Pukeko Pictures successful at MipCom Jr with Trooper Tom

Trooper Tom

Children‟s television production and licensing company, Chapman Entertainment, successfully cemented a partnership in Cannes last week with Pukeko Pictures, with interest received in their new joint venture from 15 broadcasters over two days at MIPCOM JR.

Pukeko Pictures is the new children‟s television venture of Martin Baynton and Richard Taylor – five times Academy Award winning Creative Director and Co-Owner of NZ‟s Weta Workshop.

Trooper Tom (working title) is a state of the art CGI animated adventure series aimed at 6-12 year old boys. It is set on an epic stage with Shakespearean villainy, a wry sense of humour and breathtaking action. Half human, half robot, all hero – Trooper Tom is a futuristic Pinocchio, an experimental android infused with human DNA. The series is jointly led by Richard Taylor, Martin Baynton, and Chapman Entertainment‟s Creative Director, Keith Chapman. The production will be made by Weta Workshop at their New Zealand studios.

Chapman comments: “We are always looking for gaps in the market to fill, and this partnership with Pukeko Pictures provides an opportunity to do just that. We are really excited about this great new sci-fi series and even more excited about working with Weta Workshop, who are the best in the business in their field.” Richard Taylor, comments: “We are incredibly excited by our relationship with Chapman Entertainment and the first property that we have developed with them. The experience of presenting our show together in Cannes was nothing short of fantastic and the reactions to Trooper Tom was very rewarding.” This new 26 x 22 minute animation involves action, speed, heroism and some seriously cool adventures with the greatest battle machines ever invented.

Pukeko Pictures also unveiled their delightful new pre-school series The WotWots at MIPCOM JR last week, with great success. The WotWots follows the adventures of two small puppet-like aliens – a brother and sister – who come to explore planet Earth in their steam powered spaceship.Trooper Tom

Department of Conservation and TVNZ 6 Family combine for events

Kiwi children will be able to learn more about their local wildlife and wild places during Meet the Locals Conservation Week celebrations at Auckland Zoo on September 7 and Wellington Zoo on September 14.

The events are the brainchild of the Department of Conservation (DOC) and TVNZ 6 Family, and an extension of the partnership they formed with the Meet the Locals television series.

The series, currently screening on TVNZ 6 Family, introduces viewers to New Zealand’s native species – local plants, local animals and the local humans who love to look after them.

The Department of Conservation’s General Manager of Marketing and Communications, Sue Paterson, said Meet the Locals had proved to be a fantastic way of engaging Kiwis in the importance of conservation, and their partnership with TVNZ 6 is helping DOC to reach a wider audience.

“Meet the Locals Conservation Week is another great opportunity to work with TVNZ 6 to extend the Meet the Locals message into the wider community. At the zoo events children and their parents will be able to learn more about their environment and its inhabitants and see species like kiwi and tuatara up close.”

TVNZ General Manager Digital Services, Eric Kearley said partnerships such as the one TVNZ 6 enjoys with DOC were important in ensuring TVNZ’s digital channels delivered local and relevant content.

“Our relationship with DOC has produced some fantastic local content for TVNZ 6 and helped spread the conservation message via television to young New Zealanders in particular. Celebrating Meet the Locals Conservation Week through the events at Auckland and Wellington Zoos is taking our partnership to another level by bringing the TV show to life.”

Mr Kearley said TVNZ 6’s partnership with DOC was possible because the two organisations measured success in terms of public value.

“We’re hoping to develop more relationships with other like-minded organisations that share the same public value ethos,” he said.

For more information on Meet the Locals Conservation Week activity:
visit www.conservationweek.org.nz

Beijing Olympics TV Highlights Second Week 2008

Geoff Bryan and Peter Williams will be presenting the 2008 Summer Olympics LIVE from Beijing.

Highlights from the second week will include:

Saturday 16 August – Day 8: Women’s Hockey (NZ v USA); Track & Field; Swimming Finals; Rowing; Track Cycling; and Sailing Finals.

Sunday 17 August – Day 9: Women’s Marathon; Swimming Finals; Track Cycling; Rowing; Track & Field; and Equestrian.

Monday 18 August – Day 10: Women’s Triathlon; Men’s Beach Volleyball; Canoe/Kayak; Track Cycling; Equestrian; Synchronised Swimming (Duet Technical Routine, NZers Nina and Lisa Daniels); Sailing (Men’s and Women’s Windsurfing, NZers Barbara Kendall, Tom Ashley; and Men’s Two-Person Dinghy, NZers Peter Burling, Karl Evans); and Track & Field (Women’s Discus Final; Men’s 200m Round 2; Women’s Pole Vault Final; and Women’s 800m Final).

