KEY POINTS:
Sifting through the contents of TVNZ 6, the broadcaster's upcoming ad-free digital channel, is a bit like buying Casablanca on DVD. Or opening a brand new box to find a whole lot of old clothing.
Once you get past the shiny exterior with its fancy padlocks and gadgets, you'll discover things you didn't think you'd see again, pieces you thought you'd binned long ago and items you could get away with calling vintage.
That's not to say you won't also be pleasantly surprised that some of those belongings have taken on classic status in your wardrobe. And you'll be heartened to find that up to 75 per cent of them are from local designers. There are also a handful of new accessories.
But with the channel screening on its digital Freeview platform, the many repeats on offer make for a strange collision of the old and the new. The main purpose of TVNZ 6 and its news and current affairs sister channel TVNZ 7 (which launches in March next year) is to extend the broadcaster's public service delivery, says digital services manager Eric Kearley. In other words, it's not just about encouraging viewers to add to the hardware in their living rooms by buying a Freeview box.
TVNZ says the new channels won't affect TV One and TV2's commitment to charter programming. But shows such as Bollywood Bosses will get prime time slots they wouldn't otherwise. It's also designed to complement the archival footage already available on TVNZ on demand, meaning there will be double-ups of certain shows. Kearley says there are no plans for Sky to carry the channels.
TVNZ 6 is split into three programming areas: Kidzone, Family and Showcase. From September 30, it will be available on Freeview. Here's a sneak preview:
Kidzone 6am-4pm
Among the expected fare on the line-up for preschoolers - and by expected we mean talking purple splodges (they're called Boblins), a hyperactive new presenter called Kayne Peters and animals galore - Kidzone boasts a few gems that parents may find more engaging than the littlies. Not only is the 80s Jim Henson classic Fraggle Rock on the menu, so is local kids' show You & Me featuring Suzy Cato in the most appalling fluorescent jumper known to man. "Everything is new to children," says Kearley. Yes but surely even preschoolers know a daggy neon sweatshirt when they see one.
Family 4pm-8pm
"Family viewing" has never had a glamorous ring to it, refusing to pledge allegiance to any one individual in the household. Nor is this line-up what you'd call cutting-edge, with 37 per cent drawn from the local archives. But it is informative, safe, reliable stuff for the whole whanau. Starting with Local Lifestyle programming (The Zoo, Colonial House) it then moves into Tween Time (The Boy from Andromeda, with a teenaged Katrina Hobbs, Being Eve and Mai Time). But the highlight here is the Classic Kiwi segment, featuring such antiques as It's In the Bag, (Selwyn Toogood era), A Dog's Show and early episodes of Country Calendar. From 7.30-8pm, it's Family Facts, with docos such as The Truth About Climate Change, Natural History NZ Docos and Beyond Tomorrow. Viewers can also catch up on Shortland Street and repeat episodes of Karaoke High.
Showcase 8.30pm-11.30pm
Ever wondered where local programming goes to retire? The Showcase line-up is a mix of arts shows, docos, local comedy and drama that once thrived on TV One and TV2 and has since been relegated to the archives. That means lots of worthy stuff gets another airing, such as Mataku, Havoc & Newsboy, classic films like End of the Golden Weather and Kiwi arts docos you might have missed first, second or third time around. It also means repeat screenings of Doves of War (formerly of TV3 late-night viewing fame after struggling in the ratings) and Orange Roughies (which was axed from One after just eight episodes). "It's sometimes hard to get a local drama to work if it's not in prime time," says Kearley. 'And even if it is you don't always get a yield from it because of the cost."
International content includes Cold Feet and Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. New shows include half-hour arts show The Gravy, and Finlay McDonald's new talkshow Talk Talk. Selected works by film students will also screen in a segment called NZ Directs.
