KEY POINTS:
New local drama is heading to a television near you, as TVNZ attempts to refloat its struggling flagship TV One.
At the 2007 new season launch this morning, programming general manager Annemarie Duff announced the arrival of new local soap The Point to next year's line up.
She
said the line-up was aimed at a "turn around" for the station.
TVNZ announced last month that advertising rates on TV One in prime time will drop by 14 per cent on average for the quarter, with the cut attributed to falling ratings and the softening advertising market.
Duff said the series was intended to work as a lead in to the six o'clock news and would feature a "fresh new pool of talent".
Though a TVNZ spokesperson could not confirm the exact time slot of the new programme, which has yet to begin production, it is expected to compete with successful Australian soap opera Home and Away, which screens daily at 5.30pm on TV3.
Joining The Point as a local newcomer, is Rude Awakenings, starring established New Zealand actress Danielle Cormack.
Set in Ponsonby, the programme is based on a classic feuding neighbours premise, as "old Ponsonby fights new".
While TV One is bustling with new additions to its 2007 line up, the state broadcaster is sticking with the old addage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" for sister channel TV2.
Duff said "the schedule will see very little change for 2007", with the return of top-rating dramas Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy and Lost.
After a drought of quality comedies in recent years, Duff hailed the addition of several new American sit-coms, including Ugly Betty, a series based on current box-office smash The Devil Wears Prada.
While a third season of reality competition Dancing With the Stars was confirmed for next year, there was no mention of NZ Idol returning to TV2 for a fourth season.
Other local series to debut next year, include A Mad Business - a reality series with Mad Butcher Peter Leich mentoring Kiwi entrepreneurs; Family Feuds - a documentary series on dysfunctional families; Ice - Marcus Lush narrates his voyage to the Antartic; and Here to Stay - a series following well-known New Zealanders as they trace their ancestral routes and heritage.
While TV2 aims to continue its run of top-rating series next year, the channel's movie line-up lacks major box office successes, with box-office flop Catwoman one of the films set to make its free-to-air debut.
Other films include The Pacifier, National Treasure, 13 Going on 30, Constantine and Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous.