TVNZ unveils 2017 line-up

A reality series that follows a search to find New Zealand’s best amateur a cappella singing group, the return of My Kitchen Rules NZ and a show that celebrates Maori exports are among Television New Zealand’s new season offerings.

Survivor NZ

The slate also includes an observational doc that looks at Kiwis forced to live in regional areas because of Auckland’s pricey real estate and a series that airs people’s gripes, grizzles and grievances.

Unveiling the 2017 line-up today, TVNZ CEO Kevin Kenrick announced a greater commitment to supporting and screening the work of new local talent, the launching of more programmes online via its OnDemand platform before the terrestrial premiere, and the live streaming of all channels.

“Our focus at TVNZ is all about sharing the moments that matter to New Zealanders, and we know that different moments matter to different New Zealanders. To better understand these differences, we’ve just completed our most in-depth research study into viewer behaviour, and this is shaping our future thinking,” Kenrick said.

“In this fast changing media environment, we need to give more people more reasons to watch with TVNZ. Time poor viewers don’t wait for content. In response, you can expect to see TVNZ premiere more content OnDemand than ever before, to make full series available from day one where we can, and to provide live online streaming access to our linear channels.”

In 2017, TVNZ will launch a series of initiatives collectively known as New Blood, designed specifically for non-traditional TV audiences and intended to find and foster new local talent.

That will include an in-house content lab to create more short-form multimedia series as well as giving viewers a say in who will receive NZ$100,000 (US$73,OOO) in production funding in a New Blood web series competition in partnership with NZ on Air.

TVNZ director of content Jeff Latch said: “We see ourselves as storytellers – and in 2017 we’ve got some incredible stories to share from New Zealand and around the world.”

Among the new local shows, Warner Brothers International Television Production New Zealand will produce The Naked Choir, an elimination contest that will determine the most entertaining amateur a cappella singing group.

Te Amokura Productions’ Gate to the Globe will examine Maori farms supplying goods to global markets including wines, seaweed and gourmet ice-cream.

Presented by Tamati Coffey, Faultline Films’ Moving Out With Tamati will follow city dwellers as they turn their backs on city life and attempt to forge new futures and better quality lifestyles in provincial areas.

Greenstone Pictures’ Gutsful will look at community disputes, consumer rip-offs and other burning issues, giving a voice to the grievances of senior citizens, 20-somethings, single mothers and disgruntled rural folk.

Screentime NZ’s five-part drama Dear Murderer stars Mark Mitchinson in a saga based on colourful, larger-than-life barrister Mike Bungay.

In a new season of Screentime’s Sensing Murder, psychic detectives Deb Webber, Sue Nicholson and Kelvin Cruickshank will investigate some of the country’s most baffling unsolved mysteries.

Australia’s Seven Productions will make the third series of My Kitchen Rules NZ, licensed through Endemol Shine, with celebrity chefs Pete Evans and Manu Feildel.

The reality line-up also includes the previously announced first-ever local commission of Survivor, produced by Warner Bros NZ.

Among the UK acquisitions are Victoria and the Cold Feet reboot (both launching later this year) and the thriller One of Us. The US imports include Time After Time, 24 Legacy, The Blacklist: Redemption and APB. The comedy line-up will feature Walliams and Friend, The Windsors, The Mick and Life in Pieces. Next year will also see the return of Doctor Foster, Broadchurch, The Big Bang Theory and Mom.