Browsing: TV3

News
True grit: Chris Dudman on the making of Harry
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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.

News
Campbell Live beats TV One competitor for the first time
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Campbell Live won its first battle in the 7pm timeslot last night, by attracting more viewers than its current affairs rival Seven Sharp. This is the first time the Mediaworks show has overtaken any TV One 7pm programme, a massive blow for TVNZ which has probably got John Campbell yelling “bloody marvellous” from TV3’s Mt Eden office.

Movings & Shakings
Movings/Shakings: March 16
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Unlimited hunts for a new helmsman, MediaWorks plays some more news and current affairs swapsies with TVNZ, Rodney Hide sharpens his pen for the NBR, Grownups.co.nz finds some independence, EMC names new marketing director, Village PR adds to the flock, and Hamilton company Torpedo7 hops into bed with an Aussie suitor. 

News
As Nielsen changes kick in, major broadcasters show off
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Nielsen has now implemented its new Unitam model, which takes into account both overnight viewing and time-shifted viewing and also features an expanded panel, so it marks a new step in the way TV ratings are gathered in New Zealand. Added to that, the two major broadcasters are both back into full swing and many of the big new and returning shows that were trumpeted at the vastly different new season launches last year are now on the box. So how is New Zealand watching? And how are the new season ratings stacking up?

News
TV3 wins election night remote vote
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New Zealanders voted with their remotes during Saturday’s election night coverage, with viewers in key demographics choosing to watch TV3’s ‘Decision ’11’ programme over other televised election coverage.

News
Shift_the way you move…
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…as David MacGregor goes solo, Dave Shoemack gets a plum posting in Holland, Telecom’s punching bag departs, Fujikistan goes international, Andrew Mehrtens gets Gallic for TV3, The Press wins plaudits at PANPA, Mango activates an expert, CAANZ adds to its stable, Orangebox cuts cake, Kordia shacks up with PPR, and The Economist names a new sponsorship and marketing guru.  

News
Nothing Trivial, just a ratings triumph
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It’s fair to say that South Pacific Pictures has been on a bit of a roll lately. Its success in developing likeable and sometimes dodgy characters (typically of Shortland Street origin) continues, this time with new TV ONE show Nothing Trivial. According to TVNZ, Wednesday night’s debut episode set a new millennium record for a New Zealand drama debut on television, with an average 516,300 viewers watching the first episode.

News
TBWA\ and 2degrees wake the sleeping giant in Next Top Model, as MediaWorks trumpets solid June
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MediaWorks has been in the news a bit recently, with the unexpected departure of its TV wunderkind Jason Paris and continuing discussion about the sizable debts of its owner Ironbridge. But it’s not all bad: its two-channel strategy appears to be paying off in terms of share, ad revenue is up and general manager of integration Melanie Reece says the “sleeping giant” of branded content and product placement is starting to wake up, as evidenced by the success of New Zealand’s Next Top Model and the inclusion of new sponsors like 2degrees into the show. 

Opinion
TV3 lays news gauntlet at ONE’s feet
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Trumpet blowing, back-patting and self-congratulation are par for the course in the world of marketing. But it’s always more interesting if there’s a bit of healthy confrontation involved, as this promotional number for TV3 shows.

News
TV3 and Stuff remove paid search listings
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As a trade publication, there’s not much more we can add to the comprehensive media coverage of the earthquake being offered by New Zealand’s television, radio and print/online media outfits (Vicki Anderson’s take on events is particularly vivid). Obviously, industry issues are the least of everybody’s concerns when there have been so many fatalities in Christchurch and our families, friends and colleagues are going through utter hell, so first and foremost the thoughts of everyone here—and the thoughts of the industry as a whole—are with our embattled countryfolk. But the fact that TV3 and Stuff bid for Google search terms around the earthquake does raise some interesting ethical issues, particularly when the practice is frowned upon overseas. Judging by the comments on the story, some felt it was reprehensible, some felt it was kosher because the information was relevant and some even felt we were giving favourable treatment to TVNZ and nzherald.co.nz. But as of this morning, Tower was the only remaining advertiser on Google search and Stuff and TV3 had removed their paid listings, which seems to be an acknowledgment from the companies or their media agencies that doing so in the first place was bad form.

News
Acceptable or reprehensible? TV3 and Stuff buy Christchurch earthquake search terms
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When it comes to increasing eyeballs, natural disasters are, rather perversely, usually good news for media owners. But where does the line get drawn? Is it acceptable for TV3 and Stuff to bid for search terms around the Christchurch earthquake? When TVNZ has committed to commercial free broadcasts from 6pm through to 12pm tomorrow and promised to make good on any campaigns impacted by the event and Google has set up a people finder (although it also benefits from the search purchasing), it seems awfully cynical to try and benefit from the disaster. As one media insider says, “this is not a time to increase traffic through to a website through paid means”.

News
Great Odin’s raven! The Almighty Johnsons takes the ratings baton
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A trouble-making family from West Auckland with a penchant for dodgy dealings, swearing, booze and shagging is a solid premise for a TV show. And Outrageous Fortune certainly delivered the goods for TV3 during its six year run. A family with supernatural powers who are descended from Norse Gods is a slightly stranger concept. But that’s what TV3’s new local drama The Almighty Johnsons is all about and, while it will undoubtedly be difficult to fill the entertaining boganic void left by the departure of the Wests, ratings for the first episode of the replacement were promising.

News
Christmas stockings stuffed with new hires…
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… as Publicis Mojo welcomes a replacement executive creative director, Mango Communications says hello to two ‘Mango-worthy’ candidates, DNA design reels in a big one, NZ Magazines loses another editor and TV3 chooses its new European correspondent.

News
News stampede tramples hundreds of innocent bystanders…
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… as Yellow wins some more awards, the wheels on the Instant Kiwi scratchie bus go round and round, Fresh PR slips into something more comfortable, the University of Auckland School of Business reaches a big milestone with its 40,000th Short Course attendant, TVNZ ups its streaming, TV3 spruces up its website, the crowd goes wild for Microsoft Kinect and Sealegs is endorsed by scientists.

Opinion
Imitation or inspiration?
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There’s always plenty of discussion in the ad industry as to where the line between plagiarism and creative inspiration is drawn. TV3 has felt the cool accusatory breeze a couple of times this year with some of its promotional work. And, after Colenso discovered two of its Vodafone commercials …

News
Teacup storm may need bigger vessel
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SBS called – and they’re not happy. Late yesterday the Aussie broadcaster was still mulling over its options as whether to take legal action over TV3’s use of the line “Six billion stories and counting” – SBS’s own tagline – in its new TVC.

Earlier this week, TV3’s director …

News
Six billion, six schmillion
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Me, worry? TV3’s director of marketing and communications Roger Beaumont is unfazed by a recent sideswipe from the New Zealand Herald suggesting a striking similarity between a line on the station’s new ‘serious news journalism’ TVC –  “Six billion stories…and counting”  – and SBS’, Australia’s multicultural and multilingual radio and television service, tagline “Six billion stories and counting”.

News
News Zealand: choose data, stick boot in
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Aside from these, this, and this, StopPress loves nothing more than data. And we’re particularly fond of hard data. Of course, the brilliant thing about data is that it can be used selectively to show how good you are, and how bad other things, like competitors, are. And there’s almost no better example of this than the tit for tatting that is news ratings data in New Zealand.

News
Jason speaks
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Jason Paris has spoken out about his new appointment as chief executive of TV3 and C4.

In an interview with StopPress, Paris describes the move as exciting and a natural career progression.