Tuesday 19 August – Day 11: Men’s Triathlon; Men’s Hockey (NZ v Germany); Beach Volleyball (Women’s Semi-finals); Canoe/Kayak; Synchronised Swimming (Duet Free Routine, NZers Nina and Lisa Daniels); Diving (Men’s 3m Springboard Final); Trampoline (Men’s Final); Football (Men’s Semi-final); Sailing (Men’s and Women’s Single-handed Dinghy, NZers Andrew Murdoch, Jo Aleh); Track & Field (Women’s 5000m Round 1; Men’s 200m Semi-finals; and Men’s 1500m Final).

Wednesday 20 August – Day 12: Cycling (BMX); Beach Volleyball (Men’s Semi-finals); Waterpolo (Men’s Quarter-finals); Canoe/Kayak; Sailing (Men’s and Women’s Windsurfing Finals); Women’s Hockey Semi-finals; and Track & Field (Men’s 5000m Round 1, NZer Adrian Blencoe; and Men’s 200m Final).

Thursday 21 August – Day 13: Taekwondo Finals; Cycling (BMX Semi-finals); Swimming (Men’s 10k; and Marathon); Beach Volleyball (Women’s Medal Matches); Sailing (Men’s Keelboat Star Race, NZers Hamish Pepper, Carl Williams); Equestrian (Individual Jumping Final Round); Diving (Women’s 10m Platform Final); Track & Field (Women’s 1500m Semi-finals; Men’s 800m Final; Men’s 400m Final; Women’s 200m Final; and Women’s 4 x 400m Relay Round 1).

Friday 22 August – Day 14: Track & Field (Men’s 50km Walk); Beach Volleyball (Men’s Medal Matches); Cycling (Mountain Bike – Women’s Cross-country); Canoe/Kayak; Hockey (Women’s Medal Matches); Table Tennis (Women’s Singles Gold); Track & Field (Women’s 5000m Final; Women’s Long Jump Final; Men’s Pole Vault Final; Men’s 4 x 1400m Relay Round 2; Women’s 4 x 100m Relay Final).

Times are subject to change. Visit tvnz.co.nz/Olympics for up-to-date information.

Beijing Olympics TV coverage in HD through Freeview

Freeview will be giving Kiwis access to the Olympics in high definition and 5.1 surround sound* on TV ONE, coupled with unprecedented 24/7 coverage on Freeview channel 20 – TVNZ Sport Extra.

Steve Browning, GM of Freeview, comments: “More than 4 billion people are expected to watch the Olympic Games in Beijing, which will comprise 302 events in 28 sports. So with the depth and breadth of competitions available to enjoy, there’s never been a better time to get Freeview|HDTM, particularly with the hardware options growing by the week”.

The recent launch of Sony’s BRAVIA V and W series televisions were the first of the new line-up of integrated digital TVs with Freeview|HDTM built-in. This was swiftly followed by the introduction of the premium Sharp AQUOS D84X series integrated digital TVs. And more integrated televisions are expected shortly from other leading consumer electronics manufacturers. These compelling new products eliminate multiple remotes, extra cables and simplify installation because there is no requirement for a separate digital receiver to receive the Freeview|HDTM service.

For viewers who already have an HD capable television, Freeview is pleased to announce the launch of the second Freeview|HDTM digital receiver, the HT3000 from Homecast. This is yet another great option to get the best Olympic TV seat in the house, access to at least 9 TV and 2 radio services, and the full digital experience with no monthly fees and no contract.

And for those people not sure whether they can receive Freeview|HDTM, an innovative and easy to use Google maps tool has been added to the Freeview website www.freeviewnz.tv to help viewers check whether they are within coverage by simply entering their street address.

The Freeview|HDTM service is currently available to around 75 per cent of New Zealand homes via UHF transmission. Homes outside these areas can still enjoy the benefits of digital TV, including two channels of Olympics coverage, with the purchase of a Freeview satellite receiver, and satellite dish if required.

Tongan King’s coronation live on TVNZ 7

The event of the year in the South Pacific will be this week’s coronation of the King of Tonga, and TVNZ has arranged coverage befitting a Royal occasion.

Pacific Correspondent for One News, Barbara Dreaver, will report the numerous activities as a Kingdom celebrates the crowning of the new King, George Tupou the Fifth.

The Coronation Ceremony will be seen live on TVNZ 7 from just after nine o’clock on Friday morning, 1st of August.

This will also be streamed live on TVNZ’s website, tvnz.co.nz, keyword “coronation”, available internationally.

TV ONE will have delayed coverage of the Coronation Ceremony following Friday’s Midday News.

One News on Friday night will feature coverage of the Coronation Ceremony and other events with Barbara Dreaver reporting live from Nuku’alofa.

TVNZ’s Tagata Pasifika will also be presenting two special programmes reporting the momentous events from Coronation week in its normal scheduled time slot on the 7th and 14th of August.

