It’s that time of year when the American networks unveil their new shows for the upcoming season (usually starting in September). Because you’re worth it, we’ve agonisingly worked our way through the various network schedules and identified the hits and misses that are likely to be hitting our screens in due course. Here’s a sneak [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Television'
A Right Royal Do
May 4th, 2011 · No Comments · 2011, Television
It was, by all accounts, quite a shindig. William and Kate got themselves successfully hitched while a thousand news anchors chitchatted their way through the proceedings. The numbers were suitably royal as well. We counted eight channels available in New Zealand (at least to Sky-watchers) … if you were a truly-committed monarchist you should have [...]
Tags:Royal Wedding
The Old Order Changeth
July 23rd, 2010 · No Comments · Television
Forgive us if we shed a tear for times gone by. Last month, for the first time since John Logie Baird had a bit of a brainwave, there were NO sales of analogue TV sets in the UK, according to the latest figures from Digital UK (the organisation responsible for helping viewers switch). We suppose we [...]
TVNZ finally, finally breaks out of its shackles
March 9th, 2010 · No Comments · Television
There must have been some serious celebrations in the Executive Suite at TVNZ when the pubcaster got the go-ahead from its shareholders (New Zealand Incorporated, AKA The Government) to launch its first pay television channel, Heartland (launching on the Sky platform in June). To put the channel launch into its proper perspective, we need to [...]
Lost: The Final Season
February 22nd, 2010 · No Comments · Television
It’s hard to believe we’re entering the sixth season of Lost. Have we really been through five years of metaphysical misdirection already? We asked our online research panel what they thought of the final season of Lost. Here’s the skinny: 8.3% So Hot 3.9% Can’t Wait 3.1% Always on my List 6.9% Just OK 21.7% [...]
Tags:final season·Lost·NZ
TiVo and Telecom’s Expectations
February 15th, 2010 · No Comments · Television, TiVo
As Chris Keall reported in NBR Online on Friday: At Telecom’s quarterly result briefing this morning, Telecom Retail chief executive Alan Gourdie told NBR that sales of TiVo boxes so far have been “modest”. “We set some quite high targets for Christmas that we didn’t achieve,” said Mr Gourdie. The surprise in that report is [...]
Will the iPad Reinvent Television?
February 15th, 2010 · No Comments · Television
From the Wall Street Journal: Apple Inc. is [reportedly] in discussions with television networks to lower the price of downloaded TV shows when the company begins selling its new iPad tablet computer. Apple has already been testing a price of 99 cents—half the price of standard-definition TV episodes—for certain shows on its iTunes service and [...]
Tags:iPad·reinvention·Television
The Travel Channel: Arriving on Sky May 1
February 15th, 2010 · No Comments · Television
Another new channel joins Sky Television’s basic digital package on May 1 with the arrival of the Travel Channel. Targeted at a broad 25-54 age group, the Travel Channel “believes in the magic of journeys to change and enrich lives. Travel Channel’s programming delivers enlightening journeys, diverse excursions, human stories and unmatched travel information. Travel [...]
Tags:Sky·Travel Channel
Must See TV?
February 8th, 2010 · 1 Comment · 2010, Television
The new television season is upon us and (apparently) there’s never been a better time to camp out in front of the telly and prepare to be dazzled, stunned, blown away or simply have your life transformed. The reality may be a little more prosaic. But what’s especially new, different and paradigm-shifting about this new [...]
New Zealand Television and the Year That Was
February 6th, 2010 · 1 Comment · 2009, Television
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. That well-trodden phrase pretty much sums up the year that was 2009, at least for New Zealand television broadcasters. Audience levels were up, up, up. Advertising revenue was — well, let’s not even go there. The NZ Television Broadcasters Council finally had some [...]