Ondemand is proving very popular with Kiwi audiences, with the stream view worm heading swiftly upwards for both major broadcasters and online video content on the major news sites going through the roof. And TVNZ is aiming to replicate the success of its interactive, digital Emmy award-winning, Ondemand-only show Reservoir Hill with a follow-up along similar lines: a new spoof comedy show called Auckland Daze.
The series follows a model, a stuntman, a dwarf entertainer and a stand-up comedian trying to make it in Auckland’s ridiculously small entertainment industry and, since its online launch last week, it has become the most watched show on TVNZ Ondemand, with, as of today, 14,264 stream views for the first episode, beating out Friday’s Shortland Street, which achieved 13,179 stream views over the same period.
After each episode, which is filmed weekly, the audience is prompted to say what they think and offer suggestions for the next episode via Facebook. And, with a growing fanbase (1,261) and fan interaction rates running well above average, Tom Cotter, TVNZ’s general manager for digital media, says viewers are enjoying the chance to interact with and influence the show.
“In just one week, the success of Auckland Daze has demonstrated the growth in the digital audience’s appetite for high quality online video and interactive experiences,” he says. “We are enjoying the positive viewer feedback and seeing that people appreciate the show’s humour as much as we do.”
The second episode, which guest stars Craig Parker, will be available to view from 5pm tonight and features a viewer-contributed pick up line.
