Cornerstone Of Children's Television Back In 2000

What Now? the cornerstone of New Zealand children's television, will be back on TV2 in 2000 for its 18th year.

NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jo Tyndall, said What Now? remained the children's televison flagship.

"There is no doubting the programme's appeal or the commitment and talent of its team.

"What Now? is superb. It started out as a weekly half-hour show with pre-recorded competitions for chocolates and paperbacks, and has matured into a fully interactive programme, complete with website and interactive computer games.

"It's a programme for New Zealand children that reflects their country, their humour and their lives," said Ms Tyndall.

Ms Tyndall said a big part of the show's success is that it travels widely throughout the country, reflecting cultural and regional diversity.

"New Zealand may be a small country, but a child's life in Reefton is likely to be very different from a child's life in Kaitaia or in Auckland. This is exactly the sort of approach that makes the programme so popular with children all over the country," said Ms Tyndall.

What Now? Producer, Tony Palmer, said the programme received hundreds of requests to visit schools and communities from every part of New Zealand, and aimed to get as many of these places and people on television.

"What Now? is nearing its eighteenth birthday, and like all teenagers, it goes through phases, matures with age and continues to reinvent itself each year.

"I can assure viewers that next year the programme will deliver more fun and surprises, as the What Now? team strives to meet the needs and demands of New Zealand children," said Mr Palmer.

What Now? screens every weekday afternoon and every Sunday morning on TV2. NZ On Air has allocated $3,850,000 to TVNZ to produce 196 half-hour, and 40 two-hour episodes of What Now?

ENDS....

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