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Prime TV presents: 50 Years of Television

By Dan News on June 1, 2010 9:50 am in Broadcasting and Media / 6 comments

This landmark documentary series uses archive footage, re-enactment and interviews with the faces and personalities of the past 50 years of broadcasting to tell the story of the evolution of television in this country from its very first two-hour broadcast in June 1960 to the multi channel environment of today.

Incorporating all of the major networks this very special PRIME documentary provides a non-biased, insightful and thorough overview of the role television has played in shaping our society. By analysing the television programmes we have made, how we made them and how they were received, we discover a great deal about how our society has changed, and also get a real perspective on New Zealand’s evolution from a colonial outpost to an independent and confident Pacific country.

It isn’t just that the sound of our voice has altered from BBC clone to the unashamedly kiwi accent of Karyn Hay; through the stories we told on television New Zealand began to recognise that we had a culture distinct from the rest of the world.

Along the way, we as a nation have had to face our own ghosts – the treatment of Maori, our race relations, our changing morality and the shift from a rural to urban society. No one piece of technology has quite revolutionised our lives in the way television has – nor given us the opportunity to unite as a country. It is the box in the corner of the lounge that has the ability not only to entertain and inform but to bring us together as a nation and reflect our values and beliefs. Television tells us who we are.

Prime TV: Sunday 13th June, 8:30pm

Want to pen your own responses to this programme, or share any of your other experiences of television in New Zealand? Then head to www.historyoftvinnz.com set up by University of Waikato researcher Geoff Lealand and start reminiscing!

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6 Comments

Blair says:

June 2, 2010 at 9:50 pm

Good to see someone is going to be screening some sort of TV history show. I was thinking TVNZ would have created some sort of documentry to mark to occasion as TVNZ had on their website at one stage a documentry of the first 5 years and the first 25 years. While I understand most NZers know all this history it would have been good to see some sort of refreshed show and then expanding on to show the next 25 years and all that has gone on. Instead we got a quiz show which really appeared to be a televised party for TVNZ past and present staff. The quiz show wasn’t bad though.
There is so much that could be on a documentry about the next 25 years. In 1985 we had just 2 channels and now even on just Freeview there is a good selection.
paul says:

June 3, 2010 at 6:59 am

@Blair: you can view both documentaries you mention on NZ On Screen (www.nzonscreen.com), online, anytime. Also readers may be interested in the newsreader compilation, part of the Kiwi TV Classics Collection: http://www.nzonscreen.com/collection/kiwi-tv-classics
Matthew says:

June 19, 2010 at 8:51 am

Hey guys, have you seen primes 50 years New Zealand television advert featuring doctor who at the start then stargate universe the list goes on? well i have the first few lyrics “Youve been drifting out in space, dry your eyes” please help
Thankyou!!
Kath Pring says:

June 20, 2010 at 11:03 pm

re 50 years of TV
Congratulations on a wonderful series. I thought tonight’s programme (20.6.10) was particularly
powerful. A wonderful history archive presented in a lucid and gripping manner. A pleasure to watch.
Good on you. Keep up the good work
Elaine says:

June 22, 2010 at 3:19 pm

Matthew, I’ve been looking for this song as well. I emailed Prime and they told me:

The soundtrack used in that advert is a piece of production music which has been composed especially for use in on air promotions. There is no song/music and artist title but just a catalogue number instead. You will not be able to access this as it is only available to commercial companies and not to the general public.

As we are only licensed to broadcast we will be unable to provide you with a copy direct.

Hope this was of help to you!
Nick says:

October 12, 2010 at 10:06 pm

That is a shame that they can’t let the music out. I am at a school and I think the song would be great to be sung. Hope Prime reconsiders and puts the music out there.