon-Fri) and late night slots (after closedown, 1am and 2am).

Beyond standard broadcast, it was shown in-house at hotels and motels and released on VHS cassette.

As CTV extended its programming, Welcome to Canterbury filled new daytime slots.

  • Mid-1993: Added 10am and 11am slots on Wednesdays (preceding Trackside via Action TV [the TAB’s free-to-air racing channel]).
  • End of 1993: Expanded to weekdays at 10am, 11am and 1.30pm. This coincided with CTV introducing lunchtime programming from noon until 1.30pm.
  • Mid-1994: Further weekday slots were added at 2.30pm and 3.30pm.

The shift to 24-hour transmission
A major operational shift occurred on 6 August 1994 when CTV commenced 24-hour transmission. Rather than displaying a static test card during unused airtime, the station utilised Welcome to Canterbury to fill the schedule continuously until regular programming resumed (typically at 5pm).

According to Peter Burdett, CTV’s presentation manager at the time, this continuous loop was achieved using state-of-the-art linear videotape equipment (predating modern video servers).

  • The process: The programme was recorded on a linear tape that ran for three hours.
  • The loop: Once the tape finished, it required two minutes to rewind (during which a blank screen would appear). It would then automatically restart.
  • Automation: The system was fully automatic, eliminating the need to hire overnight staff.

CTV viewed this as a service to late night viewers - particularly tourists.

“Whenever someone switches on there will be something to see - tourists still up late at night can tune in for information.” - Peter Burdett

1 Like
1965

So basically, a tourist information loop. Something that was usually restricted to an inhouse channel in a more upscale hotel that had the money to install high end equipment to send a signal via cable to guests TVs. Made cheaper for even the crappiest of hotels to provide that service.

1 Like
1966

It was quite common on regional tv, I think they all had one at some stage.

1967

Today’s TV: Wednesday 10 February 1982
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
Noon The Young and the Restless
12.30 Take Kerr (Rpt)
12.35 Beauty and the Beast (Rpt)
1.00 Crown Court (Rpt)
1.30 Days of Our Lives
2.25 You and Your Child
2.30 Play School (Rpt)
2.55 Sesame Street (Rpt)
3.55 After School, including (all times approx):
3.55 The Electric Company (Final)
4.25 Les Jetons (Final)
4.30 Film Preview
4.40 Secret Squirrel
5.00 The Wizard of Crum and the Ice Princess
5.35 Worzel Gummidge (Final) (Rpt)
6.00 The Stockard Channing Show (Final)
6.30 News
7.00 Coronation Street
7.30 Taxi (Final)
8.00 The Best of Our World - Penguin Millionaire (Rpt)
9.00 Midweek
9.30 Agony (Rpt)
10.00 Summertime Movie - The Anderson Tapes (1971) (Rpt)
11.40 News
11.45 Closedown

TV2
2.30pm Prisoner
3.25 Summer Cinema - The Last Angry Man (1974)
5.05 Little House on the Prairie (Rpt)
6.00 News at Six
6.30 Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (Rpt)
7.30 Connections (Part 8)
8.30 The Sullivans (Double episode)
9.30 Tales of the Unexpected (Rpt)
10.00 News at Ten
10.30 Brendan Behan’s Dublin
11.00 Closedown

Today’s TV: Monday 10 February 1992
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
10.00am Teletext in Vision
10.15 One World of Sport - Cricket
NZ v England - third test, day five; live from the Basin Reserve, Wellington
6.00pm One Network News
6.30 Holmes
7.00 Sale of the Century (G)
7.30 Only Fools and Horses (Rpt, PGR)
8.00 Blofeld (Part 2)
8.30 Minder
9.30 One World of Sport - 1992 Winter Olympics
Day two; includes the men’s downhil, the 90m ski-jump and the pairs figure skating
10.30 Tonight with Anita McNaught (Starting tonight)
11.00 One World of Sport - 1992 Winter Olympics (Continued)
Day two; includes freestyle skiing ballet, an ice hockey review, the men’s luge and speed skating
1.00am Closedown

Channel 2
6.00am Around the World in Eighty Days (Rpt, G)
6.30 The Bullwinkle Show (G)
7.00 The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (Rpt, G)
7.25 Jem (Rpt, G)
8.00 ITN World News
8.30 Punkin’ Puss & Mushmouse (Rpt, G)
8.40 Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
9.35 Play School (Rpt, G)
10.05 Aerobics Oz Style (G)
10.30 Neighbours (Rpt, G)
11.00 Santa Barbara
Noon The Young and the Restless (G)
1.00 Days of Our Lives (PGR)
2.00 Who’s the Boss? (Rpt, G)
2.30 Jase TV, including:
2.33 Play School (Rpt, G)
3.00 Kitty Cats (G)
3.15 Fiddley Foodle Bird (G)
3.30 The Son of a Gunn Show
4.00 Dinky Di’s (G)
4.30 Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (G)
5.00 The Bugs Bunny Show (G)
6.00 Perfect Strangers (G)
6.30 Wheel of Fortune (G)
7.00 Neighbours (G)
7.30 The Flying Doctors (G)
8.30 LA Law (AO)
9.30 American Detective (Double episode) (AO)
10.30 Studs (aka “Late Night Studs”) (PGR)
11.00 Evening Shade (G)
11.30 Thirtysomething (G)
12.30am Movie - Young Sherlock Holmes (1985) (Rpt, PGR)
2.20 Movie - The Violent Four (1968) (AO)
4.05 Movie - Beauty and the Beast (1962) (G)
5.30 Land of Hope and Gloria (G)
5.55 The Little Rascals (G) (Continues to 6am)

TV3
Noon The Oprah Winfrey Show (PGR)
1.00 Donahue (PGR)
2.00 The Bold and the Beautiful (PGR)
2.30 Generations (PGR)
3.00 The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Rpt, G)
3.30 Dinosaucers (G)
4.00 Voltron (Rpt, G)
4.30 Double Dare (G)
5.00 Perfect Match (Rpt, G)
5.30 Hey Dad..! (Rpt, G)
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Give Us a Clue (G)
7.30 Candid Camera (G)
8.00 The Golden Girls (G)
8.30 Monday Night at the Movies - The Return of the Musketeers (1989)
10.30 Nightline
11.15 MacGruder and Loud (AO)
12.15am (approx) Closedown

