More Current Affairs To Screen On TV One

More Current Affairs To Screen On TV One

TVNZ Head of News and Current Affairs, Heaton Dyer, today announced that TVNZ will be increasing its output of weekly current affairs programming by 25 percent in the New Year.

Mr Dyer said that the increase in current affairs programming will be the result of a merging of the Sunday and Assignment programmes, the launch of a new half-hour Kim Hill interview programme and a new Foreign Assignment programme that will showcase the world's best current affairs.

"The merging of the award-winning Sunday and Assignment teams will see Sunday screening for 40 weeks next year and featuring 100 percent TVNZ produced content. The show will continue to screen on Sunday evenings and to be presented by Mike Hosking. This merger will give Sunday the resources it needs to expand in its role as New Zealand's leading weekly current affairs programme and enable it to go from strength to strength.

"There is considerable mana in the Assignment programme and the combined team will produce a series of 10, one hour investigative documentaries under the Assignment banner in the tradition of the current series. These documentaries will continue to be single subject hours, with a special emphasis on investigations that will have a high impact on the New Zealand news agenda.

"The new Kim Hill programme which will be produced from Avalon will screen for 30 weeks and will build on the success of Kim's election specials. Kim's ability as a 'hard-hitting' and dynamic interviewer, combined with a long-form format in which she will cover a wide spectrum of subjects will make this programme compelling viewing.

"Also making its debut next autumn will be our Foreign Assignment programme. This show will offer deeper coverage of international events by drawing on our exclusive relationships with the BBC, ABC Australia and CBC Canada. I am confident it will quickly become a key appointment for those wishing to see the 'best of the best' international current affairs. This programme will also run for 30 weeks next year.

"The bottom line is that we will now be offering New Zealanders more prime time, quality current affairs in 2003 with 40 hours of Sunday, 10 hours of Assignment, and 30 hours each of Face to Face with Kim Hill and Foreign Assignment.

"This means we will be playing to our strengths in current affairs documentary production, producing more hard-hitting studio interviews and also showcasing the best current affairs produced by public broadcasters around the world," said Mr Dyer.

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