NZ's favourite TV Shows announced

New Zealand’s Favourite Locally Made TV Shows Of The Last Fifty Years Have Been Announced

For Immediate Release

New Zealand's favourite locally made TV shows of the last fifty years have been found.

As part of the celebrations of fifty years of television in New Zealand, throughout June, TV watching community website throng.co.nz asked readers for their favourite shows from twelve different genres as well as an overall favourite.

From the thousands of votes that were cast, the top two shows overall received more than 50% of the vote combined and were separated by less than 2%.

According to voters, New Zealand's favorite Kiwi-made TV show of the passed fifty years is Shortland Street, with Outrageous Fortune came in at a close second.

Voters rated TV3's newcomer 7 Days as the Best Comedy Show of the past fifty years while It's In The Bag was deemed Best Game Show.

TV One's Saturday stalwart, Country Calendar won Best Lifestyle Show of the past fifty years and Best Event went to the original Telethon.

3 News was voted as providing the Best News/Current Affairs from the last fifty years, despite only being here less than half that time.

Throng's Regan Cunliffe said "The local television industry has a lot to be proud of. We're extremely excited to be able to celebrate the shows that have been a big part of our unique culture. We're incredibly optimistic about the future of storytelling on the small screen and look forward to what producers can deliver over the next fifty years."

South Pacific Pictures John Barnett said "We're delighted with this response. Confirmation by the audience that they love our shows is the ultimate accolade."

TV3's Programming Director Kelly Martin said "Overwhelming jubilation is an understatement... we are thrilled with the results of the Throng poll. All of our winning shows are ones we work very hard to get right so to have them recognised and enjoyed is very gratifying. To have 7 Days beat the Billy T show.... we are extremely proud - and a bit speechless actually."

Maori Television general manager of programming Haunui Royal says the accolade reflects the interactive karaoke show’s immense popularity with viewers. Homai Te Pakipaki is one of the channel’s highest rating programmes and is also the number one online show, attracting a cult following around the country and overseas.

“This is good, old-fashioned entertainment,” Mr Royal says. “Performers travel with their supporters from all around the motu to be part of the fun, entertain the crowd – and have a crack at winning the hearts and text votes of the audience. No one gets voted ‘off the island’, no one is judged on how they look, and no one is made to feel bad … we like our contestants to feel like the stars they are. We are rapt that the show’s unique appeal has been recognised with this award.”

Full List of winners:

Best overall
Winner: Shortland Street
Runner Up: Outrageous Fortune

Best Drama
Winner: Shortland Street
Runner Up: Outrageous Fortune

Best Comedy
Winner: 7 Days
Runner Up: The Billy T. James Show

Best Reality
Winner: New Zealand's Next Top Model
2= Police 10-7 and Dancing with the Stars

Best Game Show
Winner: It's in the Bag
Runner Up: Wheel of Fortune

Best Documentary/Factual
Winner: 20/20
Runner Up: Country Calendar

Best Lifestyle
Winner: Country Calendar
Runner Up: Good Morning

Best Kids
Winner: What Now
Runner Up: Sticky TV

Best Music
Winner: Vodafone Select Live
Runner Up: Radio with Pictures

Best Sport
Winner: Pulp Sport
2= Sports Cafe and Code

Best Maori
Winner: Homai Te Pakipaki
Runner Up: I am TV

Best Event
Winner: Telethon (original)
Runner Up: Christmas in the Park

Best news/Current Affairs
Winner: 3 News
Runner Up: ONE News

Throng Media operates television-centric social networks in New
Zealand, Australia, Canada and the UK, connecting 400,000 viewers,
producers and broadcasters of television together each month.

twitter: @nztv
web: www.throng.co.nz
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