Ferndale Homicide - Who killed Shortland Street's Ethan Pierce?

TVNZ have set up a new website to give Shortland Street fans something to keep them entertained and interested over the summer break.

The finals episode for the year on December 19th saw an unidentified character shoot villain Dr Ethan Pierce to death in his home.

The storyline will continue when the soap returns in late January, but until then interrogation videos will be released every couple of days on the Ferndale Homicide website. This makes me wonder whether the show will continue from the day of Ethan's death when it returns, or from the case having been run for a month.

Seven interrogation videos are set to be released at http://www.ferndalehomicide.co.nz/.

Who do YOU think shot Dr Ethan Pierce?

One News reporter Barbara Dreaver detained in Fiji

One News Pacific Correspondent Barbara Dreaver was detained at Nadi Airport in Fiji on Monday night when she flew in to cover the latest diplomatic row between Fiji and New Zealand.

Dreaver was detained while going through immigration and held in a detention centre overnight.

It is understood that she has now been put on a plane back to New Zealand.

"I'm not the first journalist to be sent away from Fiji and I guess I won't be the last," said Barbara Dreaver.

She had been sent to Fiji to cover Commodore Frank Bainimarama's threat to expel New Zealand's most senior diplomat in Fiji, acting high commissioner Caroline McDonald. Bainimarama has said this will happen if New Zealand does not grant a visa to the son of a top Fijian diplomat.

The only reason Barbara Dreaver was given for being detained was that she had been put on a watch list in July.

The rest of the TVNZ crew passed through immigration without any problems.

PRIME's Fifty Years of Television in NZ

NZ On Air has allocated over $1 million to Fifty Years of Television in New Zealand, a seven-part documentary series celebrating the growth of television in NZ since it's introduction in 1960.

The series will screen on PRIME in 2010.

"It's a comprehensive overview of how television has evolved in New Zealand. From news and information to drama and comedy, sport, music and variety shows – even Telethons! It's all there, and it's all us. Some of it will make us laugh, now, but there is also so very much to be proud of," says NZ On Air Chief Executive Jane Wrightson.

The documentary will be produced by John Bates for Cream Media Ltd.

Many bloggers have been saying that the fiftieth anniversary celebrations for NZ TV should be on TVNZ as it has been there for the whole ride, with PRIME only being around for 12 of the 50 years. However I tend to agree with the point that since most of the series will not involve PRIME the show will have less network bias.

TVNZ are likely to have their own celebration that focuses on their own achievements.

Dancing With The Stars 2009 contestants

The celebrities who will be competing on TV One's Dancing With The Stars in 2009 have been revealed as follows:

Tamati Coffey - Breakfast weather presenter.
Josh Kronfeld - ex-All Black and winner of two Celebrity Treasure Island competitions.
Geraldine Brophy - ex-Shortland Street actress (Moira) and star of Second Hand Wedding.
John Rowles - singer
Rebecca Hobbs - actress (Shortland Street, Burying Brian)
Chris Hobbs - actor (Dr Frank Malone on Shortland Street)
Lizzy Igasan - Captain of the Black Sticks
Barbara Kendall - Olympian boardsailer

Flashback: PG Tips tea ad

This advertisement is for PG Tips tea and screened in New Zealand sometime during the 1980s.

TVNZ launch new website

TVNZ have today launched a brand new website, which now attempts to make their homepage a fully fledged news service.

TVNZ states that today sees the "complete redesign of tvnz.co.nz", however it is so far only the news sections and the header that seem to have changed. The old pages for all of the TV channels have been squished under the new header, and the TVNZondemand section remains a completely separate website.

TVNZ say they will relaunch TVNZondemand later in 2009, presumably merging it with tvnz.co.nz.

While tvnz.co.nz now looks a lot flasher, I am so far finding it a bit harder to navigate than their old site. That isn't helped by the constant flashing changes in every section of their homepage!

It may not be what it could have been, but it is an improvement.

What do you guys think of the new TVNZ website?

TVNZ in trouble over Shortland Street sex scene

The Broadcasting Standards Authority has for the first time upheld a complaint against TV2 soap Shortland Street. The complaint was made by a Balclutha man over a homosexual romantic encounter.

The scene involved core character Gerald Tippet with old friend Lindsay in the bedroom attempting a sexual encounter before it ended in disaster.

The BSA describes the scene as: "The two characters were shown lying in bed talking, covered up to their bare chests by blankets. Lindsay went under the blankets and Gerald nervously asked him 'where are you going?'. Lindsay popped his head back up and replied 'it’s a surprise' before descending back under but came back up when a ticklish Gerald began giggling. After Lindsay went back under the blankets, Gerald moved suddenly and accidentally hit Lindsay in the face with his knee, giving him a bloody nose."

The complainant said that he would "have had enough of a problem explaining to younger kids what might just be happening under the bed clothes if that had been a heterosexual couple".

The BSA stated that any sexual content in children's viewing time should be discreet and able to go over the heads of children, but decided that this particular scene did not consider the interests of children by making the sexual nature so ambiguous.

They said that the fact it involved a homosexual encounter did not affect the ruling and that a similar scene involving a heterosexual couple would have been as equally inappropriate.

