13 April 2011

Millions of viewers across the USA are tonight tuning in to see the nine players left on the hit television show ‘The Biggest Loser: Couples’ and their visit to New Zealand, in the first of two special episodes.

Promoted in the USA as ‘can’t miss’, the first New Zealand episode of the popular television programme began with the contestants flying Air New Zealand to Auckland. The contestants hit the ground running with a visit to the Sky Tower and 51 flights of stairs to climb, followed by the adrenaline rush of a sky jump. During the episode, contestants also experienced sailing on an America’s Cup racing yacht and ran 5km across Bethels Beach in a contest to win a helicopter ride to Waiheke Island.

Tourism New Zealand helped bring the show to New Zealand by hosting the Biggest Loser contestants and crew in February for almost two weeks of challenges.

Tourism New Zealand Chief Executive Kevin Bowler said having two episodes of The Biggest Loser showcasing New Zealand to the North American market was a major coup.

“The Biggest Loser regularly attracts more than nine million viewers in the USA and provides a significant captive audience to show off the range of experiences on offer in New Zealand. The great thing about highly influential projects like The Biggest Loser is that they show off New Zealand's beauty and also demonstrate how accessible and fun our country is to Americans considering a visit.

"The USA is a major source of visitors for Tourism New Zealand, with 190,000 travellers arriving in the last year. With the economy now beginning to emerge from the global economic crisis, the profile this provides for New Zealand couldn’t come at a better time.”

The second New Zealand episode, which goes to air on 19 April, will see the remaining eight contestants head to Queenstown for their next challenge. The winning contestant will receive the coveted prize of immunity plus a helicopter ride to Milford Sound. Viewers will watch host Alison Sweeney and contestants bungee jumping, rock climbing and free-falling from 360 feet high at speeds up to 150 kilometres per hour during a canyon swinging experience.

Internationally, more than 20 countries have their own version of The Biggest Loser. Tourism New Zealand has previously hosted the Australian version of the show three times, most recently in March, 2010.

ENDS

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