Its New Season Launch Time Again

That's right, it's that time again. New Season launch. Time to look at what are the programmers hanging their hats on this year.

As I tend to be quite negative on this blog, I've decided for this entry to change tack, and explain what I'm looking forward to.

First up, TV3.

Even though it was early, the TV3 Launch was great. Paul Henry MC'ed and dare I say it, he was quite charming. I'm sure most people enjoyed the digs at his previous employer and he really held the audience. I really enjoyed how Kelly took us through the entire schedule programme by programme basically, which meant I walked away from the presentation with a really good grasp of what they are going to be airing next year.

Highlights for me (and please note - these are NOT necessarily what I think will rate. They're the programmes that I will be watching)

• The New Girl. Yes, it's on FOUR . I hope they promo the hell out of it. It's an adorable series. 
• American Horror Story. Not sure how NZ will react to this, but it looks incredible and has an amazing cast.
• Homeland. Clare Danes doesn't usually do it for me, but this series looks interesting.

And of course their awesome returning series

• The Secret Lives of Dancers
• The Good Wife
• Californication
• The Big C

Next was TVNZ.

I found the TVNZ launch a little too much. PUTs are down, rates are up, they're making our clients pay more and more and more for less and less ratings so they spend what must have been quite a substantial amount of money on a very flashy presentation. Let's not start on the fact that they flew up the Wellington and Chch media people and put them up for the night ontop of all of the glitz. Mostly because I am glad they did - was a wonderful chance to catch up with old friends.

Paul Maher spoke well, but I thought it was a real shame that the 'Johns' did pieces to camera rather than speaking live. Lacked that kind of 'real' touch and I felt like they spoke more about the shows than actually showing us the programmes. Following far too many drinks, run-ins with arrogant Shortland St cast members and inappropriate grabbing from actors of other local shows, I walked away not really knowing what TVNZ were putting up next year. Which is a shame. 

Following some further investigation, this is what I'm looking forward to:

• Keep Calm & Carry On (Jacquie Brown)
• Seven Dwarves. Which looks a little like a Dwarf version of Big Fat Gypsy Wedding.
• Once Upon a Time. Appeals to the geek in me

Finally, the Prime launch was yesterday.

The Launch itself was wonderful. High Tea at the Langham. What a lovely way to spend an afternoon. As usual Karen and Kathy were a joy to listen to as they took their little digs at the big boys in the market. They also addressed something I was concerned about, how SOHO might affect their deal with HBO - it would seem it will only strengthen their offer, which is great news.

Things to look forward to on Prime (according to me):

• Wild Boys - Australian series, looks great
• True Blood
• QI
• Boardwalk Empire (after screening on Soho)
• Junior Masterchef

Prime seems to have picked up a number of the British Dramas that I would have expected to see on One a few years ago. I really hope the audience finds Prime's programming as it's really good quality stuff.

So there you go. My thoughts on new programmes this year. I think it's a shame that no one seems to have picked up Wilfred which is pretty genius. But there you go. Find a way around S92a and torrent that sucker.

Yay Maori TV

Clever advertising is the best kind of advertising. 

I find TV Network advertising a little lackluster usually. FOUR's 'The Home of Not Rugby' isn't bad, but generally TVNZ and Mediaworks is very traditional and BORING.

Draft FCB have done some pretty awesome things for various shows on Prime. The bag of Weed on a billboard for WEEDS; The branded brown bottle bags for Boardwalk Empire; the 'stake' street posters (if that is what you can call them) for True Blood; and of course the falling man on the building for Mad Men. However, I haven't seen anything recently and to be honest, considering how badly most of those shows rate, perhaps the 'clever' (read: Award Entry) route should be dropped till the advertising starts working??

At any rate, today I saw some BRILLIANT work for Maori TV. There I am in Countdown Richmond Road and I walk past this:

FARKING awesome. Maori TV have been pulling some nice numbers ratings-wise since the commencement of RWC. I hope they managed to promo the living daylights out of BOY at the same time and that it did well last night for them.


