06 September 2008
TVNZ commits to Kiwi content
28 February 2008
By Paul Harper
The architects of TVNZ’s ambitious, 24-hour news channel, TVNZ 7, hope its strong New Zealand voice and a mid-evening bulletin will ensure the channel’s success.
Marketing the channel as “Our Views”, TVNZ’s media release says TVNZ 7 will include 75 per cent New Zealand content, of which 40 per cent will be TVNZ 7-produced.
Strengthening New Zealanders’ sense of national identity is one of the core objectives of the channel.
“Stories define how people see themselves,” says general manager of digital services at TVNZ, Eric Kearley.
TVNZ clearly sees its potential, having received $80 million additional funding for the channel from the Government.
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| Wallace Chapman |
Two current affairs shows, Back Benches and Media 7, will be exclusive to the new channel.
Back Benches presenter Wallace Chapman, previously with bFM, says the political current affairs show will engage in serious issues but present them in a “light style”, making politics accessible.
Media 7 will be hosted by Russell Brown, a self-confessed “mediaphile”, and will consist of critique, analysis and discussion on the media.
Brown insists he will have creative freedom and will be critical of TVNZ if need be.
He says the show will “inform and entertain”.
The channel will also screen many shows currently broadcast on TVNZ’s TV1, such as Agenda, Tagata Pasifika, Te Karere and Marae.
Kearley insists that the new channel will not reduce the quality of TV1.
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| Geraline Knox |
According to TVNZ 7 news presenter and producer Geraline Knox, rolling news will screen from 6am to 9am weekdays, 10-minute news bulletins will be broadcast on the hour and a full hour of news will air at 8 pm.
Other stations have also departed from the traditional 6 pm evening news.
Prime screens its evening news at 5.30pm and TV1 has recently introduced a 4.30pm bulletin preceding its evening news at 6pm.
International news services have also been broadcast on the free-to-air channels during the night.
TVNZ 7 will begin airing on March 30.
