HD Heads-Up: March 18-24

➢➢ Prime continues to premiere free-to-air some of the world’s best TV dramas that hitherto were behind a Sky paywall. The “latest” additions are the first seasons of The White Lotus (9.00 Sundays from March 19), Yellowjackets (10.10 Sunday) and Gentleman Jack (8.30 Tuesday). Subsequent seasons of all three have already screened or are screening (Jack has done the rounds on SoHo, Vibe and Sky Box Sets), so how much more can be milked from their relatively niche appeal is debatable. If Sky was serious about its commitment to premium drama on Prime, the transition from pay to FTA would be much quicker (assuming there aren’t contractural restrictions). Otherwise, it’s little more than a cynical marketing ploy to encourage Prime viewers to catch up with the latest seasons by subscribing to Sky …

➢➢ Unbelievable Moments Caught on Camera (TVNZ 2, 9.30 Tuesday) is a reality newcomer that relies on “exciting, outrageous and astonishing user generated footage” to capture everything from an amateur pilot (and plane builder) losing his propeller mid-flight to a paralysed man who set a world record in marathon walking …

➢➢ The Amazing Race returns for its 33rd season (TVNZ 2, 6.00 Saturday) but Kiwi fans will still be more than a season behind the US, where S34 went to air in September …

➢➢ Also back is Superman & Lois (TVNZ 2, 12.45 Sunday) while ending their runs are Under the Vines, Bloodlands, So Dumb It’s Criminal (Duke), Travel Guides (which will be replaced by re-runs), Romantic Getaway and Rosie Molloy Gives Up Everything …

➢➢ Scotty Stevenson and former White Fern Katey Martin host a live broadcast of the 2023 NZ Cricket Awards (Duke, 8.30 Thursday) while another live broadcast, King in the Ring (Duke, 7.30 Saturday), is a series of three-round K-1 kickboxing elimination bouts for the 62kg King in the Ring crown …

➢➢ Coming attractions in HD for the week starting March 18 include:

• Marmaduke (Whakaata Māori, 7.00 Saturday)
• Fast & Furious (TVNZ 2, 7.30 Saturday)
• Silver Linings Playbook (Eden, 8.30 Saturday)
• Non Stop (Whakaata Māori, 8.40 Saturday)
• Divergent (TVNZ 2, 9.25 Saturday)
• 3 Days to Kill (Three, 10.30 Saturday)
• The Bank Job (TVNZ 2, midnight Saturday)
• Cloud Atlas (TVNZ 2, 2.10am Sunday)
• Trolls World Tour (TVNZ 2, 3.45 Sunday)
• John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum (TVNZ 2, 8.30 Sunday)
• Interstellar (Three, 8.30 Sunday)
• The Blind Side (Eden, 8.30 Sunday)
• Conversations With Other Women (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Sunday)
• Paranormal Activity 3 (TVNZ 2, 10.50 Sunday)
• When The Camera Stopped Rolling (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Monday)
• Terminator Salvation (Prime, 9.05 Monday)
• Under Siege (Duke, 8.30 Tuesday)
• The Teacher (Whakaata Māori, 8.30 Wednesday)
• Next (Three, 7.30 Friday)
• Happy Gilmore (Duke, 9.25 Friday).