So cute, so clever. I hope these were up in all Countdown's around NZ. All supermarkets even. Perfect.

And then there was Prime

The final season launch today was Prime. Celebrating 5 years since it was bought by Sky, it has done well over the last few years. I find Prime a very brave channel when it comes to their programming and each year they have backed shows which have been renewed for more seasons creating a nice little stable.

Now, these shows are by no means the general population, mind-numbing crap that you get on the other channels. Instead, I always think of Prime as programming for the thinking viewer.

Shite, that's a big call. I guess one of the reasons I think this is because when I talk about TV shows with my father, more often than not the shows are on Prime so I suppose I associate it with that level of intelligence. Granted, my father also likes Skins, but hey, he's allowed to have good taste in shows as well as being a thinker.

At any rate, they will have True Blood back again next year for Season Four. That's enough to keep me happy, but also Doctor Who, QI, Top Gear, Weeds and everyone's favourite Antique's Roadshow.

The shows that are missing for me are Secret Diary of a Call Girl, which in theory has been commissioned for a fourth and final season and Mad Men whose fifth season will commence in 2011 in the States. I do, so so much love both of these shows and do hope that they will return o Prime as well.

Onto the new shows...

Obviously the relationship with HBO is paying off (FOTC, True Blood) as surely the flagship show for 2011 is Boardwalk Empire. First episode directed by Scorsese and starring Steve Buscemi and Michael Pitt, I am loving this show, all about the time of Prohibition:

Three Hungry Boys looks interesting

Junior Masterchef Australia looks ADORABLE

I have high hopes for Running Wilde simply because it is from the creators of Arrested Development, and we all know how amazing that show is:

And then they have some lovely looking mini-series including The Kennedy's and David Attenborough's Life series.

I do enjoy Prime new season launches because they don't ever try to be a channel they're not. They know that they bulk out the schedule with re-runs of crazy old shows, but that is what allows them to take a punt of some of the riskier programmes. Good on them I say. Nice looking 2011.

True Blood & Blood Service

So, Season 3 of True Blood starts on Prime in June (maybe July?). I'm a little excited about this as I am a big fan of True Blood. I have read all of the books (which - heads up, kinda ruins the show a little because you know why things happen) and am hanging out for book 10 which I believe is due out at the end of the month.

Right, now that that is out of the way. Here's a nice little synergy.

A press release came through from SKY last week about The New Zealand Blood Service has teamed up with Hachette New Zealand who publish Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse novels, and Prime to raise awareness of the need of blood donors.

So, new season of the TV series, new book - lets hit this with full force.

Not sure exactly how they're going to run this on TV, but they have started with the release of the new covers for the Stackhouse books with some nifty stickers

That shot was for the joy of Eric. Here is the close up:
So, this helps, but I have been thinking about donating blood for a while now. I have lots of blood, other people need it. Lets do it.

So - I sent a 'True' text to 515.

Gotta admit - I think this process gets a little but flawed.

I sent one text (bye bye 20c) they told me to send another text with my email address (bye bye another 20c) at which point they sent me an email.

Now, at this point I would like to point out that I have no idea whether or not I am getting charged, because there is no information anywhere to tell me one way or another. I feel like there should be, but that's just me.

I also think that they could have said: Text 'True' & your email address to 515 for more info. I realise its not a big sticker, but creatives are clever people.

Getting someone to text once is asking quite a bit, but twice? I'd love the know the drop off...

Anyway, it didn't faze me too much, the email (as below) directs you to the website to find out if you're eligible as a blood donor.

The good news is that I am eligible. The bad news is that there aren't any blood donor places near where I work and it is now all little too hard for me. If I happen to walk past a mobile unit one day I imagine that I will probably walk in, but its now too hard for me to hunt it out myself. Slack - yes I know. Sorry.

On another note however, I am hoping that with a new season there will be more great True Blood advertising. I loved this outdoor. So damn good.