Presenter Morgan Bradley presents a fresh new look to the Kidzone environment, as she teaches Kiwi kids New Zealand sign language. Morgan continues to encourage viewers to have fun and join in with physical activities and opportunities to think and learn about the world around them. Children can take away problem-solving skills and think about issues that are relevant to their lives.

As Kidzone is produced, directed and written by early childhood experts, the series is developmentally age-appropriate and helps position children as competent, capable and social individuals in their own right.

Episodes of Kidzone with Kayne and Morgan screen every day on TVNZ 7, starting at 6am. Morgan’s episodes start at 7.30am.

Ross Dagan is currently Director of News, Sydney, for Network 10 Australia.

He is an experienced News executive who has held senior roles with Network 10 in Sydney and Brisbane, was Programme Editor for Aljazeera English in Kuala Lumpur, and was Director of News after holding various senior Reporter, Producer, and Bureau Chief roles with Seven Network in Queensland.

Mr Dagan will join TVNZ early in 2012.

RadioLIVE General Manager, Jana Rangooni, says she is extremely pleased to have Cliff joining the team.

“Cliff Joiner is a news heavyweight who brings a wealth of journalistic experience to our breakfast programme and RadioLIVE, which I’m very excited about,” she says.

Cliff Joiner leaves his current position as National Bureau Editor for TVNZ for the job, and will start at RadioLIVE in 2012.

- MediaWorks

Mr Ellis will be leading a new Telstra division called Telstra Digital Media, as Group Managing Director – Digital Media, with responsibility for Telstra’s Sensis, Bigpond, Trading Post and IPTV businesses, and Telstra’s partnership with Foxtel.

Sir John Anderson acknowledged Mr Ellis’s cumulative 10 years of service as TVNZ CEO, during which time TV ONE and TV2 consolidated their leadership position in the New Zealand free-to-air television market, and the company diversified into digital media areas including on-line, pay TV channels, and new digital free-to-air channels.

- TVNZ

It’s the fourth year in a row that TV ONE’s flagship bulletin has been awarded the prestigious title; the first time this has been achieved.

Simon Dallow has spent a bit of time in Christchurch in the last 12 months and accepted the award on behalf of ONE News, “I have mixed feelings about winning an award largely predicated on what happened to Canterbury”. He finished by dedicating the award to everyone affected by the earthquakes.

TVNZ’s News Boss also spoke and paid tribute to the camera crews, editors, producers and journalists from Christchurch who reported on the earthquakes and lived through every quake and after shake too.

“To be honoured by the judges for our work over the last 12 months is very special indeed,” said Head of News and Current Affairs, Anthony Flannery.

“I am extremely proud of our teams for stepping up to the challenge – they did so with great professionalism and world class craft, and kept focus on delivering the vital information and important stories for New Zealanders during a year of such tragedy, upheaval and drama.

“I would like to pay a special tribute to the TVNZ staff in Christchurch.

“We were extremely lucky that our building just held together during February’s tragic quake so that they evacuated safely – once out they all pulled together to provide unprecedented levels of rolling coverage of the unfolding disaster.

“It’s been an exceptional year for news. Just one big story puts pressure on a newsroom, but in the last 12 months we’ve had the Christchurch Earthquakes, the Pike River Mine disaster, a Royal Wedding, Tsunami and nuclear panic in Japan, the Rena grounding off Tauranga, the Rugby World Cup and now Election 2011.

“We have thrown everything at these historic stories, and I hope we have proved beyond doubt that we are committed to bringing NZers important news where and when it matters”.

TVNZ also picked up two prestigious current affairs trophies this evening.

Close Up’s Mark Crysell and Kate McCallum won best current affairs reporting for a daily programme for their story on the tragic death of Auckland teenager, James Webster. Producer, Kate McCallum thanked James Webster’s family, “for trusting us to tell their story at such an horrendous time” when she accepted the award.

Veteran journalist, Amanda Millar and producer Joanne Mitchell from SUNDAY won best current affairs reporting for a weekly programme for their revealing story on Jaden Knight and Phillip Johnston, from Lower Hutt, who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned (6 years) for the arson of the Foxton Hotel.

On Thursday at the AFTA Luncheon TVNZ won 3 of the 4 awards for News and Current Affairs Craft.

TVNZ’s NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS AFTA AWARDS 2011:

BEST NEWS – ONE NEWS

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS REPORTING (Weekly) – AMANDA MILLAR & JOANNE MITCHELL, SUNDAY

SUNDAY (TV1) – Innocent

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS REPORTING (Daily) – MARK CRYSELL & KATE MCCALLUM, CLOSE UP

Close Up (TV1) – Webster

BEST NEWS EDITING – PAUL SPARKES, ONE NEWS

ONE News Special Report (TV1) – CCTV

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS CAMERA – MARTIN ANDERSON, 20/20*

20/20 (TV2) – Rite of Passage

Rite of Passage followed Shortland Street actor, Kiel McNaughton and his Papua New Guinean wife, Kerry Warkia who made a promise to Kerry’s late father to bring their children up with the customs and traditions of his tribe.

