MTV New Zealand

Infobox TV channel
name = MTV New Zealand
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logoalt = Current logo
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launch = August 18 2006
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owner = MTV Networks Australia, (Viacom)
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web = [http://www.mtv.co.nz www.mtv.co.nz]
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sat serv 1 = SKY Network TV
sat chan 1 = Channel 60
cable serv 1 = TelstraClear InHomeTV
cable chan 1 = Channel 60
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MTV New Zealand is the New Zealand version of the music television channel. It was launched at 6pm on Friday August 18, 2006 with a launch party at Aotea Square, Auckland. MTV is broadcast on channel 60 on Sky Television as well as TelstraClears' InHomeTV. MTV New Zealand is headquartered in Auckland, New Zealand with 22 local staff employed. cite news | title=For the first time in NZ’s history MTV is YOURS| date=2006-07-20 | publisher=Scoop | url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0607/S00340.htm ]

Programming and Schedule

MTV New Zealand broadcasts flagship MTV programs such as Punk'd, Pimp My Ride, and The Hills.

Local MTV programs include Full Tank hosted by Amber Peebles and Jay Reeves, and 100% Pure NZ, a local music show dedicated to NZ music releases. [cite news | title=Ready to run with MTV | date=2006-07-28 | publisher=Herald | url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&ObjectID=10393180 ]

MTV NZ broadcasts a Top 10 "Countdown" nightly, although the Genre changes from one day to the next.

On July 6, 2007 MTV launched it's latest show "The Mix" which is hosted by Amber Peebles and Jay Reeves. [cite news | title=The Mix | publisher=MTV.co.nz | url=http://mtv.co.nz/features/107/ ]

Despite MTV marketing itself as 'Music Television', there are only 3-4 music shows show on MTV within each 24 hour day. Most of the programming is MTV created content that has little to do with music (Pimp My Ride, Laguna Beach, Full Tank, The Hills, etc.), however music videos are often shown between shows.

List of programming blocks

MTV New Zealand shows a variety of specialty programming blocks. This is a somewhat exhaustive list:
* "Dumb-ass Tuesday" - comedy shows like Punk'd, Jackass, Wildboyz, and Dirty Sanchez, some shows can be seen in groups of 2 episodes. Runs from 8pm to midnight on Tuesdays.
* "Nu-shite" (sometimes bowdlerized to Nu-sh*te) - if you missed something new during the week or want to see it again, this is where you go. Runs from 4pm to 8pm on Saturdays.
* "The 10-spot" - 10pm every weeknight.
* "Monday Night's a B*tch" (seen as "Monday Night's a Bitch" on the channel) - shows like Laguna Beach, My Super Sweet 16, and The Hills can be seen here. Runs from 8pm to midnight on Mondays.
* "Lowrider Thursday" - Car shows like Pimp my Ride, Road Rules, and Trick It Out dominate. Runs from 8pm to midnight on Thursdays.
* "Larry & Spud Sunday Roast" - Programs strategically placed for easy viewing. Runs from 8pm to midnight on Sunday nights.
* "Wacked Out Wednesdays" - programs such as Room 401, Fist of Zen, and Scarred are broadcast during this programming block on Wednesdays.
* "Slip Slop Slapper Sundays" - Progams repeated twice running from 6pm-11pm. Shows such as Maui Fever, The Hills, Living Lahaina and A Shot At Love with Tila Tequila.

A themed marathon runs every weekend, from 10am-3pm on Saturday and 1pm-8pm on Sunday. The theme changes every week. Past themes include "Boyz vs Bam" (alternating between Wildboyz and Viva La Bam,) "Lowrider Marathon" (Lowrider Thursday, just not on Thursday,) and "Battle of the Bitches" (Monday Night's a B*tch, just not on Monday.) Next weekend's theme: the BamPunk'd Marathon, alternating between Viva La Bam and Punk'd.

History

From June 1997 to June 1998, MTV was operated in New Zealand as a free to air channel by TVNZ using content from UK version of MTV. It controversially replaced Auckland's Free-to-Air music TV channel Max TV and Christchurch's Cry TV, and was only broadcast in Auckland, Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch and Dunedin.

On May 18, 2006 Sky Television announced the launch of a licensed, localised MTV channel, operated by Viacom New Zealand.

The announcement of the channel triggered discussion among the public and in online forums. The channel had the backing of several influential New Zealanders in the music industry including: Ed St. John, President and CEO, Warner Music Australasia; Denis Handlin, Chairman & CEO, SONY BMG Music Entertainment Australia & New Zealand; Andy Murnane, CEO, Dawn Raid Entertainment; and local hip-hop artist Savage. [cite news | title=SKY Television Media Release| date=2006-05-18 | publisher=SKY TV | url=http://www.skytv.co.nz/index.cfm?pageid=469&script=newsrelease&dsp=nr&newsid=214&nrcontent=0 ]

It commenced full operations on August 16, 2006.

In 2007 MTV Australia announced its nominees for the MTV Australia Video Music Awards 2007. Along with the usual categories came the New Zealand viewers choice award which is a special category for New Zealand artists. The winner (which was announced on the night) was Goodnight Nurse. In celebration of this MTV New Zealand (along with Air New Zealand) hosted the world’s first MTV Mile High Gig which made its way from New Zealand to the MTV Australia Video Music Awards and had live bands, Goodnight Nurse and Dukes, on the plane. [cite news | title=MTV And Air New Zealand To Host The World’s First MTV Mile High Gig En Route To The MTV Australia Video Music Awards| date=2007-03-15 | publisher=Viacom | url=http://www.viacom.com/view_release.jhtml;jsessionid=OGE05553RACB2CQBAFLQ4CY?inID=10000007&inReleaseID=227622 ]
MTV New Zealand aired MTV Snow Jam to celebrate their first birthday, featuring acts such as Lupe Fiasco, Savage, Mareko and The Mint Chicks, on August 18, 2007 at Snow Park, New Zealand, Wanaka. The show was in conjunction with the finals of the Billabong Slopestyle Jam competition. [cite news | title=Lupe Fiasco Headlines Mtv Snowjam| date=2007-07-09 | publisher=Scoop.co.nz | url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0707/S00073.htm ]

Website

The website officially launched in July 2006 and only showed a promo for the channel (which related to cows and cow milk which makes people do strange things), a form to win tickets to the 2006 VMA's, VJ search and launch party info.
The full site launched with the channel on August 18 2006 and includes a home page with MTV New Zealand promos and when you enter the site it contains news, features, competitions, interactive forums, a page on MTV Full Tank and more.
A redesigned website was launched on Monday, May 29 2007. This redesign mirrors the recently launched MTV Australia website and utilises a different key colour to differentiate it.

References

See also

* Nickelodeon New Zealand
* Recipients of the MTV AVMA's New Zealand Choice Award

External links

* [http://www.mtv.co.nz The Official MTV New Zealand Website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/mtvnz MTV New Zealand MySpace]
* [http://www.myspace.com/mtvinternational MTV International]