Prime Television New Zealand

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Availability
Prime Television New Zealand

Launched:	1998
Ownership:	Sky Television
Official Web site
Terrestrial
Analogue:	UHF and VHF
Satellite
SKY Network Television:	Channel 4
Cable
Saturn TV:	channel

Prime Television New Zealand is the sixth national free-to-air television station in New Zealand. The station airs a mix of programming largely imported from Australia, the UK and the United States, as well as free-to-air rugby union, cricket and rugby league matches.

It was originally owned by Prime Television in Australia. Prime later enterted into a joint-venture agreement with Publishing and Broadcasting Limited (Nine Network Australia). On February 8, 2006, the Commerce Commission gave Sky Television clearance to purchase the station for NZ$30 million.

Prime's terrestrial signals cover 91% of the population. However, it has 100% national coverage via Sky Television's satellite service. It was the first 'free-to-air' terrestrial station on this platform.

1 History
2 On Air
3 References
4 External link

[edit] History

In July 1997, Prime Television Pty Ltd in Australia purchased 34 licenses from United Christian Broadcasters for approximately A$3.6 million. The licenses covered all major cities and towns, mainly on UHF, except for the Gisborne area, which is served via a VHF signal. On August 30, 1998, Prime Television New Zealand began broadcasting at 6.30pm with Two Fat Ladies.

Originally the station broadcast classic British programming, documentaries, sports and dramas aimed at the 30 years and above age bracket. In Waikato and Christchurch, Prime produced a half-hour nightly news programme. Although these programmes rated well, they were unprofitable.

Prime's first logo (August 1998 to ca. 2001)

Prime's second logo (ca. 2001 to March 2002)

Prime's third logo (March 2002 to January 2005)

Prime's fourth logo (January 2005 until February 2006)

Prime's fifth logo (February 2006 until September 2006)

In February 2002, Prime Australia entered into an agreement with Australian media mogul Kerry Packer's PBL (parent of the Nine Network). Under this five year agreement, Nine agreed to provide the station with content it owned the rights to, expertise and an amount of cash. In return, Nine was given the right to acquire 50% of Prime New Zealand at the end of the contract. If Prime New Zealand continued to lose money, Nine could choose not to take this up.

After this deal, Prime took on a broader and more expensive programming mix and axed the local content to cut costs. This increased ratings and profits significantly. This new format was modeled closely on the Global Television Network in Canada, whose parent company happens to own TV3.

Almost immediately, some Australian programmes produced by Nine Network and shown on Prime NZ took on a slightly New Zealand flavour. For example, one New Zealander per week began to appear on the Australian version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, and weather details for New Zealand cities appeared on the Australian Today breakfast programme. Localisation of Australian programmes has increased, with New Zealander Charlotte Dawson becoming the presenter of a New Zealand version of Nine travel programme Getaway. Many Australian programmes were simply broadcast on Prime without any adaptation for New Zealand audiences, however.

During 2003-04, the number of Australian programmes broadcast decreased. These were largely replaced with more expensive (and higher rated) British and American programmes, such as a Sunday evening British drama slot.

On November 2, 2004, TVNZ presenter Paul Holmes announced that he was resigning from his Holmes programme on the state broadcaster and beginning a new one on Prime in 2005. This new programme, called Paul Holmes, began on February 7, 2005. The arrival of Holmes was seen as a major sign of Prime's rise in status, from a small, second-tier network to a major player on the New Zealand scene, joining TVNZ and TV3 in this regard. The programme, however, did not rate well. In June 2005 Prime moved the show to 6 p.m., directly following Prime News in an attempt to increase ratings. This didn't work and Prime TV cancelled the programme on August 8, 2005 due to poor ratings. Holmes continues to work for Prime, now hosting a one-hour weekly current affairs/interview programme.

In late December, 2004, Prime announced it had acquired New Zealand broadcast rights for the new series of Doctor Who, one of its highest-profile imported shows, which went on to screen in June 2005 to generally good ratings.

In 2005 Prime announced that it will broadcast a minimum of 5.5% of local programmes, following recommendations from NZ On Air.

From 6 October 2005, Prime showed a weekly program called New Zealand's Top 100 History Makers, where a brief biography of notable New Zealanders was shown as ranked by a panel. The final episode, screened on 17 November 2005, showed the rankings of these people as a result of votes collected from the public via text and internet.

In November 2005, Sky Television purchased Prime for NZ$30 million. The deal was subject to Commerce Commission approval and undisclosed conditions. On February 8, 2006, following receipt of Commerce Commission clearance, Sky Television purchased Prime New Zealand from Australian based Prime Television.

In December 2005, it was announced that Prime had secured the 2006 Free to Air delayed broadcast of Rugby Union from TV3.

On 4 September 2006, the network relaunched with a modified logo, already seen in print advertisements, and new on-air branding.

[edit] On Air

Prime Television's current line-up includes a mixture of local shows, news, sport and international shows.

[edit] Prime News

Prime TV airs a nightly newscast — Prime News - First at 5:30. The newscast launched in February 2004 presented by former Getaway presenter and ABC (US) reporter Suzy Aiken and was produced in Sydney by Sky News Australia, using the resources of Sky News Australia and Newstalk ZB.

In 2006 Prime TV relaunched Prime News - First at 5:30, moving production of the show to its studios in Auckland. This included more local content and a new weekday presenter, former TVNZ presenter Eric Young. The role of sports newsreader is shared by Suzy Clarkson (nee Aiken) and Kelly Swanson-Roe, with Clarkson also anchoring the weekend news. Parliament coverage is headed by Newstalk ZB political reporter Barry Soper, along with a dedicated Wellington based team. A reduction in Australian-focused stories has been evident since the move to Auckland.

Prime also broadcasts some Nine Network Australia news programmes such as Today and National Nine News: Morning Edition. Overnight, it relays a feed of US news channel Fox News.

[edit] Sport

Prime TV has the free to air rights to cricket, rugby union and National Rugby League {NRL), meaning Prime TV's schedule includes delayed coverage of New Zealand Warriors NRL games, Super 14 games, All Black tests and Black Caps cricket matches. Prime also broadcasts a weekly Sunday afternoon sports highlights show Ultimate Sport Sunday, which includes highlights of cricket, rugby union, NRL, Formula 1, WRC and Moto GP. With Prime now 100% owned by Sky Television (holder of the pay television rights for the above events), it is well placed to continue holding the rights indefinitely, as Sky is effectively selling them to itself.

[edit] Local programmes

Holmes - a weekly hour long interview show hosted by Paul Holmes
Out Of The Question - a weekly news quiz show that features Paul Holmes, Mikey Havoc and Mike Hosking.
Getaway - a local version of this Australian travel show is hosted by Charlotte Dawson.
The Crowd Goes Wild - Andrew Mulligan and Mark Richardson host this irreverent daily sports and entertainment show that screens weeknights.
Williams Upfront - Award winning broadcaster, Larry Williams, deals to political and current affairs in a straightforward and provocative manner.
Toyota Grassroots Rugby - Tune in for highlights of the top club clashes from around the country.
Prime Presents - Documentaries presented by Prime presenters.
Tuesday True Stories - Hosted By Charlotte Dawson.

[edit] International programmes

[edit] References

Prime Television New Zealand Website 2006 [1] Retrieved Jan. 22 2006
Prime Television New Zealand Website Section on Holmes 2006 [2] Retrieved Apr. 09 2006