However, I can think of many Shortland Street heterosexual sex scenes that were equally as unambiguous. One example is a scene with Sarah Potts and Craig Valentine which I am pretty sure also saw one of the characters move their head down the others body. The problem is that scenes of a homosexual nature probably tend to upset more close minded people - the kind who are likely to complain.

TVNZ drew criticism in April this year for trying to get South Pacific Pictures to drop the homosexual storyline and asked for this particular scene to be re-edited.

However, TVNZ now supported Shortland Street and argued to the BSA that the nightly soap regularly dealt with adult themes, and they also contended the same scene with a heterosexual couple would not have breached broadcasting standards.

The BSA did not impose an order. It said that the decision clarified its expectations surrounding the broadcast of sexual content of this nature during the PGR time-band at 7pm.

Flashback: 3 News - 31st December 1999

This was the last 3 News bulletin before the new millenium. It was a special 90 minute edition and was presented by John Campbell and Carol Hirschfeld. This clip also features Carolyn Ryan (now known as Carolyn Robinson - TV3's weekend presenter).

Comedy Central to launch on Sky for April Fools

Sky is finally launching a dedicated comedy channel, which will be run by MTV Australia and New Zealand.

Comedy Central will launch on Sky channel 10 on April 1st 2009, and will run 24/7.

The new channel will feature animation, stand-up comedy, and sitcoms aimed at a demographic of 18-54. Some of the shows named for Comedy Central include South Park, The Colbert Report, Reno 911 and Chappelle’s Show.

Chris Keely General Manager for MTV Networks NZ said: "The launch of Comedy Central delivers good news for our NZ viewers and a business growth story which are currently are few and far between. With our platform partner Sky Television we are fortunate to be able to introduce the worlds top comedy brand to the NZ Market for the very first time."

The launch of Comedy Central will be managed Hilary Coe, former director of the NZ Comedy Festival.

Huge ratings growth for Sunrise

TV3 have reported really positive growth for Sunrise in the key demographics for the month of November.

In TV3's key demographic of 18-49 year-olds Sunrise's ratings increased by 24.1%. The figure was even higher in the Auckland Urban area for this demographic, with a growth of 31.8% recorded there.

In rival Breakfast's key demographic of 25-54 year-olds Sunrise recorded a ratings increase of 25.6%.

The introduction of Oliver Driver seems to be having a really positive effect for the show. It looks as though calls by some to cancel Sunrise may have been premature as ratings continue to grow.

Video: TVNZ Goodnight Kiwi and Cat 2008

Here is the 2008 return of The Kiwi and The Cat to TVNZ's branding. The first in the series of new idents broadcast at 7.30pm on 1 December 2008. Thanks to YouTube's azzabop!

Kiwi and Cat premiere tonight

We mentioned yesterday that the Goodnight Kiwi and his friend The Cat are returning to TVNZ for a series of Christmas and summer idents after a 14 year absence.

TVNZ have announced that the first of these idents will premiere on TV One and TV2 at 7.30pm tonight after Close Up and Shortland Street.

They will then appear regularly across all of TVNZ's channels - including TV One, TV2, TVNZ6 and TVNZ7.

Welcome back Telecom customers

Telecom has today apologised to it's customers after a huge broadband outage overnight that is still affecting the service of many people.

The entire Telecom broadband network went out last night just after 9pm and was not restored until 5am this morning. Many customers are still having trouble connecting, and those who have managed to connect are having difficulties with their email service.

Telecom says the outage was caused by a problem with a Central Auckland exchange but say they are still investigating the cause.

A Telecom spokesperson stated that: "Our call centres have had extremely heavy demand as people became aware of the issues."

What a suprise.

Goodnight Kiwi returns to TVNZ

The Goodnight Kiwi sequence used to signal the end of television transmission for the night on TVNZ. The Kiwi and his Cat companion have been absent from TVNZ's branding for 14 years but are set to return tomorrow in a series of summer idents.

The Goodnight Kiwi ran between 1980 and 1994 at the overnight shutdown of the station, but was taken off air when television began to run 24/7.

The first of the new idents will screen from tomorrow and features the Kiwi and the Cat decorating their Christmas tree. A second ident will screen between Christmas and New Years seeing them take down the tree, and a third will follow for the rest of summer featuring the pair relaxing in a pool.

The TVNZ marketing department have said that they want to see more and more of the Kiwi and Cat after this series but are not sure how this will happen just yet.

The new idents are said to keep very true to the originals, featuring similar animation styles to an updated version of the same music.

Friday Flashback: TVNZ's Goodnight Kiwi

OK, I know it's a little bit past Friday... (had a busy week) but you guys still deserve a Flashback! Here is the Goodnight Kiwi that screened on TVNZ between 1980 and 1994 signalling the end of television for the evening.

Check out the latest news on Media Fetish for the return of the Cat and Kiwi this summer!

Host and judges announced for New Zealand's Next Top Model

TV3 announced this week that Sara Tetro, one the model managers always rumoured to have a part in the series, is going to host New Zealand's Next Top Model.

Tetro will be joined on the judging panel by internationally successful model and actor Colin Mathura-Jeffree and top photographer and former model Chris Sisarich.

Sara Tetro started her company, 62 Models over 14 years ago and her business has consistently been at the top of the modelling and celebrity industry in this country.