Sky Movies
Noon Nostalgia at Noon - The Forgotten (1989) (GA)
2.00 Hot to Trot (1988) (GY)
3.22 Box Office America (G)
4.00 Back to the Future Part III (1990) (GY)
6.00 Things Change (1988) (GA)
8.00 Some Lie and Some Die (1990) (GA)
10.30 Amazon Women on the Moon (1987) (RP13)
11.55 Torture Zone (R16)
1.15am Closedown

Canterbury Television (CTV). Christchurch
4.45pm Susan Sells (G)
5.30 First Report
6.00 Mork & Mindy (G)
6.30 50 Plus (G)
7.00 DB Sport
7.30 CTV News
8.00 Jim Hopkins Live
8.25 City to Surf
8.30 The Evening Movie - Made for Each Other (1971) (G)
10.25 Susan Sells (Rpt, G)
A repeat screening of tonight’s programme
11.10 Closedown

The great news shake-up of February 1992

If you were tuning into New Zealand television on this day (10 February) in 1992, you would have witnessed a significant changing of the guard in the nation’s broadcasting landscape.

For some time, Anita McNaught and John Hawkesby had been the familiar faces of the late evening, co-anchoring One Network News at Ten on TV One (now TVNZ 1). But as of 10 February, that partnership was dissolved, sparking a rivalry between state television and the ambitious newcomer, TV3 (now Three)

The “Tonight” era begins on One
The focus for late night news at TVNZ shifted to a solo format.

Anita McNaught, having established herself as a ‘highly competent front-person’ (according to TVNZ’s then director of news and current affairs, the late Paul Norris), was given the reins of a brand new vehicle: Tonight with Anita McNaught.

Screening on TV One at 10.30pm weeknights, the half hour programme promised a blend of national and international news, sport and weather. However, it was designed to be more than just a bulletin; it promised ‘an element of surprise’. This included in-depth investigations into New Zealand’s most incisive current affairs, kicking off with a rather bold five-part series on teenage sex titled “Starting Young”.

To maintain continuity with the primetime audience, the weather segment on Tonight was presented by whoever had fronted the 6pm news (with Judy Bailey and Richard Long) earlier that evening - meaning double duty for the likes of Jim Hickey and Penelope Barr.

Hawkesby jumps ship
Meanwhile, the real drama was unfolding over at TV3.

John Hawkesby, McNaught’s former co-anchor, had defected from the state broadcaster to take the helm of 3 National News at 6pm (up against One Network News).

The move was seen as a major coup for the private network. Rod Pederson, TV3’s director of news and current affairs at the time, didn’t mince his words regarding the acquisition. While praising Hawkesby’s ‘credibility and authority’, he took a sharp swipe at the competition and noted:

“I’m surprised State television didn’t make better use of him.” - Rod Pederson

New faces and legends at TV3
Hawkesby wasn’t the only notable talent solidifying TV3’s line-up during this period.

3 National News featured the late Kerry Smith presenting the weather. Smith was already a beloved figure in Kiwi pop culture, known for her roles in Gloss, For the Love of Mike (the short-lived sitcom) and New Zealand’s Funniest Home Videos.

Rounding out the team were Eric Young, continuing his role as sports anchor, and Leighton Smith, who presented a nightly current affairs segment designed to deliver hard-hitting interviews.

The legacy
Looking back, February 1992 marked a pivotal moment where personality-driven news became a fierce battleground. With McNaught anchoring the late news and issues on One, and Hawkesby bringing gravitas to the 6pm slot on Three, viewers were, for the first time, truly spoilt for choice.

2 Likes
1968

Interesting period of time for television news especially with John Hawkesby leaving TVNZ.

1 Like
1969

Today’s TV: Wednesday 11 February 1981
from the NZ Listener

TV One
11.35am Play School (Rpt)
Noon News
12.02 The Young and the Restless
12.30 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 We’ve Got Each Other (Final) (Rpt)
1.30 Days of Our Lives
2.25 Sooty (Rpt)
2.45 The Learning Tree
2.55 Emily
3.10 Fables of the Green Forest
3.30 The Men from Shiloh
4.50 The Voyage of Charles Darwin (Part 6) (Rpt)
6.00 Behind the Scene with Jonathan Winters (Final)
6.30 News
7.00 Coronation Street
7.30 The Story of Wine (Part 4)
8.05 Turtle’s Progress (Part 6)
9.10 Midweek
9.40 Summertime Movie - Ask Any Girl (1959)
11.35 News
11.40 Closedown

TV2
2.30pm Crown Court
2.55 Tales of the Unexpected (Rpt)
3.20 Country Calendar (Rpt)
3.35 Dinah and Friends
4.15 A Tapestry Workshop
4.30 Happy Ever After (Rpt)
5.00 Eight Is Enough (Rpt)
5.55 News
Further headline bulletins at 7pm, 8pm and 9pm
6.00 The Wednesday Special - Victor Borge in Concert
7.00 The Muppet Show
7.30 When Things Were Rotten
8.00 The Sullivans (Double episode)
9.00 Out (Rpt)
10.00 News at Ten
10.30 Petrocelli
11.20 Jokers Wild
11.50 Closedown

Today’s TV: Monday 11 February 1991
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
7.15am Teletext in Vision
7.30 One Network News - Gulf War Special
An extended hour-long bulletin
8.30 Closedown
11.45 Teletext in Vision
Noon One Network News - Gulf War Special
An extended hour-long bulletin
1.00 Film on One - Sleeping Beauty (1987) (Rpt, G)
2.15 Matinee on One - The Young Philadelphians (1959) (Rpt, G)
4.40 Last of the Summer Wine (G)
5.15 Quantum (G)
5.25 Dad’s Army (Rpt, G)
6.00 One Network News
An extended hour-long bulletin
7.00 Sale of the Century (G)
7.30 ‘Allo ‘Allo! (PGR)
8.05 Fawlty Towers (Rpt, PGR)
8.45 Beyond 2000 (G)
9.45 Haggard (Part 2) (PGR)
10.15 One Network News - Gulf War Special
An extended 45 minute bulletin
11.00 Monday Documentary - Inside the Cartel (PGR)
12.05am Closedown

