Simulcasting Melbourne Cup on TVNZ Duke +1 will prevent the coverage being accidentally shown twice.
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Duke+1 has been simulcasting Trackside Premier a few times during the racing season. But it’ll be shown on both channels at the same time.
EDIT: Sky did had a pop-up channel for Trackside Premier, but it hasn’t been used this all time (even when off-peak when October-November racing season is big) so they kinda pulled it off.
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Yep, it was doing so at one point over the weekend. Confused me for a bit too!
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What is Trackside Premier? Will the races be simulcasted on Trackside 1 or 2, or is this coverage Premier exclusive?
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Season 5 of Paramedics premieres on TVNZ 1 next Monday (November 1) at 8.25pm. This season was filmed in South Australia for the first time, following four seasons in Victoria.
Channel Nine has renewed Paramedics for the sixth season.
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In Cold Water: The Shelter Bay Mystery will have New Zealand free-to-air premiere on Sky Open, screening across three consecutive nights from 18-20 November at 8.30pm.
The series debuts on Prime Video internationally today.
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Through a licensing deal with Paramount, Freediver will be available on Dec. 7, 2024 on Prime Video in the U.S. The film has also been licensed to Paramount+ in Canada and will be available on the same date. In Australia, Freediver has been licensed to Foxtel, BINGE and Paramount+ and will also be available in January on Sky New Zealand’s Sky Movies in early 2025.
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The 20th season of The Block Australia premieres on THREE this Sunday at 7.30pm, and continues Mondays-Wednesdays at 7pm. It will air right through this summer.
The season took place at Phillip Island, south east of Melbourne, earlier this year, with the houses auctioned on November 9.
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#NZOnAir has announced funding for Paddy Gower Has Issues in 2025. @patrickgowernz will tackle consumer affairs and current issues affecting Kiwis, airing on ThreeNow, Three, Stuff, and social media platforms.
https://x.com/thetvnews/status/1859799468822102482?s=46&t=RPKXX3QJ5bwM_6c5rMb0SA
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The 2024 New Zealand Television Awards ceremony saw the best of Aotearoa’s TV stars walk the red carpet and celebrate their wins over the past year.
Comedian Pax Assadi hosted Friday night’s red carpet event at Aotea Centre’s Kiri Te Kanawa Theatre in Auckland.
Acclaimed drama series After The Party dominated the ceremony, taking home nine accolades — a record haul having beat The Luminaries which received eight awards in 2020.
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Of any interest to MediaSpyers in Australia could be 8-part TVNZ drama Blue Murder Hotel.
Heading up the new commissions is Blue Murder Motel, set in a sunny beachside New Zealand town. Married Australian police detectives Vanessa and Cole take early retirement to invest in their new dream – a cute little 13-room motel in Aotearoa New Zealand, but murder and mayhem ensue.
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WBD has announced content for 2025:
MEDIA RELEASE
Warner Bros. Discovery announces strong local content slate and return of international hits for 2025
New and returning local shows, with over 50 local titles in production or development for 2025 and beyond
2025 NEW LOCALS
Three and ThreeNow will be home to a stunning collection of brand-new homegrown content in 2025, spanning drama, comedy and factual. With more announcements to come, highlights at time of writing include:
Tangata Pai
Starring Nicola Kawana, Shavaughn Ruakere, Jayden Daniels, Ariana Osborne and Yosun An, this eight-part drama series tells the stories of five people in the last hour of their lives, before a bomb is detonated at a Māori protest. Tangata Pai is the first primetime drama for Three and ThreeNow in which 30% will be in te reo Māori. Produced by Brown Sugar Apple Grunt, made with support of Te Māngai Pāho and NZ On Air.
POLK: The Trial of Philip Polkinghorne (w/t)
This three-part true crime documentary series will follow the Polkinghorne case, from charges being laid through to the concluding verdict. Produced by Blonde Razor, made with support of NZ On Air.
Lomu: The Lost Tapes
This groundbreaking documentary tells the story of the All Black legend in his own words, charting his journey from humble beginnings to the height of a transcendent rugby career. For the first time ever, Lomu’s extraordinary life is recounted through previously unreleased footage that captures the raw and intimate moments from his memorable life. Produced by All3Media-backed 3 Rock Productions.
Vince
Created by and starring well-known radio and TV personality, Jono Pryor, alongside an all-star ensemble case including Anna Jullienne, Vinnie Bennett, Chelsie Preston-Crayford and Blair Strang, Vince is a new comedy that follows the eponymous television presenter who is dumped by his network after an unfortunate mishap. Scheming with his shambolic agent, Vince is determined to clear his name and get back on screen. Produced by Kevin and Co, made with support of NZ On Air.
