HD Heads-Up: TV2 Dusts Off Disney Classic For New Season Launch

TV2’s network movie premiere of Aladdin in HD will spearhead the channel’s new-season assault on its rivals.

It will screen the Walt Disney classic 7pm on February 8, to help launch a week-long slew of new and returning series.

As amazing as it seems, given Aladdin came out 23 years ago, this will be the first time it’s aired on free-to-air TV.

As part of its deal with Disney, TVNZ can choose a couple of vintage movies a year that hitherto have been locked up in the studio’s vault.

TV2’s premieres-studded week also includes a live HD broadcast of the Grammy Awards (2pm Monday) that will lead in to the return of Home and Away at 5.30 while delayed Grammy coverage will lead out from the 9.30 Monday mid-season premiere of The Walking Dead.

The week’s other newcomers include How to Get Away With Murder, Marry Me, Benched, Agent Carter and new seasons of staples like Mom, Grey’s Anatomy and Police Ten 7.

TV2’s HD movies for the week include Coyote Ugly (9.50 Saturday), The Devil’s Advocate (11.50 Saturday), Up! (5.00 Sunday), Horrible Bosses (8.50 Sunday) and My Big Fat Greek Wedding (8.40 Friday).

TV1 will follow live HD coverage of IRB Sevens World Series rugby (which pre-empts Coronation Street) on February 7 with US Marshals in HD and will bed in its HD answer to The Block, Our First Home, 7.30 Sunday-Tuesday (MasterChef Australia drops back to 7.30 Wednesday-Friday).