Channel 2
6.15am Teletext in Vision
6.30 Hallo Spencer (G)
7.00 The Woody Woodpecker Show (G)
7.30 Heathcliff (G)
8.00 ITN World News
8.25 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (G)
8.55 Bugs Bunny (Rpt, G)
9.05 Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
10.05 Alison Holst’s Microwave Menus (Rpt, G)
10.40 Aerobics Oz Style (G)
11.05 Santa Barbara
Noon The Young and the Restless
1.00 Days of Our Lives
2.00 Working Girl (Starting today) (G)
2.30 After 2, including:
2.33 Play School (Rpt, G)
3.00 Casper and Friends (G)
3.30 Defenders of the Earth (Rpt, G)
4.00 The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (G)
4.30 Count Duckula (Rpt, G)
5.00 Charles in Charge (Rpt, G)
5.30 Wheel of Fortune (Series premiere) (G)
6.00 Family Ties (Rpt, G)
6.30 Blind Date (G)
7.00 Neighbours (G)
7.30 The Flying Doctors (G)
8.30 LA Law (PGR)
9.30 Jake and the Fatman (PGR)
10.30 Hill Street Blues (Rpt, AO)
11.30 Snoops (PGR)
12.35am Closedown

TV3
Noon Trial by Jury (PGR)
12.30 NBC Nightly News
Live - via satellite
1.30 Another World (PGR)
2.30 The Oprah Winfrey Show (G)
3.30 Dennis the Menace (Rpt, G)
4.00 The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (Rpt, G)
4.30 Police Academy (Rpt, G)
5.00 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (G)
5.30 Home and Away (G)
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Man About the House (G)
7.30 Candid Camera (G)
8.00 Col’n Carpenter (G)
8.30 3 Mini-Series - Voice of the Heart (Starting tonight, part 1)
10.30 Nightline
11.00 Late Movie - Last of the Great Survivors (1984)
1.00am (approx) Closedown

Sky Movies
Noon The Black Tent (1956) (G)
2.00 Going Sane (1987)
4.00 The Hayley Mills Storybook
5.15 A Haunting Harmony (1990)
6.00 The Shooting Party (1984) (GA)
8.00 Jacknife (1989) (GA)
10.00 The Western - Return of the Seven (1966) (GY)
11.40 Hello Mary Lou: Prom Night II (1987) (R16)
1.13am Closedown

Wheel of Fortune

If you were sitting in front of the television at 5.30pm on this day (11 February) in 1991 then you were likely witnessing the start of a new era in Kiwi game show history. That evening marked the long-awaited premiere of the New Zealand version of Wheel of Fortune on Channel 2 (now TVNZ 2).

While the phrase “America’s Game” was often bandied about, the road to the New Zealand screen wasn’t entirely straight-forward and the version we got had a distinctly antipodean flavour.

The false start
History buffs like me might spot a discrepancy in the early press coverage.

As evidenced by early news clippings (courtesy of The Press via Papers Past), Grundy Television and TVNZ originally intended to spin the wheel nearly a year earlier.

The show was initially slated to debut in March 1990 on TV One (now TVNZ 1) but due to production delays, the launch was pushed back. When it finally arrived in 1991, it had jumped channels to the younger-skewing Channel 2 and taken up the prime 5.30pm slot.

The faces of Fortune
Fronting the programme was the late, great broadcasting personality, Phillip Leishman. By his side at the letter board was Lana Coc-Kroft, crowned Miss Universe New Zealand in 1988 and previously known as a model on Sale of the Century.

Together, they brought a local charm to a format that was already a global juggernaut. While the original US version was produced by Merv Griffin Enterprises (now Sony Pictures Television) and distributed by KingWorld (now CBS Media Ventures), the Kiwi iteration was produced by Grundy Television (which also produced the Australian version for the Seven Network from 1981 to 2006). Consequently, the set design and format closely mirrored the Australian version rather than the US original.

Cars, trips and ‘multiples of five’
The gameplay was a classic ‘system of chance’ as described by series producer, Tony Skinner.

Skinner was a veteran of the genre, having moved over to Wheel of Fortune after serving as co-executive producer (the other being Andrew Brooke) on the New Zealand version of Sale of the Century.

Contestants spun the wheel (marked in money segments in multiples of 5 instead of the American 50) to uncover mystery names, phrases, occupations or places. The goal was simple: take control of the wheel, solve the puzzle and bank the money to qualify for the bonus round.

The stakes were high for the time. A ‘carry-over champion’ format meant a winning contestant could return each evening, Monday to Friday, until beaten. The prize pool was impressive, featuring overseas trips, household appliances, boats and the ultimate prize: a car.

Skinner noted the unpredictability of the game in press interviews at the time:

“Because it’s a system of chance, a car could be spun up every night of the week - it doesn’t tend to happen like that, but it could. In Australia, someone won two cars.” - Tony Skinner

A global legacy
While 1991 marked its New Zealand television debut, the concept was much older.

The format was originally conceived by the legendary Reg Grundy for Australian radio way back in 1957. It wasn’t until 1975 that Merv Griffin adapted it for American television, turning it into the behemoth we recognise today.

For Kiwi viewers in the early 90s, however, the origins didn’t matter as much as the excitement of the spin. Whether you were playing along from the sofa or hoping to be the next carry-over champion, Wheel of Fortune quickly cemented itself as a staple of New Zealand’s tea-time viewing.

How the Wheel re-shuffled Channel 2

When Wheel of Fortune finally spun onto New Zealand screens, it didn’t just bring a new game to town - it forced a significant reshuffle of Channel 2’s evening line-up.

To make way for Phillip Leishman and Lana Coc-Kroft at 5.30pm, TVNZ had to move some viewer favourites, ending the era of the ‘double episode’ soap block and shifting the New Zealand’s premier dating game.

Blind Date
The 5.30pm slot belonged to Blind Date.

