Reruns star in TVNZ's digital diet

TVNZ's new channel will feature up to 75 per cent local content - but most of it will be repeats.

The state broadcaster yesterday revealed details of its new TVNZ 6 programming schedule.

The advertisement-free digital channel will run three distinct programming blocks - Kidzone, Family and Showcase.

It will be launched on September 30. In March next year another channel - TVNZ 7 - will launch, featuring news and current affairs shows.

Both channels will be broadcast on the Freeview digital platform. A set-top box costing about $300 and a satellite dish will be required to access the platform.

The Government has provided $79 million for the new channels over the next five years.

TVNZ digital services general manager, Eric Kearley, said the non-commercial environment would allow TVNZ 6 to offer a different viewing experience to TV One and TV2.

"The goal of TVNZ 6 is to provide three distinctive viewing experiences that complement TV One and TV2.

"We'll be able to play programmes in prime time that are not possible on ratings-driven, free-to-view channels such as TV One and TV2," he said.

Unitec School of Communication senior lecturer Peter Thompson said repeating local shows wasn't necessarily a bad thing.

"Some of the repeats aren't just there because they don't have anything better to put on," he said.

"Some of it is going to be there in order to make sure you get the maximum reach across the audience."

"[But] if it was the same thing over and over again, I'm sure anybody would say 'wait a minute, this isn't really 75 per cent local content, it's not new local content'.

Mr Thompson wondered if the content would attract the audience necessary to propel New Zealand towards analogue switch-off.

TVNZ Kidzone targets pre-schoolers and will run every day from 6am-4pm. It will contain 50 per cent local content (15 per cent will be newly commissioned).

A new series of five-minute shows hosted by Kayne Peters will feature.

TVNZ Family will follow at 4pm and run until 8.30pm. It will screen shows that "families can watch together" and contain 70 per cent local content (27 per cent of it new).

A new four-minute show called Meet The Locals will screen on a regular basis and will follow Department of Conservation worker Nic Vallance as she discovers the natural world.

Finally, TVNZ Showcase will run from 8.30pm to midnight. It will screen "challenging programming for adults" and feature 75 per cent local content (22 per cent of it newly commissioned).

Showcase will screen two new half-hour programmes - an arts show called The Gravy, and a talk show called Talk Talk, hosted by columnist Finlay Macdonald.