17 September 2008
Disney And TVNZ Announce Landmark Agreement To Offer U.S. Series Online For Free & On-Demand To Viewers In New Zealand
The Walt Disney Company's international TV distribution arm, Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific), and New
Zealand's leading free-to-air broadcaster, TVNZ, announced today a landmark agreement to make a selection of
ad-supported U.S. network series available on TVNZ's catch up TV service, 'TVNZ ondemand'. These series will be
available to viewers on-demand and free of charge just 12 hours after the local telecast on TV2.
This marks the first time that U.S. series will be offered free of charge online in New Zealand. This is Disney-ABC
International Television's second free ad-supported video-on-demand (VOD) agreement in Asia Pacific.
The 'TVNZ ondemand' service launches with the first season of "Private Practice," which airs Mondays at 8:30pm on TV2.
The first three episodes of "Private Practice" will also be available online so fans can catch up on the episodes they
missed on television.
All episodes will be available on www.tvnzondemand.com for 28 days.
"Today, viewers demand more flexibility and choice. Catching up with their favourite shows online, puts viewers in
charge of when and how they watch" said Rob Gilby, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Disney-ABC
International Television (Asia Pacific). "We're delighted to be the first US studio working with TVNZ, a pioneer in the
digital media space in New Zealand, to bring our hit U.S. series in ways that are innovative and relevant to viewers
here."
Jason Paris, Head of Emerging Business for TVNZ, said: "TVNZ is enormously proud to be able to partner with Disney-ABC
International Television (Asia Pacific) to ensure that TVNZ content is the most accessible of any media organisation in
New Zealand. The addition of these highly successful US shows will ensure that our ondemand offering goes from strength
to strength."
More series will follow suit later this year and next including new seasons of "Eli Stone," "Lost," "Desperate
Housewives," "Grey's Anatomy" "Brothers & Sisters" "Criminal Minds," "Dirt," "Reaper," "Samantha Who?," Scrubs," and "October Road." Series launch dates on 'TVNZ
ondemand' will depend on the TV2's broadcast schedule.
TVNZ ondemand has proved to be extremely popular in the 18 months it has been going. Each month an average of 30,000
hours of television is watched via the free online service. The content is currently a mix of local shows, the latest
news and current affairs and some selected UK and Australian titles.
ENDS
ABOUT DISNEY-ABC INTERNATIONAL TELEVISION (ASIA PACIFIC)
Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific) is the international television distribution arm of The Walt Disney
Company. The division is responsible for the licensing of quality feature films, critically acclaimed network television
series, ABC News programming, the very best in animation and prestigious specials such as the Academy Awards to all
platforms in Asia Pacific including free-to-air, cable and satellite broadcasters, and mobile, broadband and VOD
platforms. Disney-ABC International Television (Asia Pacific) is a proud distributor of multi-award winning programs
including "Desperate Housewives", "Lost", "Grey's Anatomy", "Brothers & Sisters," "Ugly Betty" and "The Amazing Race."
With the largest on-ground presence of any U.S. studio in Asia Pacific, Disney-ABC International Television (Asia
Pacific) provides programming to 160 broadcasters across 35 territories in the region and is headquartered in Hong Kong
with liaison offices in Sydney, Seoul and Mumbai, and liaison persons in Beijing.
ABOUT TVNZ
TVNZ is New Zealand's biggest free-to-air broadcaster and is also the nation's television public broadcaster. We operate
four channels, TVONE and TV2, and another two digital-only channels, TVNZ 6 and TVNZ 7, which are broadcast through the
Freeview platform. As well, TVNZ runs an online "catch up TV" service called TVNZ ondemand.
The TVNZ Charter provides a guide to our broadcasting responsibilities and makes it clear that TVNZ's role is to reflect
and explore what it means to be a New Zealander. To New Zealanders this unique and special responsibility means quality
television that educates, informs and entertains through local home grown programming and the best of international
programming.