Hosted by Dave Jamieson and Suzy Aiken (now Suzy Clarkson), the show had been a tea-time staple since it premiered on the evening of Monday 30 October 1989 (originally at 5.15pm, followed by the early evening newsbreak and regional news - Top Half, Today Tonight, The Mainland Touch and The South Tonight - from 5.45pm).

With Wheel of Fortune taking over the 5.30pm slot, Blind Date (billed by TVNZ as ‘the world’s premier TV dating game’) was bumped to 6.30pm. This move placed it immediately after reruns of the US sitcom, Family Ties, which held its ground at 6pm before making way for Perfect Strangers (briefly) and, later, M-A-S-H (which was shown at 6.30pm with Blind Date moving to 6pm after only a month).

Neighbours
Perhaps the biggest adjustment for viewers was the change to Neighbours, the highly successful Aussie soap that launched the careers of Kylie Minogue, Jason Donovan, Guy Pearce, Craig McLachlan, Natalie Imbruglia, Delta Goodrem, Margot Robbie and many others (and even made Stefan Dennis - known for his role as Paul Robinson - a superstar!).

For some time, Kiwi fans had been treated to double episodes starting at 6.30pm. This aggressive scheduling was designed to close the gap between the New Zealand broadcast and the Australian transmission - a strategy implemented after Sale of the Century switched channels to TV One in July 1989 (immediately after Holmes at 6.30pm).

The launch of Wheel of Fortune brought an end to this binge-viewing bonanza. With Blind Date moving into the 6.30pm slot, Neighbours was pushed back to 7pm and reverted to single, half hour episodes.

1970

The Canterbury one became a whole channel at one point. It was called Visitor TV.

It went off air after the 2011 earthquake and never returned.

4 Likes
1971

Yep. From memory VTV broadcast on UHF56, which they acquired when CTV merged with NowTV (formerly CHTV). I think it came about simply because they had the extra frequency.

It was the Now TV building they had moved to (some years earlier), that collapsed.

4 Likes
1972

Today’s TV: Wednesday 20 February 1985
from the NZ Listener

TV One
11.30am Play School (Rpt)
11.55 You and Your Child (Rpt)
Noon News
12.02 The Young and the Restless
12.55 Tai Chi
1.05 Archie Bunker’s Place
1.35 Days of Our Lives
2.30 You and Your Child (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
2.35 Play School (Rpt)
A repeat screening of today’s programme
3.00 Let’s Read with Basil Brush
3.10 Chic Chat
3.40 After School, including:
3.40 Aubrey
3.45 Pinocchio
3.50 The Adventures of Black Beauty (Rpt)
4.20 Small World with Anthony Savill
4.25 Top Cat (Rpt)
5.00 The Winner
5.30 Terrahawks
EAST COAST VIEWERS ONLY - Te Karere (5.50-6pm)
6.00 Taxi (Rpt)
6.30 News
Includes regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.30 Remington Steele
8.30 Partners in Crime (Part 8)
9.30 Marilyn (Rpt)
10.55 News
11.00 Closedown

TV2
2.30pm Prisoner
3.25 General Hospital
3.50 Fantasy Island (Rpt)
4.40 I Dream of Jeannie (Rpt)
5.10 RTR Video Releases
5.45 News
5.50 Te Karere
On TV2 everywhere - except the East Coast (TV One)
6.00 The Young Doctors
6.30 The Sullivans (Double episode)
7.30 Our World - Animal Imposters
8.30 The A-Team
9.30 Eye Witness News
10.00 Shroud for a Nightingale (Starting tonight, part 1)
11.00 The Untouchables (B&W) (Rpt)
11.55 Closedown

Today’s TV: Monday 20 February 1995
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
7.30am ITN World News
8.00 eTV, including:
8.00 ABN This Week
8.30 Asia Now
9.00 Japanese Women
10.00 The Flying Doctors (Rpt, G)
11.00 Live It Up (Double episode) (G)
Noon The Midday Movie - Lured (1947, aka “Personal Column”) (B&W) (Rpt, G)
1.55 Jeeves and Wooster (Rpt, G)
3.00 Chatterbox (Rpt, G)
3.20 Bananas in Pyjamas (Rpt, G)
3.25 The Adventures of the Black Stallion (G)
3.55 Last of the Summer Wine (Rpt, G)
4.30 No Job for a Lady (G)
5.00 One World of Sport - America’s Cup 1995
5.30 Wheel of Fortune
6.00 One Network News
7.00 Holmes
7.30 The Bill (Double episode) (PGR)
8.35 Between the Lines (Rpt, AO)
9.40 Alas Smith and Jones (Final) (Rpt, AO)
10.15 Nelson’s Column (Part 6, final) (PGR)
10.50 Sportsnight
11.20 One Network News - Late Edition
11.30 One World of Sport - America’s Cup 1995 (Rpt)
A repeat screening of tonight’s highlights package
12.00am Phoenix (Starting tonight) (AO)
1.05 The Brittas Empire (Rpt, PGR)
1.45 Closedown

TV2
6.00am Wonder World! (G)
6.25 Wowser (Rpt, G)
6.55 Samurai Pizza Cats (Rpt, G)
7.25 Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo (Rpt, G)
7.55 Barney & Friends (Rpt, G)
8.35 The Adventures of Spot (Rpt, G)
8.40 Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
9.40 Chatterbox (Rpt, G)
10.00 Shortland Street (Rpt, PGR)
10.30 Santa Barbara
11.30 The Susan Powter Show
Noon The Young and the Restless (G)
1.00 Days of Our Lives (G)
2.00 Ricki Lake (Rpt, PGR)
3.00 The Bold and the Beautiful
3.30 Tic Tac Toons (G)
4.00 Taz-Mania (Rpt, G)
4.30 Conan the Adventurer (Rpt, G)
5.00 The Beverly Hillbillies (Rpt, G)
5.30 Neighbours (G)
6.00 Home and Away (G)
6.30 The Simpsons (Rpt, G)
7.00 Shortland Street (Rpt, PGR)
7.30 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (G)
8.30 The Monday Night Movie - Iron Eagle II (1988) (Rpt, AO)
10.35 Newsnight
11.05 Tour of Duty (Rpt, AO)
12.05am Chances (AO)
1.05 Street Justice (AO)
2.00 Key West (G)
2.55 Neighbours (Double episode) (Rpt, G)
3.45 Face the Music (Rpt, G)
4.20 Ricki Lake (Rpt, PGR)
5.05 Paradise Beach (Rpt, G)
5.35 M-A-S-H (Rpt, G) (Continues to 6am)