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS EDITING – NICK REID, 20/20

20/20 (TV2) – Sitting on a Killer

Sitting on a Killer told the story of two 32 year old kiwis, Jared and Claire, both dying of bowel cancer.

* The Best Current Affairs Camera is the Joe von Dinklage Memorial Award. Joe was the cameraman who drowned when a helicopter carrying Paul Holmes and a Holmes TV crew crashed into the sea at Anaura Bay in 1989.

At the AFTA Craft Luncheon in Auckland this afternoon 20/20 cameraman Martin Anderson was presented with the prestigious Joe von Dinklage Memorial Award for Best Current Affairs Camera. This is the second year in a row Martin has won the award.

“The AFTA Craft Awards are very special because it’s really the only time we get to recognise the work done by the extremely talented people who work behind the camera – their craft and professionalism is outstanding, and it’s fantastic to see that recognition officially from the judges,” said TVNZ’s Head of News and Current Affairs, Anthony Flannery.

“It’s been the biggest year for news in TVNZ’s history, and our team has given it everything.

“They’ve worked on rolling deadlines and under immense pressure over the past 12 months to deliver vitally important stories to New Zealand and it’s great to be able to take some time today to say thanks to them all.

“I believe they’ve delivered a world class service to our viewers and we can be very proud of their efforts”.

BEST NEWS EDITING – PAUL SPARKES, ONE NEWS

ONE News Special Report – CCTV

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS CAMERA – MARTIN ANDERSON, 20/20

20/20 (TV2) – Rite of Passage

BEST CURRENT AFFAIRS EDITING – NICK REID, 20/20

20/20 (TV2) – Sitting on a Killer

The Best Current Affairs Camera is the Joe von Dinklage Memorial Award. Joe was the cameraman who drowned when a helicopter carrying Paul Holmes and a Holmes TV crew crashed into the sea at Anaura Bay in 1989.

The AFTA Awards gala event is being held on Saturday night at Auckland’s Viaduct Events Centre.

A report in the New Zealand Herald says that the journalist is in discussions with TVNZ about a new role.

Espiner replaced Mark Sainsbury as TVNZ’s political editor in 2006.

He ruled out making a move in to politics.

“I have been trying to keep those bastards honest, I wouldn’t want to join their ranks. I don’t think that journalists make good politicians do they?”

Who would you like to see replace Guyon Espiner as TVNZ’s political editor? Comment below.

As well as announcing the hottest new international series, the TVNZ line-up includes all the biggest returning series, the very best of our local dramas and factual entertainment series as well as international blockbuster movies, consolidating its position as market leader.

Head of Sales and Marketing Paul Maher says, “In 2012 we have outstanding content for both TV ONE and TV2, and look forward to developing opportunities to leverage that content with the 2.5 million New Zealanders we engage with every day. Working closely with our customers we will utilise these assets to create competitive advantage for their brands and businesses.”

Head of TV ONE and TV2, Jeff Latch says that TVNZ continues to strive to bring our audiences programmes that Kiwis want to watch. “We work with the best local production companies and international distributors to create a schedule that provides our viewers with a mix of exciting, dramatic and above all, entertaining content that resonates with New Zealanders,” says Latch.

TV ONE will heat things up again in the kitchen, introducing the third series of the hit local show MasterChef New Zealand, as well as MasterChef Masterclasses, the successful series that helps foodies up-skill their cooking abilities, guided by expert judges Josh Emmett, Ray McVinnie and Simon Gault.

New local smash hit, Nothing Trivial will continue to follow the lives of our favourite pub quiz team in a second series. Resident clinical psychologist, Nigel Latta will this year tackle The Politically Incorrect Guide To Grown Ups, an hilarious look at how to manage adults from all walks of life. Michael Van de Elzen will be back with another wonderful cook-up in The Food Truck and Te Radar this time ventures into the South Pacific in Radar’s Pacific.

Following on from the success of this year’s Sunday Theatre, TV ONE will showcase another series of locally made dramas. Intrepid Journeys will throw more local celebrities into remote places across the globe to discover new adventures and learn more about other cultures, and more importantly, learn about themselves.

Returning favourites include Beyond The Darklands, Fair Go, Coastwatch, Piha Rescue and Border Security.

TV ONE showcases the new international series, Pam AM which focuses on the loves and lives of four stewardesses who traverse the globe encountering romance, intrigue and adventure every time their cutting-edge 707 hits the tarmac, and starring Christina Ricci (Monster). Other leading series include Unforgettable, featuring Poppy Montgomery (Without A Trace), Person of Interest which features Michael Emerson from Lost in his new leading role. Another Lost star, Jorge Garcia features in the new series Alcatraz, which also stars New Zealand’s own Sam Neill.

