I think they’ve been reluctant because they’ve figured out it’s Bradley Walsh and the chasers on the UK version which resonates - rather than the format itself.
As evidenced by the failure of the Australian version to do anything here despite multiple timeslots and channels.
But clearly they’ve decided now is the time.
You’re right, the host makes it… which is why I think IF they could get Paul Henry, they’d be on to a winner. But then I suppose TVNZ have probably already looked into it and not gotten anywhere.
But could you imagine the fall-out if TVNZ did pay for travel, given all the programming and staffing cuts in 2024?
Didn’t they also film in Australia for the New Zealand version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. But I doubt they made contestant’s self fund their travel and accoms.
They did - with the TVNZ version hosted by Hosking. Used the Aussie set and production.
Prime used to have a NZ contestant a week as well when they showed the Nine version.
Deal or No Deal Australia (4.30pm weekdays on TVNZ 1) is moving channels and timeslot. From April 21 it will air at 6pm weeknights on TVNZ 2.
The special will premiere on TVNZ 2 on Wednesday, April 23 at 8pm.
When did Sky TV stop offering a weely pass for Sky Sport Now? Searching the App and the Website without success. The removal of this sub option has been kept very quiet. I was going to shout myself a weekly pass to watch some of the huge amount of sport this weekend - the monthly pass is a bit to pricey for me.
They dropped it as of Jan 1st this year.
Can’t imagine why, it seems like that would be a decent revenue stream for a casual viewer that wouldn’t be interested in the monthly pass
Looks like Tipping Point: Travel Guides special will be pulled from TVNZ’s schedule. Next Tuesday’s scheduled premiere in Australia has been pre-empted by Channel Nine’s coverage of the federal election debate. TVNZ was supposed to air the show the night after.
UPDATE: Tipping Point special is officially out of schedule, replaced by a repeat of Aussie movie Muriel’s Wedding.
Sky and Freeview satellite TV have switched over to the “new” temporary bird (15/04/2025)
Wonder where this will land in Aus.
Producer Kevin & Co has secured NZ$1.9m to produce original retro comedy espionage series NZ Spy, set in a 1970s spy agency. The six-part series stars local comedian Paul Williams (Taskmaster NZ) and was commissioned by TVNZ. NZ Spy has already secured sales in the UK and Australia but details have not yet been disclosed.
An opportunity to fix the biggest issue with The Chase Aus by taking the cash builder value down to $1000 a question. The Aussie’s setting it at $2k but then not raising the offers proportionally is partly why it falls flat.
MasterChef Australia season 17, or the second season of Back to Win, premieres on TVNZ 2 on Monday, May 3 at 7.30pm, continuing on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Each episode will be shown one week after Australia.
Contestant profiles
Taskmaster Australia season 3 premieres on TVNZ 2 next Wednesday (May 7) at 9.45pm, following the new season launch of the original UK version at 8.45pm.
Taskmaster Australia season 3 first aired in Australia from September last year.