TV3
6.30am Fraggle Rock (G)
7.00 You and Me (G)
7.25 Garfield and Friends (G)
7.55 My Three Sons (G)
8.25 The Andy Griffith Show (G)
8.55 Infomercial
9.25 You Bet Your Life (G)
9.55 Treasures Parent Time (G)
10.00 You and Me (G)
10.25 Infomercial
10.55 Morning Cooking, including:
10.55 Today’s Gourmet (G)
11.30 The Graham Kerr Show (G)
Noon Donahue (PGR)
1.00 The Oprah Winfrey Show (Rpt, PGR)
2.00 The Price Is Right (G)
2.30 General Hospital (PGR)
3.30 Green Acres (G)
4.00 Get Smart (G)
4.30 Blossom (G)
5.00 The Oprah Winfrey Show (G)
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Sale of the Century (G)
7.30 3 Mobil Sport
8.30 20/20
9.30 Law & Order (AO)
10.30 Nightline
11.00 War of the Worlds (Double episode) (AO)
1.00am Infomercials
3.00 Closedown

HBO
Noon American Friends (1991) (GA)
1.35 The Octagon (1980) (R16)
3.30 The Emperor’s New Clothes (1994) (G)
4.30 Zits (1988) (GY)
6.00 Lorenzo’s Oil (1992) (GA)
8.30 Monday Night Action - French Connection II (1975) (GA)
10.30 Monday Night Thriller - Whispers in the Dark (1992) (R16)
12.15am Head (1968) (GY)
1.40 Late Night (R18)
2.10 Secret Confessions and Fantasies (R18)
2.40 Closedown

Orange
6.00am The Juice Night Train (Free to air, continued)
7.00 The Juice Traffic Jam (Free to air)
10.00 Mother’s Day
10.30 Growing Up Together
11.00 Jones & Jury
11.30 Alice
Noon Kate & Allie
12.30 Three’s Company
1.00 Love Connection
1.30 Supermarket Sweep
2.00 Play Your Cards Right
2.30 Prisoner (aka “Prisoner: Cell Block H”)
3.00 Loving
3.30 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
4.00 Rolonda
5.00 Cartoon Classics
6.00 Love Connection
6.30 Brookside
7.00 Real Stories of the Highway Patrol
7.30 The Comedy Company
8.00 Sledge Hammer!
8.30 Blue Thunder
9.30 The Kids in the Hall
10.00 Let the Blood Run Free
10.30 Night Court
11.00 Second City Television (aka “SCTV Network”)
11.30 The Juice Late Night (Free to air)
1.00am The Juice Night Train (Free to air, continues to 7am)

Canterbury Television (CTV), Christchurch
6.00am Welcome to Canterbury (Continued)
4.45pm Teletext
5.00 Susan Sells
Includes news and weather updates
6.00 ASB Bank Tennis Special
Canterbury v Manawatu - highlights
7.00 Drop the Dead Donkey (PGR)
7.30 CTV’s World Tonight
8.30 1995 Speights Coast to Coast
9.30 Computer Chronicles (G)
10.00 CTV’s World Tonight - Late Edition
10.30 Susan Sells (Rpt)
A repeat screening of tonight’s programme
11.15 Welcome to Canterbury (Continues through the night)

Bays Television, Nelson
6.00am Bays-Watch (Continued)
7.15pm Bays Today
7.30 Desmond’s (Double episode) (G)
8.30 Drop the Dead Donkey (PGR)
9.00 Rising Damp (PGR)
9.30 Vid-X-Press (G)
10.00 The New Statesman (PGR)
10.30 Bays Today (Rpt)
A repeat screening of tonight’s bulletin
10.45 Welcome to Nelson
11.45 Bays-Watch (Continues through the night)

CRY Television, Christchurch
11.00am Green Zone (Rpt)
A repeat screening of the previous day’s programme
1.00pm Purple Zone (Rpt)
A repeat screening of last night’s programme
4.00 Green Zone
6.00 Yellow Zone
9.00 Red Zone
12.00am Closedown

MAX: The Music Channel, Auckland
4.00pm The Beat
6.00 The Serious Fun Zone
9.00 Libra Talkzone
11.00 MAX Trax
12.00am Closedown

2 Likes
1973

Today’s TV: Tuesday 22 February 2011

from The Press

22-02-11
22-02-111920×992 646 KB

On this day 15 years ago, a devastating 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch, causing widespread damage and killing 185 people, becoming New Zealand’s fifth deadliest disaster. TV1 and TV3 both interrupted regular programming (Emmerdale and Dr Phil, respectively) to provide ongoing news coverage of the quake and its aftermath. Canterbury Television was also knocked off air as a result of the collapse of the CTV Building.

6 Likes
1974

Hi There - Any chance you have the TV Guide for 14th August 1999 through to 31st August 1999?

1 Like
1975

Not at this stage.

Today’s TV: Saturday 27 February 1982
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
10.00am Humpty
10.25 Cattanooga Cats
10.30 Sport on One
Includes cricket (NZ v Australia - first test, day two; live from
Noon News
12.02 Sport on One (Continued)
6.00 Ready to Roll
6.30 News
7.00 Of Muppets and Men
8.00 Private Benjamin
8.30 Saturday Night at the Movies - Breaking Away (1979)
10.30 Quincy ME
11.25 Entertainment This Week
12.05am News
12.10 Closedown

TV2
Noon Search for Tomorrow (Double episode)
1.00 The Duchess of Duke Street (Rpt)
1.50 Saturday Afternoon Movie - For the First Time (1959)
3.25 Let’s Make a Musical (Part 2)
3.50 The Human Experience
4.15 The Palace
5.05 The Brothers (Rpt)
5.55 News
6.00 News Review
6.15 Sports Review
6.30 Laverne & Shirley
6.50 I Like That One: Two
7.05 Life on Earth (Part 11) (Rpt)
8.00 Master of Arts
8.30 Terry and June
9.00 Saturday Playhouse - Looking for Vicky
9.50 News
10.05 World Cinema - The Elephant Man (1982)
11.45 Closedown