Popular returning series include family favourite Packed To The Rafters, Undercover Boss, Criminal Minds, Castle and Off Spring, featuring Kiwis’ favourite lad Jay Ryan from Go Girls; and a new series of the hugely successful My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.

TV2 is the home of New Zealand’s most watched comedies and the new year launches with the new-look, Two And A Half Men, including Ashton Kutcher; the award-winning The Big Bang Theory, Cougar Town, Happy Endings, The Middle, and Hot In Cleveland.

All of TV2′s favourite series will also return in 2012. These include: The Mentalist, Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice, Body Of Proof, Hell’s Kitchen, American Idol, and the return of the much anticipated second series of The Walking Dead. My Kitchen Rules this year will feature a New Zealand couple taking on the Aussies; The Amazing Race will be back, as well as the finale to the world’s most popular drama, Desperate Housewives.

New international series launching on TV2 include Revenge, starring Emily Van Camp (Brothers & Sisters) and Madeleine Stowe (12 Monkeys), a series which focuses on one young woman’s desire not to forgive those who destroyed her family, but to get her revenge on them. Once Upon A Time commands a stellar cast including Robert Carlyle (Trainspotting), Ginnifer Goodwin (He’s Just Not That Into You), and Jennifer Morrison (House). Created by the writers of Lost it is a modern day take on fairy tales and the constant battle between good and evil.

Other new dramas to the new TV2 line-up include Dallas, featuring Jessie Metcalf (Desperate Housewives), G.C.B starring Kristin Chenoweth from Pushing Daisies, and Leslie Bibb (Iron Man); Missing featuring Ashley Judd (Double Jeopardy) and Kiwi star Cliff Curtis; as well as the much anticipated new series from renowned director Steven Spielberg, The River.

The number one new hit series in America, 2 Broke Girls will join the Comedy Wednesday line-up; Fran Drescher (from The Nanny) will return to TV2 in the new series Happily Divorced, other new comedies include Man Up!, I Hate My Teenage Daughter, Suburgatory and Chelsea Straight Up starring Laura Prepon (That 70′s Show).

This year marks a television landmark with Shortland Street turning 20. TV2 will be celebrating with another feature length episode, and a special birthday episode. TV2 will also see the return of the ratings winner Go Girls, as well as popular factual reality winners Neighbours At War, Police Ten 7, the award-winning Rescue One, and Motorway Patrol. 20/20 also returns with more in-depth local investigations.

Hit international movies coming to TV2′s Sunday Premiere Movie slot in 2012 include: Eat, Pray, Love, Toy Story 3, The Karate Kid, Where The Wild Things Are, The Time Traveller’s Wife, Law Abiding Citizen, Alice In Wonderland, Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, and Disney’s A Christmas Carol.

- TVNZ

The series started with a bang – it was the highest rating debut of a local drama for this millennium.

516,300 New Zealanders tuned in for the first episode and the show has since held a loyal following of fans. As well as this week being the most viewed programme on TVNZ OnDemand, Nothing Trivial has sustained its television ratings success.

The decision from NZ On Air to fund another season of the hit drama is welcomed by Jeff Latch, Head of TV ONE and TV2. “Nothing Trivial has great writers, a fantastic cast and it allows New Zealanders to see their stories on screen. This has been a winning combination with viewers returning week after week. New Zealanders can’t get enough of Nothing Trivial.”

NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jane Wrightson, says the funding agency is delighted to support a second series. “TV ONE has provided a great home for local drama this year with the first series of Nothing Trivial launching well and more recently the local Sunday Theatre season being received so positively. We look forward to the second season of Nothing Trivial continuing this strong performance next year” she says.

Head of Commissioning, Andrew Shaw, is also pleased with the decision. “The talented team at South Pacific Pictures has successfully brought endearing home-grown characters to life. TVNZ is proud to be associated with Nothing Trivial.”

Source: Nielsen TAM (Measurement: All people 5 years and over – average daily audience nationwide)

- TVNZ

The announcement was made to news staff earlier today.

Flannery will take up a new position as head of news and current affairs at Australia’s Network Ten in January.

TVNZ Chief Executive Rick Ellis acknowledged Flannery’s contribution to TVNZ.

“Anthony led news and current affairs through significant transformation… and restored ONE News to its market leading position, recognised through winning the Qantas Film and Television Best News Award for an unprecedented three years in a row.

“Anthony provided outstanding leadership during the Christchurch earthquakes and the Pike River Mine tragedy,” Ellis said.
Advertisement

Australian-born Flannery took over from Bill Ralston in 2007.

Former BBC news executive Michele Romaine will fill in as head of news and current affairs until a permanent appointment is made.