TVNZ nabs NBC, ABC dramas

New Zealand pubcaster TVNZ has acquired an array of freshman US dramas, including How to Get Away With Murder and Forever, for its schedules in 2015.

The two ABC dramas will be joined by NBC series The Mysteries of Laura, Marry Me and CBS show Stalker on TVNZ next year.

Other acquired fare includes the forthcoming Thunderbirds reboot from ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVSGE), which has been produced by ITVSGE and Wellington-based Pukeko Pictures and will air on TV2.

Meanwhile, TVNZ says it will screen more than 4,100 hours of local programming in 2015 and make a NZ$100m (US$79m) investment in local production across its brands, including catch-up service TVNZ OnDemand.

Among its local dramas for 2015 are “big-budget” First World War epic When We Go To War, which has been made to mark the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.

Other local investments include Our First Home, a format that looks at how far parents will go to help their children, especially when faced with the challenges of home ownership.