Today’s TV: Thursday 27 February 1992
from the NZ Listener

TV One
10.25am Teletext in Vision
10.40 Kilroy
11.30 New Zealand Today
12.30pm ABC World News Tonight
1.00 Film on One - Falling in Love (1984) (PGR)
3.00 Secret Army (Rpt, PGR)
4.05 Te Karere
4.15 One World of Sport - Cricket
1992 Cricket World Cup - England v West Indies; live from the MCG, Melbourne
6.00 One Network News
6.30 Holmes
7.00 Sale of the Century (G)
7.30 One World of Sport - Cricket (Continued)
1992 Cricket World Cup - England v West Indies; live from the MCG, Melbourne
8.00 The Bill (PGR)
8.30 One World of Sport - Cricket (Continued)
1992 Cricket World Cup - England v West Indies; live from the MCG, Melbourne
10.30 Tonight with Anita McNaught (News)
10.40 One World of Sport - Cricket (Continued)
1992 Cricket World Cup - England v West Indies; live from the MCG, Melbourne
12.30am Closedown

Channel 2
6.00am Heathcliff (Rpt, G)
6.30 The Bullwinkle Show (G)
7.00 The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin (Rpt, G)
7.25 Jem (Rpt, G)
8.00 ITN World News
8.30 Yippee, Yappee and Yahooey (Rpt, G)
8.40 Sesame Street (G)
9.35 Play School (Rpt, G)
10.05 Aerobics Oz Style (G)
10.30 Neighbours (Rpt, G)
11.00 Santa Barbara
Noon The Young and the Restless
1.00 Days of Our Lives
2.00 Who’s the Boss? (Rpt, G)
2.30 Jase TV, including:
2.33 Play School (Rpt, G)
3.00 Fireman Sam (Rpt, G)
3.15 The Adventures of Spot (Rpt, G) - See the YouTube video below for a wraparound

3.20 Jim Henson’s Mother Goose Stories (G) - See the YouTube video below for a wraparound

3.30 The Son of a Gunn Show
See the YouTube videos below for a full episode (including commercial breaks) and outros

4.00 Dinky Di’s (G)
See the YouTube video below for a full episode (including commercial breaks)

4.30 Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (G)
See the YouTube link below for the opening titles

5.00 The Bugs Bunny Show (G)
6.00 Perfect Strangers (G)
6.30 Wheel of Fortune (G)
7.00 Neighbours (G)
7.30 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (G)
8.00 The Paradise Picture Show (G)
8.30 Married… with Children (PGR)
9.00 ‘Allo ‘Allo!
9.30 Chances (AO)
10.30 Paradise
11.30 The New Mike Hammer (AO)
12.35am Mini-Series - Amerika (Part 4) (PGR)
2.20 Movie - Equus (1977) (Rpt, AO)
4.40 Movie - Big Trouble (1986) (PGR) (Continues to 6am)

TV3
Noon The Oprah Winfrey Show (G)
1.00 Donahue (PGR)
2.00 The Bold and the Beautiful (PGR)
2.30 Generations (PGR)
3.00 The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh (Rpt, G)
3.30 Dinosaucers (Rpt, G)
4.00 Voltron (Rpt, G)
4.30 Double Dare (G)
5.00 Perfect Match (Rpt, G)
5.30 Hey Dad..! (Rpt, G)
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Give Us a Clue (G)
7.30 Father Dowling Mysteries (PGR)
8.30 Thursday Night at the Movies - Sister, Sister (1987) (AO)
10.45 Nightline
11.30 Night Heat (AO)
12.30am (approx) Closedown

Sky Movies
Noon Chances Are (1989) (GA)
2.00 The Prince and the Pauper (1937) (B&W) (GY)
4.00 Gleaming the Cube (1989) (GY)
6.00 Erik the Viking (1989) (GA)
8.00 Third Degree Burn (1989) (GA)
9.36 Box Office America (G)
10.00 Nightbreed (1990) (R16)
11.40 Uncle Buck (1989) (GY)
1.20am Closedown

Canterbury Television (CTV), Christchurch
4.45pm Susan Sells
5.30 First Report (News)
6.00 Blake’s 7 (G)
7.00 Studio 4 (G)
7.30 CTV News
8.00 Jim Hopkins Live
8.30 The Evening Movie - Helen Keller: The Miracle Continues (1984) (PGR)
10.20 Susan Sells (Rpt)
A repeat screening of tonight’s programme
11.05 Closedown

1992 Cricket World Cup: England v West Indies

If you cast your mind back to the afternoon of Thursday 27 February 1992, New Zealand television was a very different landscape. It was the height of the 1992 Cricket World Cup and England was taking on the West Indies over at the MCG in Melbourne.

For Kiwi cricket fans, TV One (now TVNZ 1) was the place to be. As Te Karere concluded at 4.15pm, the cricket-themed One World of Sport theme tune heralded the start of the coverage. Presenting from TVNZ’s Auckland studios was the ever professional Geoff Bryan - sporting, of course, the famous beard that he would famously shave off by the middle of that year!

However, the reality of 1990s sports broadcasting meant that live sport didn’t completely take over the network. Instead of a dedicated 24-hour sport channel, the cricket had to weave around the bedrock of TV One’s evening programming. If you wanted to watch the match then you also had to navigate the day’s big stories and issues from One Network News and Holmes; a bit of quiz show trivia with Steve Parr and Jude Dobson; and the latest drama from Sun Hill.

The listings are provided above.

@TV4 @NuStraya @OnAir Looking back, it is quite charming to think that a World Cup match had to take a scheduled tea break for Sale of the Century and The Bill. It certainly made for a thoroughly varied evening of television!

3 Likes
1976

Imagine the complaints is Sky did that today!

