TVNZ has announced its blockbuster line-up for 2023, with new, rebooted and returning titles packing out the schedule.
“Te Reo Tātaki reached 4.2 million viewers in 2022. From breaking news events to action-packed sports coverage and landmark local series, New Zealanders turned to TVNZ to stay informed and entertained.
Next year, how we go about providing our service is going to change as we embark on a new future as part of Aotearoa New Zealand Public Media. What remains the same however is our commitment to bringing audiences the best local and international content on the platforms they want to watch on.” says Chief Executive, Simon Power
Homegrown Hits
“Our Aotearoatanga, or New Zealandness, is what defines and sets TVNZ apart from other streamers and broadcasters. We want Kiwis to be able to see themselves and their stories on screen, and our line-up for 2023 is focused on providing a sense of belonging and connection,” says Director of Content, Cate Slater.
TVNZ’s broadcast channels reach 1.9 million New Zealanders daily and TVNZ+ is growing, reaching 1.1 million Kiwis every week. TVNZ’s local line-up will be available on-air and online in a platform-agnostic approach that gives viewers ultimate choice and control over how they watch their favourite shows.
Emotive new factual will explore Aotearoa’s communities, people and places. Landmark documentary series, Passengers*, will trace early Pacific and Pan-Asian immigration to New Zealand, and Caged: Kai Kara-France will look at life after defeat. New Zealanders with dementia will staff The Restaurant That Makes Mistakes*, and young Kiwis with intellectual disabilities will experience renting in Four Go Flatting*. A local version of the hit UK format, The Dog House NZ, will find precious pooches their forever homes too. Whānau favourites Moving Houses, The Casketeers*+, Origins*+, National Treasures*+, Grand Designs NZ, I Am*, Unbreakable* and Country Calendar* will be back for more.
TVNZ’s reality slate will feature famous faces and thrilling twists. There’s a double dose of skulduggery, with two seasons of Treasure Island on offer. A spinoff event series: Fans vs Faves will kick off the year, with some of Celebrity Treasure Island’s most iconic competitors facing off against everyday Kiwis. A fourth season of Celebrity Treasure Island will follow later in 2023 starring all-new celebrity castaways. My Kitchen Rules New Zealand is back again, with Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge set to dine across the ditch. Returning reality will include a second serving of Snack Masters NZ, another slice of The Great Kiwi Bake Off, and more LEGO® Masters NZ than you can shake a brick at.
Comedy is covered and drama sorted for 2023. TVNZ’s strategic focus on co-production continues, with RTE Ireland on board for ambitious murder-mystery, The Gone*. The Bishop* will see a young pastor and a queer podcaster team up with explosive results, and the truth will come out, one way or another, in the tense Robyn Malcolm-led After The Party^. On the returning drama slate, The Brokenwood Mysteries, Under the Vines, Creamerie*, Kid Sister*, Mystic* and of course Shortland Street return. Bringing laugh-out-loud entertainment, Patriot Brains* is back for another season, with Sue Perkins taking over the hosting hot seat. Educators*, Kura* and Have You Been Paying Attention? ˟ also return. Support from funding bodies NZ on Air, Te Māngai Pāho, the Screen Production Grant and the Te Puna Kairangi Premium Fund help bring this diverse slate of local stories to screen.
Iconic International
“TVNZ’s international line-up is full of breadth and depth. We’re committed to giving audiences access to premium international productions, and importantly making that access free. Our partnerships with NBCUniversal, Paramount and Sony deliver us must-watch US content and our ongoing deals with Banijay, ITV and BBC ensure we have the best of British and Australian content on our screens too,” says Slater
Star-studded US titles for 2023 include Sly Stallone vehicle, Tulsa King, Kiefer Sutherland in spy-drama Rabbit Hole, Pete Davidson’s semi-autobiographical, Bupkis and Marcia Gay Harden in So Help Me Todd. Action-packed Fire Country will turn up the heat, and the Aotearoa-filmed adaptation of One of Us Is Lying will delight fans of the bestselling book. Alongside the American roster, the best of British will also feature. From the BBC there’s Rogue Heroes, dramatising the formation of the SAS, Keely Hawes is back in Crossfire, Bradley Walsh will host everybody’s new gameshow obsession Blankety Blank and David Attenborough will present the highly anticipated Frozen Planet II. From ITV comes Ioan Gruffudd in The Reunion, David Tennent in Litvinenko and coming of age drama Tell Me Everything. Closer to home, premium Australian titles round out the international slate. Mini-series Bali 2002 recounts the devastating Kuta terrorist attacks and factual series, Code 1: Minute by Minute, gives viewers a first-hand look at how our trans-Tasman neighbours cope when traumatic events occur in their own backyard.
Trusted News and Epic Events
News and current affairs forms the backbone of TVNZ’s content line-up year in and year out. Reaching 900,000 viewers every evening, 1 NEWS at Six has pride of place as New Zealand’s most-watched programme. The 1 NEWS team will continue to deliver breaking news and agenda-setting bulletins in 2023, alongside flagship programmes, Breakfast, Te Karere+, Seven Sharp, Q+A*, Fair Go, Sunday, Marae+ and Tagata Pasifika*. TVNZ will continue its strategic investment in digital news to grow 1news.co.nz and Re:’s audience in the years ahead.
TVNZ’s free-to-air events portfolio will extend the live coverage offering. The new year will kick off with another summer of cricket, with a selection of matches from the international T20 men’s and women’s series, as well as the Super Smash competition~. The hugely entertaining T20 Black Clash will return to TVNZ 1 and after a pandemic-prompted pause, Te Matatini 2023+ marks a momentous 50 years, returning to TVNZ’s channels and platforms.
“The next 12 months are going to be hugely transformative for TVNZ. Developing a sound structure and confirming the independence of our news and entertainment content is vital for the new public media entity’s success. We’re dedicated to ensuring these outcomes and providing more programming that’s valued by our audiences,” concludes Simon Power.
*Made with funding support from NZ on Air
+Made with funding support from Te Māngai Pāho
^Made with support from Te Puna Kairangi Premium Fund and the NZ Screen Production Grant
˟Format under license from Paramount Global Content Distribution.
~In partnership with Spark