Top television executive Andrew Shaw has been announced as this year’s recipient of the highly coveted TV Legend honour at the 2020 New Zealand Television Awards.
Presented to a television professional, programme or organisation who has made a significant contribution to the New Zealand screen industry, Shaw – whose career spans more than four decades – will be presented with the prestigious award on 18 November.
His career began in 1975 at the age of 18 as children’s television host on TV2 Presents Andy, later Hey Hey It’s Andy. Shaw went on to front several Telethons and entertainment shows before moving behind the camera as a director and producer of entertainment programming for TVNZ. During this time he produced sports-reality series, Clash of the Codes.
In 2000 Shaw left TVNZ to become COO of South Pacific Pictures, where he brought the Idol format to our screens. While at SPP, Shaw was president of the Screen Production and Development Association of NZ. He also spent time in a programming role at Prime.
In 2007 Shaw returned to TVNZ as GM of Commissioning and Acquisitions and in 2017 was appointed Deputy Director of Content. Shaw left TVNZ this July and is now a consultant at his company, Sophos.
Shaw has long been an advocate for the critical role of local content, as well as promoting Kiwi content internationally.
NZTV Awards organising committee member, Irene Gardiner, says Shaw’s contribution to New Zealand television has been enormous.
“Andrew is one of the great characters of New Zealand television – everyone in the industry adores him. He is a deserving winner of the TV Legend award, and it’s perfect timing in the year he steps down from his full-time role at TVNZ, and that we celebrate 60 years of television in New Zealand.”
All of this year’s Awards winners will be announced on 18 November at a red carpet event at Auckland’s Shed 10. The ceremony, sponsored by NZ On Air, will be hosted by actor-writer-comedian and last year’s NZTV Awards “Trophy Boy”, Tom Sainsbury.
