Warner Bros. International Television Production in New Zealand
Launches Season of New Productions and Rebrands
Auckland, Wednesday 1 July 2015, Warner Bros. International Television Production in New Zealand have launched a slate
of new productions that coincide with the rebrand of Eyeworks New Zealand into Warner Bros. International Television
Production. The company was acquired by Warner Bros. Television Group in 2014 and is part of Warner Bros. International
Television Production (WBITVP) – the worldwide format and production business spanning 15 territories.
Warner Bros. International Television Production begins casting today for a second season of Our First Home for TVNZ.
The original series and format, created by WBITVP in New Zealand for TV ONE, grabbed headlines in April when the
multi-night series achieved top ratings for the broadcaster during TV’s most competitive season.
Today’s news coincides with the broadcast of Come Dine With Me NZ, which premiered on TV3 on 15 June 2015. The 40 x
half-hour series includes the new on-screening branding for Warner Bros. International Television Production.
Warner Bros. International Television Production will also commence production later this year for a second primetime
season of The Bachelor NZ for TV3. The series debuted in April 2015 and saw 1.2 million New Zealanders (AP 25-54) tuning
in to watch Art Green’s search for true love. During the season The Bachelor NZ was the top rated show in its timeslot
for women aged 18-49.
Greg Heathcote, Managing Director, New Zealand at Warner Bros. International Television Production said, “The new
branding and upcoming production slate marks an incredibly exciting time for our team, its partners and New Zealand’s
storytellers. Being part of Warner Bros. gives us a unique opportunity to showcase and export the very best in original
creativity to worldwide audiences, and also brings us access to its exceptional library and expertise. A great example
of this success is seen in our current production slate with both original and established formats, including The
Bachelor NZ, Come Dine With Me NZ and original programming Our First Home, Lost & Found and Women in Blue.”
Heathcote added, “As part of our ongoing commitment to developing, creating and producing the very best in New Zealand
production, key to this success is attracting the very best skill and talent to the company. Central to this are Kim
Harrop, who takes on a new role as Head of Development for Scripted and Joanne Law who joined us in April as Head of
Development for Factual.”
Recent commissions for Warner Bros. International Television Production in New Zealand also include factual documentary
series History of The New Zealand Home for TV ONE, and series 4 of The Block NZ for TV3 which celebrated its 100th
episode in August 2014. Currently on-air are two high rating locally developed formats, TV3’s Lost & Found, and TV ONE’s Women in Blue. History of The New Zealand Home and Lost & Found are made with the support of NZ On Air.
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