Colin Mathura-Jeffree is a highly successful model and actor who has worked in the fashion industry for the past 17 years in New Zealand, India, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia. He has modelled for Versace and Working Style, among others and has appeared most recently on the big screen in the recently released Bollywood film Love Has No Language.

Chris Sisarich is one of Australasia’s most successful advertising and fashion photographers. He is in demand from internationally renowned brands, including Sony in Japan, Skoda in Europe and Tourism Victoria.

New Zealand's Next Top Model will be produced by Anna Lynch.

Applications are open

New Zealand's Next Top Model applicants must be between 16 and 25 years of age as of February 1, 2009 and must be at least 170cm tall to be eligible for participation in the series. The South Island model search begins in Queenstown on Monday, December 15 and the North Island starts in Wellington on Monday, January 12.

Application forms can be downloaded from the TV3 website.

Agenda cancelled

TVNZ has announced that it will be cancelling current affairs show Agenda after this season, however it may be replaced by similar show with a different title.

Executive producer Richard Harman said his production company received a letter from TVNZ stating that Anthony Flannery will be terminating Front Page Ltd's contract to produce the show on 7 December.

TVNZ have said that a replacement show under a new title will air from next year and that they are in the process of finalising the format and presenters.

Front Page Ltd were given no reason behind the ending of their contract, which will cause at least two staff members to lose their jobs.

TV3 +1 to launch on Freeview in 2009

MediaWorks have announced the launch of their first Freeview channel on 30 March 2009.

The new service will be a +1 channel, providing the exact broadcast of TV3 with a one-hour delay. This means that viewers will be able to watch shows they may not have in the past due to a schedule clash without having to go to the trouble of setting it up to be recorded. For example, 3 News will be played at 7pm on +1, and the nightly 8.30pm dramas can be watched at that time on TV3 or at 9.30pm on +1.

A +1 service was launched on the UK's version of Freeview and soon became one of their most popular channels.

"In the UK, tuning to the +1 channel averages 38% of the tuning to the main channel on the same platform and we would expect no difference in New Zealand," comments Rick Friesen, Director of Special Projects at MediaWorks.
"As the advertising content will remain the same on +1 as on the TV3, advertisers will have an extra opportunity for exposure of their products and service."

The new +1 channel will launch on Freeview channel 8 on Monday, 30 March, 2009.

Over half of New Zealand watching digital TV

A recent report commissioned by NZ On Air has announced that around 55% of New Zealand households are now watching digital television.

This figure is made up of 45% who use Sky TV and 10% who use Freeview.

The Government has said that they will announce the date they will switch off the analogue television transmission in either 2012 or when 75% of the country are watching digital television, whichever comes first.

The future of digital television is becoming more of a reality every day - you only need to flick through your latest Noel Leeming catalogue to see that a large number of new televisions are coming with FreeviewHD built in!

Battle of the bosses

The war of words between rivals 3 News and One News has once again hit the media. TV3 news boss Mark Jennings is slamming a trip taken by TVNZ news boss Anthony Flannery and two other senior employees across the US, Canada, Britain, Norway and Spain.

The trip was supposedly a fact-finding event, but Jennings says it is too extravagant in the current economic crisis when other media companies are laying off staff.

Jennings also suggested the trip was to find a new set for One News, something that TVNZ spokesperson Megan Richards denied.

The trip-frowning was reported by John Drinnan in his NZ Herald column, in which he also stated that the trip raised many eyebrows in the TVNZ newsroom.

Megan Richards assured Drinnan that the budget for the trip was "prudent and conservative".

Tony Veitch may return to radio

Disgraced broadcaster Tony Veitch may be returning to broadcasting sooner than some would have expected.

Vetich has been in discussions with Mitch Harris, head of B-Sport and RadioLive, regarding possible employment with B-Sport as a journalist.

Harris has said he would not have Veitch in a main presenting role, but says he believes him to be a very good journalist and would love to have him reporting for the station.

Harris told the NZ Herald that he has not made any particular offers to Veitch just yet, but is remaining in constant contact with him. He also added that he feels "a bit sorry for him".

Tony Veitch resigned from The Radio Network and his One News presenting role at TVNZ after being charged with six counts of assault on his former partner Kristen Dunne-Powell and one of injuring with reckless disregard.

B-Sport boss Mitch Harris will have to take into consideration whether or not he would hire Veitch before the court charges were dealt with or not.

TV3 fans slow to interact

First of all, I must say that the new TV3 website is fantastic! It is much easier on the eye than the previous one, and it seems a lot smoother to navigate.

However, one thing I have noticed is that people have been somewhat shy when it comes to the new forum feature. It looks as though majority of the topics in the forum have only received one or two replies so far, with the exception of the "New TV3 website" topic getting 16 replies. TV3 even changed the title of the section from "Forum" to "3 Interact" - I'm assuming to make it sound more appealing.

I think the forum is a fantastic idea, and I highly recommend getting involved in the conversation at tv3.co.nz. If you want to rant about something you don't like or rave about something you love, then there is no better place to do so than the TV3 website itself.

The reason for this is that it is probably the only place constantly being checked by TV3 staff - meaning your comments may actually influence things at the network!

Happy interacting TV3 viewers!

