Last night, the inaugural episodes of The Great Food Race and the fifth season of Masterchef New Zealand aired on TV3 and TV One, respectively. And with this started what could potentially turn into a ratings battle for food format supremacy in 2014.
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.
Viewership of broadcast TV is declining here and around the world. And, in correlation, some consumers appear to have largely checked out of advertising altogether, writes Andrew Lewis. So a reliance on brand-led communications to drive engagement will be found wanting.
After cancelling its expensive output deal with 20th Century Fox, just as it had with the other big studios, MediaWorks was forced to stop screening some of its most popular shows in November last year. But in late December it announced it had struck up a new relationship with the big US studio that will see many of the shows it lost returning this year, although they won’t all be back, because Sky has nabbed some of the studio’s big shows for itself.
SkyTV, one of New Zealand’s biggest broadcasters, has followed in TVNZ’s footsteps by launching SkyGo, an iOS app that enables Sky subscribers to stream content on compatible laptops, mobiles or tablets. But rather than including an on-demand streaming feature, the new app limits viewers to pre-recorded content and live channels. While this is sure to be hit with sports fans, it will do little to appease those who want an on-demand mobile option.
Last year, New Zealand’s Got Talent (NZGT) enjoyed an average viewership of 839,209 over the course of 13 weeks, but the follow-up season couldn’t even match that amount in the final episode, with only 726,900 viewers tuning in on Sunday night to see season-ending episode. These results from Nielsen bring a disappointing end to the second season of TVNZ’s show, which was originally tipped for further success when it was announced.
There’s been plenty of pomp, ceremony and brio in recent weeks at the new season launch announcements for MediaWorks and TVNZ. But behind-the-scenes, all is not quite so rosy, with a sharp drop in TV viewership since the middle of the year creating some concern.
As the rise of content marketing changes the way some clients are choosing to advertise, integration/media solutions/native advertising/branded content/advertorial/*insert another buzzword here*, is a big growth area for TV networks—and other media. And TVNZ has referenced that shift by appointing Lyndsey Francis as general manager of media solutions and customer insights and adding some more research firepower to the team.
The first instalment of TVNZ’s Future Now series, which aims to showcase some of the company’s big broadcasting brains, Dominic Corry interviewed head of digital Tom Cotter to find out how technology was changing the face of TV. And next on the list is Andrew Shaw, the straight-shooting general manager of commissioning, production and acquisitions, who waxes lyrical about TV content trends and the reinvestment in high concept, cinematic drama series in the US.
According to the latest Paymark figures, DIY action as a result of the buoyant Auckland housing market and the Christchurch rebuild have helped boost overall year on year retail spending in New Zealand by 4.3 percent. And there’s also been a boost in the number of TV shows aiming to tap into this domestic fever, with Mitre 10 Dream Home returning to TV2’s screens last week after a four year hiatus and Aussie powerhouse House Rules starting on TV3 last night. But it’s the homegrown effort that’s so far luring the most Kiwi DIY lovers.
TV3 has lost the right to broadcast Aussie beach side soap opera Home and Away, a staple of its evening broadcast offering.
Last night’s season premiere of The Almighty Johnsons started with a whiz and a bang, but the Johnson lads were unable to bring in the crowds to watch their godly antics.
Telecom has announced it’s an official telecommunications and technology partner for PremierLeaguePass.com, meaning it’s able to give discounts and special deals to football fans on its network.
TVNZ’s new current affairs show Seven Sharp got off to fairly shaky start. So 18 weeks in, how is it holding up? And what has its arrival meant for the 7pm ratings? PLUS: Comment from TVNZ’s new HONCA John Gillespie.
Inside most major TV networks there exists an often unrecognised group responsible for developing show promos, design collateral and marketing campaigns that aim to get viewers excited about the content. And these teams were rewarded recently in the second Promax New Zealand awards.
Sleepy geeks across New Zealand woke up at 5 AM this morning to take a look at Microsoft’s latest addition to the console wars, the Xbox One. General consensus seems to be Microsoft has another hit console on its hands – but many here in New Zealand are apprehensive about how many of the features announced this morning will make the flight across the Pacific Ocean.
TVNZ has produced the first instalment of its Future Now series, which features a selection of talented humans from inside the building talking about some of the trends in media here and overseas—and, importantly, what they mean for local advertisers and viewers. To kick things off, film critic and entertainment writer Dominic Corry quizzes Tom Cotter, TVNZ’s general manager of digital media, on the way technology is affecting how, when and where we view our content.
It’s not unusual for commercial directors to pursue other interests to keep the creative fires burning. But doing a TV series is fairly rare, says Robber’s Dog’s Chris Dudman, who helped write, direct and edit TV3’s new critically-acclaimed drama Harry.
TVNZ has appointed veteran news man John Gillespie as its new head of news and current affairs (the role known affectionately inside TVNZ as the HONCA).
In the first instalment of a new series where senior members of OMD’s trading team put forth their opinions on some of the issues facing the media industry, associate trading director David Turner looks at how local broadcasters are adapting to changing consumer behaviour and why a single trading currency is inevitable.
Igloo TV and Slingshot have gotten into bed with each other, the former to get inside of more homes and the latter to sweeten the deal for its products.
Clearly not done with just taking our doctors, engineers, aunties and nephs, Australia is now looking to poach New Zealand’s reality TV talent for Beauty and the Geek Australia. FOUR has announced that next season of the gameshow will feature a Kiwi beauty and geek, but applicants must play into some heavy and insulting stereotypes in order to be eligible.
Worrying figures for TVNZ, whose Seven Sharp show has lost 40 percent of its audience since the start of the week, placing it near competitor Campbell Live.
Sir Paul Holmes passed away today at the age of 62, surrounded by family in Hawke’s Bay. Tributes have already started flowing through for the man who inspired or infuriated New Zealanders, and here we share a few.
Bad news for flailing media companies, you’ll soon be competing for subscription dollars with the third largest social network – YouTube.
Igloo boss Chaz Savage has resigned from the fledgling pay TV venture, and is taking up a role with Telstra in Australia, according to a spokesperson for Igloo.
Shortland Street fans rejoice. Now you can do your on-demand catching up with the gang from the big screen. Mobile screen fans to get some love in February.
While MediaWorks’ ownership and debt issues continued to bubble away this year, there were plenty of positives for those working at the coalface, including Four’s media brand of the year award and a very successful first run of The Block. Liz Fraser, who moved from MSN and chair of the IAB to take up the role of director of sales and marketing at Mediaworks TV, has her say.
Almost one year after it was officially announced (and a bit longer after it was unofficially announced), Sky and TVNZ’s joint venture Igloo has finally got its googly-eyed mascots to deliver its set-top boxes into the wild. And it’s also launched its brand campaign, via Sugar&Partners.
TBWA\ has been cranking out the work for ANZ since ‘The Announcement’ of the new—and, if you believe the ads, improved—bank. And, with plenty at stake, it’s no surprise that no expense has been spared and the doctor has been well and truly gone for. And now it has moved into the final phase of the campaign to show what products and services it can now offer its customers.