Kris Faafoi is set to announce the merger of TVNZ-RNZ at a press conference in matter of moments. Live stream is link above video player to watch.
2 Likes
TVNZ and RNZ to be fully merged by mid-2023; meaning there will be a new public broadcaster.
As a comparison for Australia, is this like 10 and ABC merging?
1 Like
Sort of except it’s two publicly owned entities merging. One that is strictly public service and one that currently has a commercial imperative and is required to return a dividend to the govt. The new entity will likely be something in between the two models - some commercial funding in addition to public funding, but no dividend required.
1 Like
Interesting article - I agree whether there is advertising (which is highly bothersome) on the website will be a big call.
1 Like
Timeline of what has happened and what will happen between now and when this new ‘entity’ is created.
Nope. Imagine ABC TV with ads, having been separated from the radio arm in the 1980’s, now merging into ABC Radio without ads… that’s what’s happening.
It really is just another iteration of how we used to run TV & Radio in NZ… I guess in twenty years or another Govt will separate them out again! Politicians have a long history of sticking their fingers into the media pie.
10 Likes
Now we can pretty much piece together a full weeknight lineup for Eden.
Discovery’s new HD channel Eden will launch on March 21 with a first-week schedule that will be familiar to viewers of the SD channel it replaces, Choice, while offering a slightly wider choice of content.
The biggest difference will be a nightly 8.00 Newshub Live bulletin and an 8.30 Thursday premium drama slot that will open on March 24 with Australian series The Newsreader , a TV newsroom drama set in 1986 that could be the perfect antidote to TV journos who take themselves too seriously.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, “It packs nostalgia, romance and office politics into its six perfectly formed hours, and still finds room to tackle weighty issues such as sexual harassment, homophobia and racism. In its understated way it is [quite brilliant].”
Otherwise, the schedule will be lifestyle-driven renovation and reality, with informercials replacing Choice’s overnight programming.
A Nigel Havers-hosted antique game show, The Bidding Room, which has spawned three seasons on the BBC, will be stripped weeknights at 6.00, ahead of Filthy Garden SOS (7.00 Mondays), UK Highway Patrol soundalike The Motorway (7.00 Tuesdays), design competition Ellen’s Next Great Designer (7.00 Wednesdays), Undercover Big Boss (7.00 Thursdays) and topiary competition Clipped (7.00 Fridays).
Said Commonsense Media of Clipped: “Folks who like working with botanicals, or who are simply curious about the art form, will find it most engrossing); others looking for a lighthearted reality series will also find it fun.”
Decider reckons Ellen’s Next Great Designer has “more of a Project Runway format than a Great British Bake Off format. But the fact that the designers get to do their design and build work from home reminds us of the much-lower-budget History competition Assembly Required with Tim Allen and Richard Karn.”
A remodelled Changing Rooms will anchor 8.30 Mondays (“design so dreadful you’ll be scarred for life,” quipped The Guardian), Big House Clearout 8.30 Tuesdays, Big Family Farm 8.30 Wednesdays and Dancing on Ice 8.30 Fridays.
Ice is a figure skating variation on Dancing With the Star s (the UK version of which also is destined for Eden) while Big Family Farm has been a heartwarming hit in the UK, where it airs under the title, Our Yorkshire Farm, and has made a household name of Amanda Owen.
“The 47-year-old, her husband Clive Owen and their brood of nine have soared in popularity of late as the nation has become obsessed with what life is really like on Ravenseat Farm,” The Sun reported while The Spectator pondered: “Is there anything more uplifting than Our Yorkshire Farm?”
At 9.30, Eden will strip the George Clarke series that previously aired on TVNZ 1, Ugly House to Lovely House.
The daytime schedule will include re-runs of the previous night’s programming, cooking shows and the Mysteries at the Museum (5.00 weeknights) while movies will screen on Saturday and Sunday nights.
Will be fun for the scheduler at Discovery putting together a lineup of infomercials across four different channels.
5 Likes
2 Likes
Three has changed its profile picture across social media to show support to Ukraine.
#WeStandWithUkraine 
8 Likes
The new season of SAS Australia premieres on Three on Wednesday March 16 at 9pm, after Married at First Sight. In this show, 17 new celebrity recruits sign up for the most brutal SAS selection course.
In Australia, MAFS and SAS air in the 7.30pm timeslot on rival channels, with MAFS often doubling SAS’s audience in overnight figures.
1 Like
Choice TV is scheduled to go off-air (Sunday 20 March) as it makes way for a rebrand to eden which launches the next day.
Freeview EPG guide is showing that American Pickers is their final program being shown at 10:30pm-11:30pm; while on the Sky EPG guide, Jamie’s Quick & Easy Food is also scheduled to be their last program shown on Choice at 11:30pm-Midnight. It’ll be followed by “Goodbye” as the channel has finally signed off.
2 Likes
Right up until recently, the Freeview and Sky guides had Choice finishing at 6am on Monday 21st
2 Likes
Edge and Breeze TV both showing tickers occasionally during certiain songs.
The Edge one mentions they’re going online whereas Breeze is only showing radio frequencies.
5 Likes
They had one ticker showing that The Edge TV etc. is going offline to make way to launch new channels (Eden and Rush) tomorrow but their live streams will keep airing via their websites and Rova app.
Is anyone able to upload the final moments of Choice TV when it closes tonight?
1 Like
Choice TV, The Edge/Breeze TV has finally signed off-air at midnight.
2 Likes
Here’s their signoff:
6 Likes
Cheers, thanks so much for this.
2 Likes