Friday Flashback: Mikey Havoc and Newsboy

Media Fetish recently featured a piece on Jeremy Wells (a.k.a. Newsboy) being harassed in Gore over comments he made in the late 90s - Wells used to refer to Gore as the "gay capital of New Zealand". In this flashback we not only revisit the Havoc and Newsboy show but also get to see one of Jeremy Wells' comments on Gore.

Brooke Shields says TV3's Lipstick Jungle is NOT cancelled

Rumours began spreading around the internet and gossip magazines last week that TV3's Lipstick Jungle had been cancelled after two seasons, however one of the shows lead stars has now come out to say that those were false.

Brooke Shields (who plays Wendy Healy) says that because My Own Worst Enemy was cancelled due to low ratings many people also falsely thought the same of Lipstick Jungle.

"They're not breaking down the sets. We're still working. We still have more to do, so it’s erroneously presented that we've been canceled, thank God. Our bosses are saying, 'You're not canceled, don't worry.' We're just trying to figure out how to make this make sense," Shields told reporters.

Shields says the NBC network in the US was inundated with mail from fans of the show who were horrified to read the rumours.

"It's been insane. I thinking that the public outcry has been crazy, and it's kind of wonderful."

However despite this news, Lipstick Jungle has been falling in the ratings, and while even Brooke Shields herself admits this she also points out that these ratings could increase if people watched the show live instead of recording it.

"I mean, we're basically No. 1 if you look at DVR. And you look at all that. So the public is watching it. The problem that they have is it's not the same day live."

One of the other stars of the show, Kim Raver (who plays Nico Reilly), has also denied that the show has already been cancelled.

"I think on Monday there are emergency meetings as to what's going to go on. But I know the executives are really pushing it and believe in it," said Raver.

These rumours could be just what the show needs to somewhat scare fans into watching the show live instead of recording it, because as Brooke Shields says - "advertisers don't want you fast forwarding commercials."

New Zealand's Next Top Model confirmed by TV3

TV3 released a press statement today confirming that they will produce a local version of America's Next Top Model.

More information will be released New Zealand's Next Top Model soon, but the press release did reveal that the show will feature 13 contestants - a number that has changed from season to season on the American version of the contest.

Kelly Martin, TV3’s Director of Programming, said that "Top Model is a hugely successful format around the world and we’re delighted to be able to bring New Zealand audiences their own version of the show."

Details about applications and auditions for New Zealand's Next Top Model will be made available on tv3.co.nz in coming weeks.

Jeremy Wells harassed in Gore

Eating Media Lunch host Jeremy Wells was in Gore last weekend to provide coverage for the One News election special when he was accosted by 15 men at a petrol station over remarks he made in the 90s.

In 1999 Wells and Mikey Havoc described Gore as the "gay capital of New Zealand", and apparently the citizens of the South Island town don't forget those kinds of things easily.

A TV insider told the NZ Herald that the group of young men began to harass Wells and other One News staff at a petrol station before following them back to the Scenic Circle Hotel.

The insider told the Herald that the men were verbally abusing Wells as well as trying to punch him.

"Jeremy kept appeasing them and saying things like 'It was just a bit of comedy, chill out' but they were yelling back 'you fucking homo' and things like that."

The TVNZ crew were then trapped in their room and when the group of men still continued to harass them after 90 minutes the police had to be called to the hotel.

The mob must have been pretty upset by the comments to remember them almost ten years later, AND to have the stamina to yell at Wells for an entire hour and a half!

Friday Flashback: RTR Countdown 1983

Back by popular demand... It's the Friday Flashback!

This is one of the early versions of TVNZ's RTR Countdown, this episode screened in 1983. The graphics and sounds in this clip are pretty much everything your mind would associate with the 80's... I think it's awesome.

Hannah Hodson resigns from TVNZ following Pink interview

One News Australian correspondent Hannah Hodson resigned from TVNZ on Friday efective immediately following the infamous interview with American pop star Pink.

Hodson is rumoured to have physically fought Pink's management for possession of the tape recording after they decided the interview needed to end.

The media reported that they wanted to stop the interview when Hannah Hodson began questioning Pink over the firing of her sister, who used to work for the singer. TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards is now denying this part of the incident.

"Her sister was mentioned in cordial terms. There was no challenge made about her employment," Richards told the NZ Herald.

Pink told C4 in an interview that took place straight after the one with TVNZ that Hannah Hodson was "insane".

"She lost her marbles somewhere between there and here ... Her sister used to work for me. Her sister no longer works for me. I was really polite too, it was really hard."

Rumours are now circulating the internet that Hannah Hodson had been drunk at the time of the interview.

Hodson was asked to resign from 3 News in 2004 after revealing to the police the 111 staff member who leaked the transcript of the call with missing Aucklander Iraena Asher.

The sun is shining on TV3

The surprise arrival of Oliver Driver on TV3's struggling Sunrise show has proved a hit, according to the latest ratings.

Driver's pairing with Carly Flynn helped boost last month's average audience in the show's target 18-49 demographic by 23 per cent nationwide and by 50 per cent in Auckland. The total audience in the same demographic increased by 18 per cent, from 52,200 to 61,600.

But its TV One rival, Breakfast still led the October ratings, with the 18-49 audience up 30 per cent on last year, and an average audience of more than 130,000 viewers.

