ScreenScribe

  A 25-year-old sitcom and a soap opera that this year marks its 60th anniversary were among the five most streamed TVNZ shows of 2019/20. Kiwi crowdpleaser Shortland Street was #1, followed by Friends, Home and Away, Coronation Street and The Big Bang Theory. Among the most popular broadcast shows in key demographics were Eat Well […]

TVNZ 1 will screen the first Leaders Debate live on September 22, the broadcaster announced today. Here’s the media release: TVNZ confirms revised Debate schedule for the 2020 General Election  With the 2020 General Election shifting to 17 October, TVNZ’s Election coverage will also reflect the new date. Revised Debate dates:  TVNZ’s Debate line-up and […]

TVNZ has revealed to media buyers its October-January highlights. Here’s what to expect on TVNZ 1: Black Hands: Five-part dramatisation of the Bain family murders that focuses on the why rather than the how, leaving it up to viewers to be the jury. Cold Case: The true crime series returns for a second season of […]

Bad news, Coronation Street fans — the soap is soon to revert to three half-hour episodes a week. Last week TVNZ 1 aired hour-long instalments and will do so again tonight and tomorrow. But Thursday’s broadcast will mark a return to a half-hour strip for the foreseeable future. Initially I thought this was a scheduling […]

TVNZ 1 has announced a new series about unearthing “national treasures” will premiere next year. It’s inviting the public to submit photos of historical objects that could make the cut for a nationwide roadshow. Here’s the media release: Scotty and Stacey Morrison kick off search to find NZ’s National Treasures Te Karere presenter, Scotty Morrison […]

Expect Eleanor Catton’s adaptation of her award-winning novel The Luminaries to premiere next month on TVNZ 1. The TVNZ/BBC commission was pencilled in for April but, presumably because of scheduling issues in the UK, is now due to air in May. No doubt it will air 8.30 Sundays on TVNZ 1, where the network’s been […]

One of NZ’s pioneering ’80s new wave filmmakers is behind an ANZAC Day documentary that sheds light on a “largely untold” aspect of Kiwis at war. TVNZ 1 will premiere Paradise Soldiers, which David (Death Warmed Up) Blyth directed, 8.55am on Saturday. Reads the blurb: As far back as World War One, through Vietnam and up […]

TVNZ 1 has axed its Easter weekend broadcasts of Breakfast and Seven Sharp but is retaining the Easter Sunday edition of Q + A With Jack Tame. The network has revised its schedule as part of a ‘new normal’ for its COVID-19 coverage. Since the lockdown, its programming has been upended by 1 News coverage of […]

TVNZ 1 announced this morning that Joel Tobeck (Westside, Sons of Anarchy) will play David Bain’s father in the dramatisation of the Bain family murders while newcomer Richard Crouchley has been cast as his son, David. Here’s the media release: CAST ANNOUNCED FOR TVNZ’S BAIN FAMILY DRAMA “BLACK HANDS” Joel Tobeck (Westside, Sons of Anarchy), […]

TVNZ 1 is delaying the 2020 season premiere of Fair Go to screen highlights of a concert honouring Australia’s firefighters. A Concert For Australia: Fire Fight will air from 7.30-9.05 on February 17, pre-empting not only the consumer watchdog but also new episodes of Highway Cops and Border Security. [Update: TVNZ OnDemand will stream the concert from 3pm on […]