The Pacific Islands will also share live coverage of the Coronation Ceremony, relayed by satellite to viewers throughout the region by TVNZ’s Pacific Service.

Beijing Olympic Games online coverage from TVNZ

TVNZ has launched New Zealand’s online home of the Olympic Games at TVNZ’s dedicated Olympic website which is now LIVE. The site can be found at tvnz.co.nz/Olympics

Nothing compares with the power and excitement of the Olympic Games, the greatest global sporting event. When the world’s elite athletes gather in Beijing this August, TVNZ will bring Kiwi viewers closer to the drama and excitement than ever before, with spectacular images, expanded coverage, and new technologies.

The Olympic website is a one-stop shop for information, analysis and breaking Olympic news in the build-up to Beijing.

The site features include a dedicated section for every Olympic sport and profiles of every New Zealand competitor in the Games – including a range of interviews with the Kiwi medal hopefuls. Those wanting to enjoy past glories can watch the range of archive video footage. Google Maps technology has been utilised to produce a stunning bird’s-eye of the Beijing venues and there are blogs from sports broadcasting legends Keith Quinn and John McBeth, as well as diaries from several competing athletes. Further features include a full event schedule, photo galleries and all the news from the tvnz.co.nz journalists who will be will be part of the TVNZ production teams in Beijing and Auckland.

During the Games, in a first for New Zealand, tvnz.co.nz will offer the chance to choose from up to four channels of simultaneous video streaming online from TV ONE, TVNZ Sport Extra and two additional channels programmed by ONE Sport, which are only available online. There will be regularly updated information on the broadcast schedules for the television and online channels, and a daily package of Olympics video highlights that will be updated overnight, allowing Kiwis to catch up on, or re-live, the previous day’s big Olympic moments.

“This depth of online coverage of a major sporting event is something New Zealanders have never experienced,” says Jason Paris, Head of Emerging Business. “As well as broadcasting over 800 hours of Olympics action online, we’re offering up our richest content experience yet, with a wealth of video resources, coverage of every sport, high-quality images and all of the big stories about the Games.”

Head of Sport Murray Needham agrees: “The Olympic channels at tvnz.co.nz add another dimension to our coverage of Beijing, and give New Zealanders unprecedented opportunities to be part of the thrills and emotion of the Games.”

Beijing 2008 will be screened from August 8-24 across TV ONE, TVNZ Sport Extra and tvnz.co.nz.

Young Farmer Contest 2008

Mark Leishman hosts the 28th televised Young Farmer Contest and this year the show is broadcast from Ashburton.

The National Bank Young Farmer Contest 2008 has scoured the country for New Zealand’s finest farming talent, finding seven of the country’s best regional farmers who are to compete against each other for this year’s title. Included in the show are edited highlights from the Technical and Practical Challenge Days.

TV One, Saturday 12th July, 9:30pm

Matariki – the Maori New Year Celebrations on Maori TV

Maori Television invites viewers to celebrate Matariki – the Maori New Year – with a glorious festival of arts and culture on HE KARANGA MATARIKI, a series of three one-hour specials to screen on Tuesday June 10 at 8.30 PM, Wednesday June 11 at 8.30 PM and Thursday June 12 at 9.00 PM.

Maori Television has turned to some of the country’s finest creative minds to interpret and shed light on the meanings and themes of Matariki.

“We decided to cast our net wide and offer our performing artists a unique opportunity,” says HE KARANGA MATARIKI producer Michele Bristow. “Maori have long realised that performance holds the key to many truths. Chant, song, dance and drama record our history, convey feelings, express ideas, celebrate important events, as well as protest and persuade. In this special Maori Television invites others to the stage to express and share Matariki.”

For traditional Maori, Matariki was a constellation whose appearance in the pre-dawn sky in early June marked the start of a new phase of life. Occurring at the end of harvest, it was a time to think ahead, plan sea voyages and prepare the land for planting, but also to celebrate. People would gather and reflect, observe ceremonial rituals, sing, dance and tell stories.

Today, that attention to art, culture, reflection and celebration provides the inspiration for HE KARANGA MATARIKI.

The three parts of this series have been designed to explore the past, present and future through music, kapa haka and korero. Part One remembers and gives thanks while looking back at the year past. In Part Two the focus is the present, with music by Anna Coddington, and a modern tale of Matariki as told by Te Hamua Nikora. The third and final part is a celebration of new beginnings, expressed through kapa haka by Auckland Girls Grammar School, and the music of Little Bushman and the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra.

Another key element of the series is storytelling, woven through the musical performances. For oral societies, stories are the means through which knowledge is transferred. For Maori these were often long and complex, and full of instruction on how to behave, overcome obstacles, make clothes and build houses, and other topics vital to the health and future of a tribe. HE KARANGA MATARIKI features some of these stories, performed by such people as Merimeri Penfold, Mere Black, Makere Kaa, Maruhaeremuri Stirling and Makere Wano.

