New Freeview "Lifestyle" channel mentioned in article

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Flippikat

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Master Geek

#96764 3-Feb-2012 18:59

I haven't seen anything anywhere else about this, but on the NZ Herald website it mentions a new "lifestyle" Freeview channel on it's way - I hope this isn't just another description of the shopping channel that's replacing TVNZ7 mid-year..

FYI the page is at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/television-industry/news/article.cfm?c_id=260&objectid=10783004

About halfway down that page is the following:

NEW CHANNEL

More new digital TV channels are on the way, with a Freeview "lifestyle" channel the most advanced.

It will be a welcome addition to the free-to-air digital platform, which has been abandoned by the Government and TVNZ, which are now focused on pay TV.

It is understood the channel will be run by a production company and it will be interesting to see how it is funded.

As a free-to-air channel you'd expect there has to be advertising revenue so presumably there would be a link with another media company here or overseas.

Meanwhile, rumours persist on the future of a public service channel.

One suggestion is that Sky TV has toyed with the idea of running a TVNZ 7 style channel on its platform. It would make a lot of sense for Sky. It would be a relatively cost-efficient way of undermining the dissent about its growing dominance of television and meeting demands for a public service channel.

Sky TV could be a new home for shows like Media7, which has a contract to run on TVNZ 7 until June this year.

Media7 producer Phil Wallington said production company Top Shelf was working on a proposal for the show to continue next year but could not say where.

The other proposal advanced last year was for Maori TV to operate a public service TV channel, with money taken away from handouts to commercial TV channels. TVNZ and MediaWorks want that money and will be opposing that idea.

----

Anyone able to shed some more light on this?

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#577023 3-Feb-2012 21:08

Great Spotting, I have researched Lifestyle channels and found one that broadcasts on FOXTEL in Australia: its name:: "LifeStyle" features shows such as Grand Designs, Antiques Roadshow, Hells Kitchen etc... website: http://www.lifestyle.com.au/tv/lifestyle.aspx

Formerly worked at iStore NZ (Rest in Peace), Sky Network Television, Freeview, Apple, Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies.

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alienwithin

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#577034 3-Feb-2012 21:49

take it with a grain of salt until it launches. John Drinnan writes a lot of crap. not long ago he wrote an article on the impending sale of tvnz, ah, yeah right, that was about two weeks after the impending bankruptcy of tv3 that according to him would either see the banks called in to take over in November last year or an Australian channel he believed would buy it. If Drinnan writes it, don't believe it until it happens.

Flippikat

156 posts

Master Geek

#577040 3-Feb-2012 22:09

alienwithin: take it with a grain of salt until it launches. John Drinnan writes a lot of crap. not long ago he wrote an article on the impending sale of tvnz, ah, yeah right, that was about two weeks after the impending bankruptcy of tv3 that according to him would either see the banks called in to take over in November last year or an Australian channel he believed would buy it. If Drinnan writes it, don't believe it until it happens.

Cheers for that - puts things into some perspective, and it now makes sense that I couldn't find any other information on this alleged new channel.

Still, there is plenty of scope for more channels on Freeview - hopefully these will come with the impending analogue switch-off!

joshhill96

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#577125 4-Feb-2012 09:06

The announcement of the new channel on Freeview have been delayed for days, I am trrying to sneak into Freeview for indidcations on what broadcaster is announcing

Formerly worked at iStore NZ (Rest in Peace), Sky Network Television, Freeview, Apple, Spark New Zealand Trading Limited, DISH TV Technologies.

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ajw

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#577126 4-Feb-2012 09:22

alienwithin: take it with a grain of salt until it launches. John Drinnan writes a lot of crap. not long ago he wrote an article on the impending sale of tvnz, ah, yeah right, that was about two weeks after the impending bankruptcy of tv3 that according to him would either see the banks called in to take over in November last year or an Australian channel he believed would buy it. If Drinnan writes it, don't believe it until it happens.

As do most of the media.

foamfollower

152 posts

Master Geek

#578066 7-Feb-2012 09:21

There again, maybe John is not alone.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freeview_NZ

"Upcoming channels and eventsA lifestyle channel will be the replacement channel for retired Stratos on both HD and Satellite platforms in the near future."

alienwithin

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Master Geek
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#578073 7-Feb-2012 09:52

wiki also recently claimed a sky tv channel as broadcasting on freeview. i'll wait for the announcement then wait again to see if they can be stuffed putting it to the JDA area's which are greatly ignored.

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foamfollower

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Master Geek

#578103 7-Feb-2012 11:14

Almost an announcement on the Freeview facebook page:

"Freeview NZ

Freeview dosn't control content or transmission of channels so the lifestyle channel , to be announced this week, is not a replacement for Stratos but is a new channel for Freeview|HD viewers."