In the 6pm slot, 3 News continued to outperform One News in the 18-49 demographic with nearly a third of the audience share.

But One News remained most popular in the 25-54 demographic, with a year-on-year increase of nearly 8 per cent, compared to a 14 per cent drop for 3 News.

TV One's Close Up made gains in its target 25-54 demographic, with a 12 per cent increase on last year. Mark Sainsbury and his team also outshone Campbell Live in the 18-49 sector, rising more than 26 per cent.

Source: NZ Herald

90210 moving from TV3 to C4

Teen drama 90210 will be moved from TV3 to C4 as of next week screening at the same time of Wednesday 7.30pm.

It will be replaced on TV3 by factual show Ice Road Truckers.

We can presume this move was made due to lower ratings, however I had previously heard from a few people that the network was pleased with the ratings. Perhaps they felt the content of the show was better suited to the youth-oriented C4.

Freeview to launch digital recorder

Freeview launched it's own digital recorder box last night that will be available in stores before Christmas.

The new service is to be called MyFreeview - obviously so consumers will realise it is basically Freeview's own version of MySky.

A Zinwell set top box was demonstrated at the launch last night, running the minimum specification of two tuners and a 250GB hard drive, allowing about 80 hours of recording. Other brands of Freeview digital recorders are expected to be launched in 2009.

The box will feature the ability to watch one channel while recording two others, live pausing, and 1/2 and 1/4 speed playback - the latter being probably the only difference to MySky.

TVNZ staff threatened over Hannah Hodson & Pink tape

An anonymous source has revealed to Media Fetish in a previous post that the interview tape physically fought over by One News reporter Hannah Hodson and Pink's management ended up in the possession of TVNZ.

The source stated that many TVNZ staff members then watched the tape but have been threatened with loosing their job by the state broadcaster in order to keep them from speaking out over the details of what exactly happened.

There is no news yet on the future employment of Hannah Hodson.

Hannah Hodson incident still being investigated

TVNZ confirmed to the media today that an investigation into the incident between One News reporter Hannah Hodson and pop star Pink is still continuing. A spokeswoman has stated that she is unsure how long the process will take at this stage.

Australian correspondent Hannah Hodson was asked to return to New Zealand to discuss her employment with TVNZ bosses after being involved in a physical fight with Pink's management.

The fight began after Hodson had grilled Pink about the firing of her sister, who once worked as an assistant to the singer. Pink and her management demanded the interview tape and then physically fought with the One News reporter and cameraman. It is not known who ended up with possession of the tape.

Campbell medal thief interview led to arrests

Campbell Live received a lot of criticism for re-recording an interview using an actor in place of the man responsible for stealing war medals from the Waiouru Army Museum. However, it was revealed earlier this week that hotel security footage of the actual interview helped police make arrests.

John Campbell undertook the original interview using a dictophone at Auckland's Duxton Hotel, but was unknowingly caught on the hotel's closed circuit security cameras in the lobby.

Two men were then arrested and the footage is expected to be used in their trial.

The Broadcasting Standards Authority upheld a complaint against Campbell Live because while they publicly admitted using an actor for the televised version of the interview, they never actually announced that on the show itself.

I don't think any of the fuss over the Campbell interview was ever warranted - the transcript of the interview was real, and the hooded shadow that appeared on screen never really alluded to any physical features of the person. I would much rather watch a staged interview than look at a blank screen for it's duration.

At the end of the day, the undertaking of the interview helped police to make arrests. This means that any of those people who felt they were mislead by the interview can have their minds put at rest by realising some good did come out of it.

Pacific channel a priority for Labour

The NZ Herald reported today that Helen Clark's Labour party would make the establishment of a Pacific TV channel a priority if they are re-elected.

TVNZ and TV3 have both revealed that they have plans to launch new channels aimed at Pacific audiences. But is there room for two Pacific channels?

TV3 have said that they will look to both the Government and the private sector for funding for the channel, but as TVNZ is the national broadcaster it seems more likely that their Pacific project would be the one to get the Government funding. The Government gave TVNZ $79 million of funding for TVNZ6 and TVNZ7.

The networks have said that there is a potential audience of 250,000 for such a channel. But would a large enough proportion of this figure actually have access to a Freeview box - as the channel would presumably be launched on the digital platform.

I think that TVNZ (and the Government) should put more focus into establishing TVNZ6, TVNZ7, and TVNZ Sport before launching anything new, as these channels all currently need more work.

Even Helen Clark herself has pointed out the low audience numbers of the Freeview channels - citing it as the reason she refused to appear on the TVNZ7 election show Leaders on 7.

Dennis Plant's NZ Herald blog

Like many of us, the New Zealand Herald have been very impressed with TV One's political satire The Pretender, so much so that they have decided to give the fictitious leader Dennis Plant his own blog!

Plant's blog, which will run for the last two weeks of "his" campaign, is pretty much a mock of the campaign diaries both Helen Clark and John Key write for the NZ Herald website. And it is fantastic.

In his first entry Plant reveals that he didn't actually know what a blog was - so asked his daughter "who is in a wheelchair, and so knows about these sorts of things."

He then describes his reaction to the recent comments by National MP Lockwood Smith. Plant doesn't think anybody could be offended by stating a biological fact, but nevertheless tries to find out the opinion of some "actual Asians." However, the only Asians Plant could find in Christchurch were "dwarves" with "stubby fingers" - but even so, these Asians apparently held the same opinion as Plant.