Happiness
A new six-part musical comedy series for Three and ThreeNow, Happiness, stars Harry McNaughton and Rebecca Gibney, and centres on a Kiwi-born Broadway director’s return to smalltown Aotearoa, where he is roped into directing a local musical theatre production. Featuring quirky and diverse characters, Happiness is set in beautiful Tauranga. Produced by Greenstone TV, made with support of NZ On Air.
New Zealand Tomorrow
In a new series, volunteer journalist Guy Williams returns to investigate what he thinks are the most interesting future focused stories in New Zealand. Produced by Kevin and Co, made with support of NZ On Air.
Game On!
Game On! Is a five-part series that explores the world of women’s sport and women’s health in Aotearoa through a group of former Silver Ferns, including the most capped international player of all time, Irene Van Dyk as well as former Silver Ferns, Casey Kopua, Adine Wilson and Temepara Bailey. Produced by Pango Productions, made with support of NZ On Air.
Hospice Heroes
Hospice Heroes is an eight-part series that goes inside one of New Zealand’s largest hospice facilities, following the staff and volunteers as they help terminally ill patients. The series aims to destigmatise hospices and the belief they are scary and depressing by showing the real humour, compassion and energy that also exists there. Produced by Great Southern Television, made with support of NZ On Air.
2025 RETURNING LOCALS
In addition to the new titles debuting on Three and ThreeNow, 2025 will also see the return of local audience favourites, including:
7 Days
NZ’s longest running comedy show returns for its 17th season! 7 Days is back for some absolute hilarity that appeals to all New Zealanders, hosted once again by our very own Jeremy Corbett. Produced by Warner Bros. Discovery NZ, made with support of NZ On Air.
David Lomas Investigates
Now in its fifth season, David Lomas Investigates returns in 2025. Once again David Lomas spans the globe searching for answers to unsolved family mysteries, taking viewers on a journey to discover the truth and reconnect with lost relatives and cultural heritage. Produced by Warner Bros. International Television Production NZ, made with support of NZ On Air.
Paddy Gower Has Issues
In 2023, Patrick Gower, New Zealand’s best-known broad appeal journalist, enlisted universally loved Karen O’Leary and created a brand-new current affairs show. Not one copied from overseas, but one invented here, for our people. For season two the team is bringing New Zealand 16 important current affairs investigations with an entirely new level of discovery. Produced by Believer Media Limited, made with support of NZ On Air.
The Best Foods Comedy Gala 2025
The New Zealand International Comedy Festival takes a hold of the country every May annually, kicking off with The Best Foods Comedy Gala; which showcases a curated selection of national and international comedians performing in front of a 2000 plus live audience. Produced by Warner Bros. Discovery NZ, made with support of NZ On Air.
Homebound 3.0
The second season of comedy series Homebound 3.0 returns to Three and ThreeNow. After successfully navigating a fake relationship that has now become real, Henry and Melissa are embarking on an even more audacious sham. This time, they’re faking a pregnancy to obtain an early inheritance from their cashed-up, overseas relatives obsessed with furthering the family line. The only parameter: this sham can’t turn real like it did last time. They’re just not ready for a real-life pregnancy! Produced by Kevin and Co, made with support of NZ On Air.
Wild Heroes
Wild Heroes returns for a third season in 2025. The 10-part documentary series follows the vital work being undertaken by Auckland Zoo professionals as they rescue, rehabilitate and protect endangered animals inside the Zoo and out into the stunning wilds of New Zealand. Produced by Magnetic Pictures.
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Wild that a NZ broadcaster that dumped it’s entire News & Current Affairs department amid cost pressures and big losses can announce more new content that some of our major networks with a population 5 x the size of theirs.
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Most of that new content is government funded through NZ on Air.
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Very disappointed with the fact they’re only adding yet another reality FAST channel to ThreeNow. Would expect by now for them to have some higher-quality stuff.
FAST CHANNELS
In 2024, FAST channels have generated 15.5 million live streams, with an average of 1.7 million streams per month so far this year.
“Almost two years ago we announced a new way we’d be curating content for ThreeNow, and included a portfolio of channels called FAST Channels, or Free Ad-Supported Streaming Television, which is a whole new emerging class of video streaming,” says Barthow.
“The success of these channels prove that viewers are continuing to crave that curated, lean-back experience that linear TV provides.”
From NBCUniversal, Bravo content will be made more discoverable on ThreeNow with a Bravo-branded free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel. Entitled Below Deck Vault, the FAST channel will bring Kiwi audiences curated episodes from the much-loved Below Deck franchise.
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As with any upfronts announcement, I doubt this is the full extent of any changes to their FAST channels offering for 2025.
They’ll likely add others as they can/see fit.
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