TVNZ to bring Natural History and Returning Favourites to NZ Audiences

BBC Worldwide Australia has concluded a deal with TVNZ that will see over 15 hours of natural history, returning drama and factual content premier on the national broadcaster next year. Titles include blue chip natural history series Frozen Planet, series 2 of Sherlock and Mad Dogs, Whitechapel series 3 and the latest Louis Theroux special.

Narrated by world renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough Frozen Planet (6x50’, A BBC/Discovery/Antena 3Television S.A/ZDF/Open University/Skai co-production in association with Discovery Canada) takes audiences on a spectacular polar expedition into a breathtaking landscape most humans will never experience.

Sherlock series 2 (3x90’, A Hartswood Films Production for BBC) returns with beguiling performances, witty scripts and intriguing characters. Series 2 follows Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) and John Watson (Martin Freeman) as they return to face the ultimate test in three of their most famous cases: the Woman, the Hound, and the Fall. TVNZ has also acquired series 2 of Mad Dogs (4x45’, A Leftbank Pictures Production for Sky), picking up where series one left off as the boys desperately attempt to escape Mallorca and the scene of the crime.

“Natural history, gripping drama and hard-hitting factual programs are staples of our catalogue year after year but it’s through the continued support of a broadcast partner such as TVNZ that we are able to build on these titles and bring New Zealand audiences more of the stories and characters they enjoy,” said Robyn Campbell, Sales Manager New Zealand of the deal.

Andrew Shaw, General Manager of Commissioning and Acquisitions, agrees that the BBC Worldwide has long been a key strategic partner for TVNZ. “New Zealanders have always enjoyed the stellar portfolio that the BBC Worldwide offer. This announcement reinforces the strong relationship TVNZ and BBC Worldwide have established for years. TVNZ is proud to continue to offer our viewers the chance to see gripping drama, natural history and factual documentaries across our entire network and online”, says Shaw.

Other programs featured in the package include the third series of Whitechapel (6x45’, A Carnival Films production for ITV) which follows the detective team as they look to similar cases in history to help them solve murders in the present and the latest Louis Theroux special, Louis Theroux: Exotic Pets (1x60’, A BBC Production), in which Louis travels to America's heartlands to meet the people who choose to own animals you would normally expect to find in the wilds of Africa and Asia.

All titles are yet to be scheduled.

ENDS

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