The blog is just as controversial as the TV show, but in today's uber-PC society this is just the kind of humour we need.

Read more of Dennis Plant's NZ Herald blog here, and watch The Pretender online at TVNZondemand.

One News reporter in fight with Pink

One News Australian correspondent Hannah Hodson is returning to New Zealand to face TVNZ bosses after she was involved in a physical fight while interviewing singer Pink.

Hodson was interviewing Pink at Sydney's InterContinental Hotel on Thursday afternoon when things turned nasty. Hodson began grilling Pink over the firing of her sister, who had once worked with the pop star.

Pink and her manager then called a stop to the interview and demanded the tape from the TVNZ cameraman. Hodson and the cameraman refused to hand over the tape so Pink's management then physically fought the two TVNZ employees for it. It has not been made clear who won the fight for the tape.

A TVNZ spokesperson said that the matter is now an employment issue so they cannot make any comment at this stage.

Hannah Hodson was asked to resign from 3 News in 2004 after revealing the police source who gave TV3 the 111 transcipts of missing Auckland woman Iraena Asher.

To be completely honest, this kind of behaviour is not at all suprising coming from Hannah Hodson.

The "Five-headed Monster"

National leader John Key has described the possible Labour-led coalition as a "five-headed monster of the left". This came after recent polls showed Labour could pull together another government if it went into coalition with every party on the left.

While the comment from Key was entertaining enough, the true highlight of my day was the image 3 News through together for their report on the comment. Check it out:

Wendy Petrie's change of image

TVNZ have decided that their One News wardorbe department need to rethink the way they are presenting Wendy Petrie on the 6pm bulletin.

The decision comes after a recent focus group suggested that the designer outfits she wears are damaging her image and credibility as a serious news journalist.

The TVNZ bosses want to see her in more serious business suits.

TV3's 2009 shows

TV3 have announced their lineup for the 2009 television season as follows:

New shows:
Do Not Disturb
Dollhouse
The Ex-List
Kings
Knight Rider
Life on Mars
My Own Worst Enemy
Swingtown
Worst Week

Returning International Shows:
24
America's Next Top Model
Bones
Boston Legal
Burn Notice
Californication
Criminal Intent
CSI
CSI: Miami
CSI: NY
Heroes
House
My Name Is Earl
NCIS
Prison Break
Project Runway
Rove
Sea Patrol
The Simpsons
Survivor
SVU: Special Victims Unit
Top Chef
Wipeout

Returning Local Shows:
3 News
bro'Town
Campbell Live
Coca-Cola Christmas in the Park
The Jacquie Brown Diaries
Money Man
Nightline
Outrageous Fortune
Sports Tonight
Sticky TV
Sunrise
Target
What's Really in our Food?

Bollywood films now screening at SkyCity Cinemas

SkyCity Cinemas are now permanently showing Bollywood films in four of their theatre complexes in a bid to boost flagging revenues.

The WestCity, Queen St, Manukau and Centre Place Hamilton cinemas will each devote one screen to showing the Hindi language films.

General manager Jane Hastings said SkyCity Cinemas had been showing a few Bollywood films in recent months to gauge demand, and was pleased with the results. Some had pulled in as much as $250,000.

"Looking at the availability of product, and looking at the demand for it not only in the Indian community but in a wider community, we saw the opportunity to provide a permanent offering."

The Mumbai-based film industry known as Bollywood produces over 1000 movies a year, twice as many as Hollywood. A 2004 report said more people globally watched Bollywood movies than Hollywood productions - 3.8 billion versus 3.6 billion.

The first Bollywood film to screen at SkyCity Cinemas is Karzzzz, a film set in South Africa that explores the psychological traits possessed by humans that lead to vices including greed, obsession, betrayal and murder.

New Zealand's Next Top Model

TV3 is currently in discussions about a Kiwi version of the reality show America's Next Top Model. International versions of Next Top Model have been made in countries ranging from Afghanistan to Australia.

TV3's Jacqueline Loates confirmed to the Herald on Sunday that the network owns the rights to a local version and that discussions are currently underway. The Herald reported that those discussions have become as advanced as searching for a host.

Rachel Hunter is said to have rejected the role, and Kiwi supermodels Kylie Bax and Charlotte Dawson were "considered" but were unsure about the time commitment involved. Dawson is a judge on Australia's Next Top Model.

The current favourite for host is rumoured to be Sara Tetro, who manages '62 Models and Talent' in Auckland.

"I can't say anything because it hasn't been confirmed but I think the programme is fantastic and it will be great if it runs. It's great that everyone is so excited about it," said Tetro.

The NZ Herald asked girls on the street what the they thought of New Zealand's Next Top Model, and while most reacted positively, 20-year-old Bronwyn Retief said "I think the budget would be completely different so it might not be as extravagant."

Retief's comments seem to mirror my exact thoughts when I first heard the news - many New Zealand versions of international shows fail because they are made on a much smaller scale. If they can't make the new version better or equal to the original then it leaves us wondering if it should ever be made at all.

However, best of luck to TV3! Let's hope that they can set a new standard for local remakes.