Bristow hopes the special programmes will create a wider awareness of this unique celebration: “While other cultural celebrations most definitely have a place in our country’s calendar, Matariki is one Maori celebrate, and one we wish to share with the nation.”

Tune in to the culture, language, spirit and people. HE KARANGA MATARIKI screens on Maori Television on Tuesday June 10 at 8.30 PM, Wednesday June 11 at 8.30 PM and Thursday June 12 at 9.00 PM.

Beijing Olympics TV Schedule set to deliver

TVNZ will broadcast more than 800 hours of free-to-air Olympics action to New Zealanders this August, delivering LIVE coverage of the world’s biggest television event on TV ONE, TVNZ Sport Extra (Freeview Channel 20) and two dedicated on-line ‘channels’.

When the world’s elite athletes gather in Beijing, Kiwi viewers can expect expanded coverage, and new technologies that bring them closer to the drama and excitement than ever before. A library of Olympics highlights will be updated daily at tvnz.co.nz.

Beijing 2008 will also be the first Olympics broadcast in high definition. TV ONE’s coverage of the Games will be available in HD via the DTT Freeview platform, so that viewers with HD-capable televisions can get closer to the action than ever before.

TVNZ Head of Television Jeff Latch says delivery of the Games on multiple platforms is the most compelling example possible of TVNZ’s new guiding strategy  Inspiring New Zealanders on Every Screen.

“Nothing compares to the power and excitement of an Olympic Games,” he said.

“It is the world’s largest stage, and the world’s biggest television event  and I’m delighted that TVNZ can bring New Zealanders the whole dramatic spectacle Live, Free-to-Air, and on a choice of screens.”

TV ONE is the home of the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, covering the Games as a whole, and moving between individual events to take Kiwi viewers to the best action as it happens. The three temporary Olympic Channels at TVNZ Sport Extra and tvnz.co.nz will be programmed by ONE Sport and will complement the coverage on TV ONE.

“To truly experience the Olympics as an event, watch TV ONE,” advises TVNZ Head of Sport, Murray Needham.

“TV ONE’s coverage is designed to capture the drama and competition of the Games as a total event. TV ONE will have all the big Olympic moments, and will follow the Kiwi competitors, but will also keep viewers up to date with the many different events taking place simultaneously in Beijing.”

“The digital and on-line channels are where viewers will be able spend extended periods of time watching individual sports, including some of the Games’ most popular events, as well as spectacular sports that rarely screen in New Zealand. TVNZ Sport Extra is going to be running 24 hours a day with full competition sessions, supplemented online by additional and alternative coverage.”

The Olympics is the world’s biggest television event. In 2004, the Athens Olympics broke all global TV viewing records, with nearly four billion people tuning in to Olympic broadcasts at least once during the games. In New Zealand, 85% of everyone aged five and over tuned into the Games on TV ONE at least once during primetime.

With Beijing a viewer-friendly four hours behind New Zealand, TVNZ’s coverage of the morning sessions will kick off at around 12.30pm and continue through the afternoon and evening. The afternoon session will be anchored by experienced TVNZ sports presenter Geoff Bryan. After a break at 6pm for ONE News and Close Up, the evening session will begin at 7.30pm, anchored by ONE News sports presenter Tony Veitch.

Sports broadcasters Toni Street and Lavina Good will work alongside Tony and Geoff as roving reporters, providing background stories and coverage from the sidelines.

TVNZ is the official rights holder and will have a full production team on the ground in Beijing, including a strong news and current affairs contingent, dedicated new media producers, and more than 20 expert commentators sourced from New Zealand, Australia, Africa, The United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.

The Beijing Olympics will be broadcast via satellite to 18 stations in the Pacific region on the TVNZ Pacific Service, and TVNZ will also be producing Olympic coverage for delivery to South Africa, Asia, and North Africa, including the Arab States.

BEIJING 2008
Games of the XXIX Olympiad
8-24 August on TV ONE, TVNZ Sport Extra, and tvnz.co.nz
A full television schedule for the Games will be released in July.

Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro invite to live internet chat

Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro invite you to a live internet chat about The Hobbit.

Peter and Guillermo would love to answer your questions and hear your comments about their new adventure into Middle-Earth.

Please register now – to make sure you don’t miss out on the Unexpected Party and get regular updates on the movies.

Weta are excited to be hosting this one-hour live online chat on their website www.wetaNZ.com. Please check the start time for your time zone below:

Los Angeles (Pacific) Saturday 24 May 1 pm
New York (Eastern) Saturday 24 May 4 pm
London Saturday 24 May 9 pm
Paris, Berlin, Rome Saturday 24 May 10 pm
Sydney Sunday 25 May 6 am
Wellington, Auckland Sunday 25 May 8 am