It’s the height of TV promo season, as evidenced by the recent launch of campaigns for The Great Food Race and MasterChef NZ. And, as the major news and current affairs shows return to air for 2013—and one new show announces its arrival—here’s what they’re doing to drum up some interest.
Both networks’ breakfast shows returned to air last week, with Firstline’s new hosts Sacha McNeill and Michael Wilson broadcasting from the Tamaki Yacht Club (here are the show’s 2013’s highlights) and over at Breakfast, Rawdon Christie is already on the blooper list.
Campbell Live returns on Monday and MediaWorks has been playing a clip that shows Kiwis offering their views of the host and the stories the team covers (“he’s real, eh”; “an everyday Joe kind of guy”).
Ali Ikram, previously on the now defunct Nightline, has joined the show. And here’s his take on the team.
Seven Sharp also returns for 2014, with a new presenting line-up consisting of Jesse Mulligan, Toni Street and Mike Hosking (Rabobank is also back on board for another stint). There doesn’t appear to be a new promo for this season yet, but you can check out the best of 2013 here.
Paul Henry, who, when asked about the new Seven Sharp line-up by the Herald said in quintessentially blunt fashion “clearly TVNZ is looking for a dignified exit from their diabolically ill-conceived and poorly executed Close Up replacement”, returns to Kiwi screens next week with his eponymous show and, as expected, the Facebook page indicates the nation is split on whether that’s a good or bad thing.
Kia Motors, a past sponsor of Close Up, has signed as sponsor of the show. And Liz Fraser, MediaWorks TV director of sales and marketing, says the brand position of ‘The Power to Surprise’ makes the company the perfect fit.
“We love working with clients and brands who get excited about fresh, bold ideas,” she says. “The Paul Henry Show will be insightful, entertaining and surprising must-see television. It’s fantastic to have a sponsor as innovative and forward thinking as Kia on board as we launch this exciting new show. “
Todd McDonald, Kia Motors New Zealand general manager, says: “Innovation is the very essence of the Kia brand, which is evident from the design of our cars though to the way we aim to delight our customers and the opportunity to be a part of a new approach in late night news is too good to pass up. We think Kia and The Paul Henry Show is a great fit. We’re not taking the typical approach with this sponsorship and have worked with team to include a few surprises for the audience.”
According to the Herald: “A TV3 source says Henry is so insistent on being seen as authentic that he re-filmed the opening sequence to the new trailer for The Paul Henry Show because he worried it appeared as if he drove a Kia. The sponsor’s car was conspicuously placed in shot. Henry insisted his car should be there, too.”
Sunday, which was last year cut down from one hour to half an hour to accommodate NZ’s Got Talent, managed to convince the subjects of some of last year’s stories to return for its promo.
As for 3rd Degree, which returns without Guyon Espiner this year (and without the monthly show The Vote), Samantha Hayes is joining Duncan Garner as co-host.
Director of news and current Affairs, Mark Jennings says: “Feedback from viewers last year was very positive on having dual presenters. Guyon Espiner and Duncan Garner brought contrasting styles and different points of view to the programme and Samantha Hayes will undoubtedly bring her own unique style too. Samantha has considerable presenting experience and this will be valuable as we continue to evolve a programme that broke some of the country’s biggest stories in its first year on-air.”
Hayes has worked as a journalist and presenter for TV3’s news and current affairs division since 2006, most recently as a journalist for 3rd Degree and back-up anchor for Firstline.
3 News has also launched a 2014 promo, which features Firstline.
This follows on from a campaign last year that focused on the anchors Mike McRoberts and Hilary Barry and aimed to stop the bleeding at 6pm after its ratings fell following the departure of Home & Away to TVNZ.