Flippikat

156 posts

Master Geek

#578947 8-Feb-2012 21:26

Interesting to see that slip out on the Facebook page.. There's been no other mentions anywhere else, so it must be top secret stuff! ;)

foamfollower

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Master Geek

#579090 9-Feb-2012 08:58

Well, John Drinnan mentioned it!

Flippikat

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Master Geek

#579382 9-Feb-2012 17:57

I like circular threads ;)

GeoffisPure

459 posts

Ultimate Geek

#579525 10-Feb-2012 01:25

So Channel 9 and Lifestyles are both available only on terrestrial freeview? I wish I had have seen this coming before I bought my satellite received. Why aren't they broadcasting on satellite?

ZollyMonsta

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#579543 10-Feb-2012 08:30

It's the channels decision on which platform they broadcast on. Can come down to regionality or cost. In most cases probably cost.

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edge

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#579673 10-Feb-2012 12:07

I see another update article from John Drinnan this a.m.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10784517

Seems a shopping channel in place of TVNZ is "a step too far! Also says announcement expected today on the separate "new" channel. Not excited by any of it I have to say!

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#579674 10-Feb-2012 12:08

Spotted here:

A NEW FREE TV CHANNEL OFFERING VIEWERS MORE CHOICE

This autumn will see the launch of ChoiceTV on the Freeview digital platform. It will be New Zealand’s first broad appeal Free-To-Air TV channel launched in more than a decade and will offer viewers an exciting and interesting range of programmes twenty four hours a day, seven days a week.

ChoiceTV’s programming will centre on entertainment, information, and lifestyle content from around the world. To achieve this, major shareholder Top Shelf Productions (one of New Zealand’s leading production companies) has acquired unique and previously unseen international content; programmes that will tap into the tastes and interests of many Kiwi viewers with themes like homes, travel, gardening, food, adventure, health & fitness and comedy and drama.

“NZ is rapidly heading towards the first Digital Switch Over in September and when that day comes we will be there to provide viewers with free access to a greater choice of popular programmes. Viewers are demanding more high quality free to air content and as a major producer of local programming it made sense for Top Shelf to be involved in the first of NZ’s new Freeview TV channels.” said ChoiceTV and Top Shelf Director, Vincent Burke.

The door is also open to New Zealand programme makers says Vincent Burke. “We’re keen to screen independently funded local content if it fits the programming strategy for the channel and we’ll also look seriously at the back catalogues of local production companies.”

Also ChoiceTV management are looking to develop relationships with various organizations with a view to producing public interest programmes that will be screened in off-peak time slots.

And in an exciting move, ChoiceTV has formed a relationship with international broadcaster RTL Festival. This will bring New Zealand viewers a range of international festival films, plus Red Carpet interviews at all international film festivals starting with Cannes in May this year. Choice is also in discussion with the NZ Film Commission for the screening rights to its back catalogue of films and shorts.

The channel’s management team is made up of Top Shelf’s Vincent Burke, Laurie Clarke and Brian Holland and highly experienced industry experts Julia Baylis and Alex Breingan.

“The model for running a very successful channel already exists in the pay market so marrying that with some of commercial radio’s most savvy business initiatives presents a very real chance to gain a significant foothold in the emerging and expanding Freeview market” says ChoiceTV General Manager Alex Breingan. “Our business model and pricing structure will also offer very affordable entry into tv advertising for small businesses as well as major corporates.”

Channel launch is planned for mid to late April 2012 and, while the exact channel number is yet to be confirmed, it’s expected to be either 12 or 13 on Freeview. The channel will be available to all households with either a Freeview box or a Freeview capable tv in those areas of the country that are covered by Kordia transmitters – at the moment that’s around 80-85% of the country. ChoiceTV management are negotiating with another transmission company to reach a further 7% of the viewing audience.

About the team:

Vincent Burke established Top Shelf Productions in 1988 and has made iconic documentary and factual programming including iconic series like Target, What’s Really In Our Food? Immigrant Nation, Frontier Of Dreams and Media 7.

Laurie Clarke has been with Top Shelf as executive producer, producer and director since 2002. Prior to that he worked as a current affairs producer with TV3 and in various tv roles in Australia with the ABC.

Alex Breingan is former Channel Manager for Sky TV’s Food TV and Living Channel after 15 years in radio including time as Mediaworks Radio Operations Manager and Assistant Programme Director for both More FM and RadioLIVE. He began his career in the mid 1990’s in UK commercial radio and later as a producer at the BBC before moving to NZ in 2002.

Julia Baylis has spent the past 5 years as Head of Programming and Acquisitions for Living Channel and Food TV. Prior to this Julia spent 8 years with Television New Zealand in the Programming area of the company – the majority of her time with the network as Head of Programming for TV2.

Brian Holland is Head of Development for Top Shelf Productions where he has developed series such as Media7 and The Kitchen Job, and developed and produced Cook Kids Cooking, The Sitting and The Nutters Club. Prior to this he served for 12 years as a programmer at TVNZ.

Choice TV is owned and operated by Top TV Ltd

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