Friday Flashback: You'll Only Wanna Be With 2

This classic TV2 ident is from 2000 and includes the then-famous 'TV2 Bus'. It features New Zealand celebrities such as Suzanne Paul, Anthony Ray Parker, Angela Bloomfield, and Robyn Malcolm.

Brendan Horan in NZ First's top 10

Former One News weather presenter Brendan Horan has been placed tenth on the NZ First party list for the upcoming general election.

Horan will contest the East Coast electorate against it's current MP - National's education spokeswoman Anne Tolley.

Tolley is also ranked at number ten on the National party list, meaning she will almost definitely be part of the next government regardless of the East Coast result. Labour's East Coast candidate Moana Mackey is ranked at number 25 on their list.

With support for NZ First hanging by a thread, Horan will probably have to win the electorate vote to get a seat in parliament. This is not completely impossible, as television personalities can sometimes draw a lot of attention and support.

In 2007 another former One News weather presenter Kay Gregory secured her place on the Hamilton City Council after beating her nearest opponent by more than 2000 votes. Gregory was new to politics but received more votes than any other existing councillor, showing that celebrity status can sometimes have an effect on the vote.

But is Brendan Horan enough of a celebrity to make a difference? We will have to wait until November 8th to find out.

More than a million watch TVNZ YouTube debate

TVNZ is reporting that over one million viewers tuned in to it's One News YouTube Election Debate last night.

The debate featured Helen Clark and John Key answering questions posted online by New Zealanders using video upload website YouTube.

The One News debate was the first time in the world that a head of government has appeared in an official live televised debate with their challenger answering questions submitted through YouTube.

Head of TVNZ News & Current Affairs Anthony Flannery puts the ratings success of the show partly to the brand new format.

"The incorporation of the YouTube technology helped to create an exciting event," said Flannery.

Official videos of the debate are available at youtube.com/debate.

Alt TV to hold minor parties debate

Alt TV have announced that after being shocked by the mainstream media's decision to cancel the leaders debate, they are holding their own debate for the minor party leaders.

The Alt TV debate will be held tonight at 8pm on SKY Digital 65 and will be presented by Sunrise and Let's Be Frank host Oliver Driver.

Alt TV said in their announcement that their leaders debate will "press minor parties on the real issues of the day (and not the Pepsi Dad and Coke Mum National/Labour coverage the mainstream media are dictating).

ACT leader Rodney Hide, Maori co-leader Pita Sharples, and Green co-leader Russell Norman are just some of the leaders said to be attending.

The Minor Leaders Debate - Wednesday 8pm on ALT TV.

The stern brows of Maori Television

This is the promotional image found on the website for Maori Television's 2008 election coverage - Kowhiri 08.

Is it just me, or are these three presenters some of the angriest and scariest looking people on television?

Especially the two on the left!

There is a difference between looking serious and thoughtful to looking like you are enraged at the thought of an election. Let's just hope they come across differently on screen.

Minor parties get their say on TV3

The minor parties were furious when TV3 announced that they were cancelling the Campbell Live leaders debate due to John Key and Helen Clark pulling out. However, today brings some relief to the leaders of parties such as ACT, the Maori Party, and the Greens as TV3 have welcomed them back on air.

The leaders of the minor parties will all appear individually on Campbell Live each night at 7.00pm. The interviews will begin tomorrow night with NZ First leader Winston Peters.

Helen Clark and John key have also got their wish - TV3 have announced a head-to-head leaders debate scheduled for Monday 3 November at 7:30pm. The debate will be hosted by John Campbell but will not feature a studio audience, meaning that 'the worm' will not be returning for this election.

TV networks to battle for Pacific audiences

Television New Zealand and TV3 have revealed they will launch channels aimed at Pacific viewers within a year.

The channels would target a potential audience of 250,000 Pacific people in New Zealand, then countries across the region, Radio new Zealand reported.

A director of the TV3 venture, Innes Logan said the project would probably start with a limited number of screen hours but once content and viewers increased there would be more variety.

The station would look to the Government and private sector for millions of dollars in funding for the channel.

TVNZ director of Maori and Pacific programming, Paora Maxwell, said his company's proposal included news, entertainment and sport.

Neither network would give a start date for the channels.

NZPA.

New look for TV3

TV3 have relaunched with a brand new look this afternoon, and I must say I am impressed! The new look is very bright and colourful, and the new ident features the network celebrities - something that has been missing from the channel for a while.

I saw an ad for the movie 2 Fast 2 Furious before and am also impressed with the look of the ads.

Interestingly, those watching A Thousand Apologies last night would have seen a preview for this new look, as for some reason they played new version of the "see this video online for 7 days" screen at the end of the show.

Well done TV3! It was about time the network received a refreshed new look.

Check out the new TV3 ident below - courtesy of Dan News.

Friday Flasback: Jason & Thingee's Big Adventure

As requested by Aaron, here is Jason Gunn back in the days he is best remembered for! This is part one of the video movie Jason & Thingee's Big Adventure featuring New Zealand's most well-known children's TV duo.

Another movie night on TV2 as Eli Stone and Big Shots cancelled

Poor ratings for Sunday dramas Eli Stone and Big Shots have seen TV2 pull them in favour of yet another movie night. Gossip Girl and Make Me a Supermodel were also replaced by a movie on Friday nights last month.