1 Like
1977

Today’s TV: Tuesday 7 March 1978
from the NZ Listener

TV One
Noon News
12.05 The Young and the Restless
12.30 Forearmed
12.35 Beauty and the Beast
1.00 The Odd Couple (Rpt)
1.25 Days of Our Lives
2.20 Play School
2.50 Rooms
3.15 Nice One
3.20 Pardon My Genie
3.45 Valley of the Dinosaurs (Rpt)
4.05 My Favourite Martian
4.30 Nice One
4.35 Room 222 (Rpt)
5.05 Daktari (Rpt)
6.00 Hogan’s Heroes (Rpt)
6.30 News
Includes regional news from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin
7.00 Close to Home
7.30 It Ain’t Half Hot Mum
8.00 When the Boat Comes In
9.00 All in the Family
9.30 News
9.40 This Week - The Intelligence Game (Part 4)
10.10 The Avengers (Rpt)
11.00 News and Weather
11.05 Closedown

South Pacific Television (SPTV)
3.00pm Search for Tomorrow
3.25 Chic Chat, including:
3.25 Romper Room
3.55 Rainbow
4.15 Felix the Cat
4.25 Clutch Cargo (Rpt)
4.30 Hey Hey It’s Andy, including:
4.30 The Devlins
5.00 Batman (Rpt)
5.30 Gidget (Rpt)
6.00 News at Six
6.30 The Adventurer
7.00 Please Sir!
7.30 Family
8.30 Eye Witness
9.00 Starsky & Hutch
10.00 News at Ten
10.30 A Picture of Katherine Mansfield (Part 6, final) (Rpt)
11.30 Closedown

Today’s TV: Monday 7 March 1988
from the NZ Listener

TV One
10.10am Teletext in Vision
10.25 Sports Special - Cricket
NZ v England - third test, day five; live from the Basin Reserve, Wellington
12.35pm The Odd Couple (Rpt)
1.05 Sports Special - Cricket (Continued)
NZ v England - third test, day five; live from the Basin Reserve, Wellington
5.45 Te Karere
6.00 Sports Special - Cricket
NZ v England - third test, day five; highlights
6.30 Network News
Includes regional programmes: Top Half (Auckland), Today Tonight (Wellington), The Mainland Touch (Christchurch) and The South Tonight (Dunedin)
7.30 Ever Decreasing Circles (Series return)
8.00 Bergerac (Series return)
9.00 ‘Allo ‘Allo! (Series return)
9.30 What If It’s Raining? (Part 2)
10.35 Roll Over Beethoven
11.05 Kojak (Rpt)
12.05am Closedown

Network Two
11.45am Teletext in Vision
Noon Love Connection
12.30 One Day at a Time (Rpt)
1.00 The Sullivans (Double episode) (Rpt)
2.00 Alice
2.30 Play School
2.55 After School, including:
3.00 The Smurfs
3.30 Square One
4.00 DuckTales
4.30 The Lost Islands (Rpt)
5.00 Grange Hill
5.30 Webster
6.00 Sons and Daughters
6.30 The Facts of Life
7.00 RTR Countdown
7.30 EastEnders
8.00 It’s in the Bag
8.30 Cheers
9.00 LA Law
10.00 EyeWitness
Current affairs, WorldWatch and a news update
11.00 Barney Miller (Rpt)
11.30 Adam-12
12.00am Closedown

1 Like
1978

Today’s TV: Saturday 14 March 1981
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
10.00am The Basil Brush Show
10.30 The Muppet Show (Rpt)
10.55 Sport on One Special - Cricket
NZ v India - third test, day two (first hour’s play); live from Eden Park, Auckland
Noon News
12.02 Saturday Cinema - Strangers at Sunrise (1969) (Rpt)
1.30 Sport on One
Includes cricket (NZ v India - third test, day two [final stages]; live from Eden Park, Auckland), racing from Trentham (the Champion Stakes, HR Chalmers Handicap [first leg TAB double] ,the NZ St Leger and the Penfolds Mile, plus delayed coverage of the Wakefield Challenge Stakes), motorsport (1981 South African Grand Prix - highlights) and football (1980/81 FA Cup)
6.00 Ready to Roll
6.30 News
7.00 The Val Doonican Music Show
8.00 Sport on One Special - Harness Racing
1981 Great Northern Derby - live from Alexandra Park, Auckland
8.30 Saturday Night at the Movies - Will Penny (1968)
10.30 The Johnny Carson Show
The best bits of “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”
11.25 The Life and Times of Eddie Roberts (aka “LATER”)
11.50 News
11.55 Closedown

TV2
Noon Search for Tomorrow (Double episode)
1.00 Family (Rpt)
1.50 Saturday Afternoon Movie - Stella Dallas (1937) (B&W)
3.35 Animals, Animals, Animals (Rpt)
4.00 Chico and the Man
4.25 The Good Old Days
5.10 The Brothers (Rpt)
5.55 News
6.00 News Review
6.15 Sports Review
6.30 Laverne & Shirley
6.50 I Like That One: Two
7.00 Foreign Correspondent
8.00 Master of Arts
8.30 Rings on Their Fingers
9.00 Parkinson
10.00 News
10.10 World Cinema - Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris (1975)
A bilingual film (English and French [with English subtitles if French is spoken])
11.45 Closedown

Today’s TV: Thursday 14 March 1991
from the NZ Listener and The Press

TV One
10.15am Teletext in Vision
10.30 Classics on One - Murder She Said (1961) (B&W) (Rpt, G)
Noon Hi-de-Hi! (Rpt, PGR)
12.30 Mini-Series - The Lancaster Miller Affair (Part 2) (AO)
2.35 Matinee on One - Project X (1968) (PGR)
4.15 The Mary Tyler Moore Show (Rpt, G)
4.45 Emmerdale (G)
5.15 Te Karere
5.25 Me and My Girl (Rpt, G)
6.00 One Network News
6.30 Holmes
7.00 Sale of the Century (G)
7.30 Coronation Street (PGR)
8.00 The Bill (PGR)
8.30 Foreign Correspondent
9.35 More Issues (Starting tonight) (PGR)
Click the NZ On Screen link below to watch