Eli Stone was receiving less than 162,000 viewers compared with the 358,167 viewers TV3's NCIS was gaining in the same 8.30pm timeslot. Even Criminal Intent drew more viewers, with 252,000 tuning in to TV3 at 9.30pm.

Clark and Key snub TVNZ7

Helen Clark and John Key have brought the TVNZ7 show Leaders on 7 to an early end by both refusing to appear. The show consisted of one-on-one interviews with the political leaders and was hosted by Shane Taurima.

Clark and Key are saying that this decision was made due to both time restraints and the low audience numbers of the Freeview channel.

However, this is not a good look for Labour and National after they have already drawn much criticism for pulling out of the TV3 leaders debate. Also, Helen Clark's government put $79 million of funding into TVNZ's Freeview channels so to suggest that the channel isn't big enough for her to appear almost says that the funding was a waste and that her government is not committed to the digital television project.

Both the TVNZ7 interviews and the TV3 debate were supposed to screen tonight.

All the other political leaders have appeared on the TVNZ7 show. Tonight's episode will now be a highlight package of the interviews with the minor party leaders.

Mary Lambie returns to Good Morning

Mary Lambie made a one-off return to Good Morning today to co-host the TV One lifestyle show with regular host Steve Gray.

I must say that while I don't usually watch Good Morning all that often, Mary Lambie is an excellent host - she is really natural and seems to have a great relationship with all the segment hosts. Although I am not sure about the pink and green outfit she was wearing...

Civil Defence issues warning over TV3 special event

Civil Defence has issued a warning to television viewers who may see a 3 News bulletin about a major earthquake destroying Wellington tonight.

The acted bulletin will be part of a TV3 special event titled Aftershock that screens tonight at 8.30pm showing the devastating effects a magnitude 8.2 earthquake would have on New Zealand.

"Do not be confused; it is dramatisation of events but is not the real thing," said Ministry of Civil Defence and Emergency Management director John Hamilton.

"Immediately after a major emergency most local services will not be functioning initially and additional support could take days to get through because of damaged roads, railways, bridges, harbours or airports.

"In those first days people in the affected area will be at their most vulnerable and they will have to rely on each other and the preparations they had made beforehand."

Aftershock will see an 8.2 earthquake hit Wellington that in an instant carves up the motorway, levels a city and turns everyone’s lives upside down. The quake is followed by a tsunami that inundates the lower-lying parts of the city and takes hundreds more lives.

The programme will be followed on Thursday at 9.30pm by Aftershock - Would You Survive?, a documentary looking at how a real Wellington family coped when put through a simulation of surviving on their emergency supplies for three days after an earthquake.

Today is United Nations International Day for Disaster Reduction, so as well as the screening of Aftershock on TV3, Civil Defence test sirens will also be broadcast over the Wellington region by a low flying helicopter.

Many angry with TV3

NewstalkZB has reported that Northland hapu Matarahurahu laid a complaint with the Broadcasting Standards Authority over last night's 60 Minutes story on Maori cannibalism. Matarahurahu leader David Rankin is also apparently considering taking the matter to the Waitangi Tribunal.

Rankin's main problem with the "Close to the bone" report was that it showed footage of interference in Maori burial sites. He says tampering with the remains of the dead is sacrilegious for Maori and that the remains of ancestors of the region were mistreated during the report.

The judge is also mad.

The High Court judge overseeing the murder trial of Liam James Reid is reportedly furious at TV3. The network screen pictures of the accused this morning after being refused permission by the judge.

Justice Chisholm said the reason he didn't want them shown was because identification was going to be a crucial issue in the case.

A police officer saw the broadcast and alerted the judge immediately.

Justice Chisholm has said the breach is "absolutely unbelievable" and has ordered the TV3 footage be brought to court.

A TV3 reporter was apparently seen running from the court clutching her cell phone once the judge delivered his stern admonition.

Australian Idol falls to his death

Former Australian Idol contestant Levi Kereama has died after falling from the balcony of his hotel room in Brisbane, however news reports say that police are not treating the death as suspicious.

Kereama was was a Top 12 contestant during the first season of Australian Idol in 2003. He was the fourth of the 12 to be eliminated but used the show as a platform to launch his family band Lethbridge.

His death came just hours after performing with Lethbridge at Brisbane's Parklife Festival.

Kereama was reportedly suffering from depression.

Oliver Driver may interview Barack Obama

Oliver Driver is ready to begin his Sunrise presenting role this week, and many are already singing him praises.

Media commentators are saying that replacing James Coleman with Driver could be the saving of the TV3 morning show. Driver has proven himself to be both funny and quick thinking, but has also shown he has a great journalistic quality to add to the TV3 brand.

In his role at Alt TV, Driver has performed successful interviews with Helen Clark, John Key, Robert Fisk and Phil Goff - he was the one who got Goff to reveal he would like to lead the Labour Party.

Rumour has it that if Barack Obama wins the US elections, Oliver Driver will get a one-on-one interview with the new President. It seems that an Alt TV staff member's mother is one of Obama's advisers and has pulled a few strings to get Driver the interview. If this interview does actually eventuate then it will be a big win for both Alt TV and Sunrise.

Oliver Driver joins Carly Flynn to host Sunrise tomorrow at the new time of 7.00am.