10.05 One Network News
10.35 Chelworth (Part 5) (PGR)
11.45 Butterflies (Starting tonight) (Rpt, G)
12.20am Closedown

Channel 2
6.15am Teletext in Vision
6.30 Hallo Spencer (G)
7.00 Spider-Man (aka “Spider-Man 5000”) (Rpt, G)
7.25 Star Wars: Ewoks (Rpt, G)
8.00 ITN World News
8.25 Snagglepuss (Rpt, G)
8.40 Sesame Street (Rpt, G)
9.40 Play School (Rpt, G)
10.05 Aerobics Oz Style (G)
10.35 Neighbours (Rpt, G)
11.05 Santa Barbara
Noon The Young and the Restless
1.00 Days of Our Lives
2.00 Newhart (G)
2.30 After 2, including:
2.33 Play School (Rpt, G)
3.00 Casper and Friends (G)
3.30 The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda (G)
4.00 The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers (G)
4.30 ALF (Rpt, G)
5.00 Charles in Charge (Rpt, G)
5.30 Wheel of Fortune (G)
6.00 Blind Date (G)
6.30 M-A-S-H (Rpt, G)
7.00 Neighbours (G)
7.30 Totally Hidden Video (G)
8.00 Who’s the Boss? (G)
8.30 China Beach (AO)
9.30 Magnum PI (Rpt, G)
10.30 Funny Business (Series return) (AO)

11.00 Beauty and the Beast (Series return) (AO)
12.05am Closedown

TV3
Noon Trial by Jury (PGR)
12.30 NBC Nightly News
Live - via satellite from New York
1.30 Another World (PGR)
2.30 The Oprah Winfrey Show (G)
3.30 Dennis the Menace (Rpt, G)
4.00 The All-New Mickey Mouse Club (Rpt, G)
4.30 Voltron (Rpt, G)
5.00 He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (G)
5.30 Home and Away (G)
6.00 3 National News
7.00 Hey Dad..! (G)
7.30 E Street (PGR)
8.30 Rumpole of the Bailey (PGR)
9.30 GP (AO)
10.30 Nightline
11.00 Late Movie - The Big Combo (1955) (B&W)
1.00am (approx) Closedown

Sky Movies
Noon Carry On Henry (1971) (R16)
2.00 Nadine (1987) (GA)
4.00 Summer of the Colt (1989)
6.00 Moon over Parador (1988) (GY)
8.00 Body Heat (1981) (R16)
10.00 Hawks (1988) (RP16)
12.00am Stir (1980) (R18)
1.32 Closedown

Classic Kiwi comedy

If you were sitting in front of the telly on the evening of Thursday 14 March 1991 then you were in for an absolute treat. TVNZ served up a massive double header of homegrown sketch comedy and showcased two very different but equally iconic eras of Kiwi humour.

More Issues
Kicking off the night on TV One (now TVNZ 1) was the premiere of More Issues (at 9.35pm).

Produced by Isambard Productions for TVNZ (with funding from NZ On Air) and recorded in front of a live audience at Isambard’s Auckland studios, the show was a direct evolution of 1990: The Issues which had screened on TV3 (now Three) a year earlier.

While the 1990 predecessor was heavily dominated by the general election, which was won by the late Jim Bolger (of the National Party), series producer Anne Williams promised that More Issues would be ‘far broader in its scope’. The Gulf War had recently exposed us as New Zealanders to a variety of dramatic overseas news-presenting styles and provided perfect fodder for the show’s satirical crosshairs.

Led by the legendary (and dearly missed) David McPhail and Jon Gadsby, the stellar core cast included Rima Te Wiata, Mark Wright, Rawiri Paratene and Alison Wall. They didn’t just target politicians like Winston Peters, Ruth Richardson and Sir Robert Muldoon; they took aim at the entire media landscape - e.g. Judy Bailey, Richard Long, Paul Holmes, Anita McNaught, Lindsay Perigo, Joanna Paul, Belinda Todd and Bill Ralston.

Celebrity take-offs were also utilised - e.g. Jon Gadsby’s hilarious spin on Alison Holst, Rima Te Wiata as Rachel Hunter and Rawiri Paratene capturing Oprah Winfrey.

The show was a massive hit and ran until an hour-long compilation show (Bumper Issues: The Best of More Issues) in June before jumping over to Channel 2 (now TVNZ 2) in August for a new sponsor (Cardinal Network) and a new timeslot (8pm) on the same night.

You can watch clips from More Issues via NZ On Screen by clicking its link above.

Funny Business
Later that same evening, viewers who switched over to Channel 2 at 10.30pm were treated to the long-awaited return of Funny Business.

Emerging from the Auckland comedy scene in 1985 and heavily inspired by the alternative, anarchic energy of British shows like The Young Ones, the quartet of Ian Harcourt, Dean Butler, Willy de Wit and Peter Murphy were already Kiwi comedy royalty.

Their first television series (Funny Business) in 1988, complete with occasional animation by Chris Knox and additional writing by James Griffin, swept the 1989 Listener Film and Television Awards, bagging “Best Television Entertainer”, “Best Director” (Tony Holden) and “Best Writer”. It was also nominated for “Best Entertainment Programme”.

Strangely, their second series (Funny Business II) was filmed in 1989 but sat on the shelf until this fateful night in March 1991.

Unlike the topical, headline-chasing satire of More Issues, Funny Business specialised in absurd, character-based skits and musical parodies. Thanks to them, Kiwi pop culture’s view of hoons, buying lounge suites and Mormons on bicycles would never be the same.

This second series also holds a fun piece of trivia: the core quartet was supported by Madeleine Lynch, Amanda Tollemache and a then unknown actress named Lucy Lawless - just years before she would become a global icon as Xena.

Plus, you can watch clips from Funny Business via NZ On Screen by clicking its link below.

Looking back at 14 March 1991, it’s hard not to feel a wave of nostalgia. In just a couple of hours, we were treated to the razor sharp political and media satire of McPhail & Gadsby, right alongside the anarchic, alternative character comedy of Funny Business. It was a golden era for local television, proving that Kiwi talent could go toe-to-toe with anyone in the world when it came to making us laugh.

1 Like
1979

Bizarre how the cricket was not continuous coverage back then or did not switch to Channel 2, similar to how cricket used to switch between BBC1 and BBC2 during the day?

1 Like