Maori Television Marks Two Million Milestone

Maori Television Marks Two Million Milestone

Maori Television is celebrating a major milestone with more than two million people tuning in to New Zealand’s national indigenous broadcaster in April 2010.

Figures from AGB Nielsen Media Research show that the month of April 2010 is now the channel’s best ratings to date with a monthly cumulative audience of 2,013,600 unique viewers – beating the March 2010 record of 1.9 million. In April, half of all New Zealanders aged 5+ and almost two thirds of all Maori aged 5+ tuned in to the channel.

Maori Television chief executive Jim Mather says major television events of significance to all New Zealanders – such as the David Tua fight in March and the annual all-day ANZAC broadcast – provide a unique and powerful opportunity to attract new audiences. This year’s ANZAC Day broadcast on April 25 reached 558,900 New Zealanders (aged 5+) – a 10 per cent increase on ANZAC Day 2009.

Among the many emails of congratulations from viewers, one Cambridge couple wrote: “More and more we find ourselves turning over to your station and even though we often don't understand much of the te reo, we find ourselves engrossed in your quality programmes. Today is ANZAC Day and we thank you for a full day’s coverage … we look forward to spending many more evenings in your company”.

Mr Mather says these special broadcasts translate into long-term audience growth. “Our goal is that our channels – both Maori Television and the 100 per cent Maori language channel Te Reo – are included in the regular consideration set of our audiences so that viewers return time and time again to watch.”

Maori Television’s new season of programming includes critically acclaimed family drama KAITANGATA TWITCH (Sundays at 7.00 PM); landmark Maori rugby documentary series BENEATH THE MAORI MOON (Thursdays at 8.00 PM); popular karaoke show HOMAI TE PAKIPAKI (Fridays at 8.30 PM); and WILLIE JACKSON’S NEWSBITES (Fridays at 10.00 PM).

Maori Television is available free-to-air on Freeview channel 5; channel 19 on SKY Digital or channel 6 on SKY UHF; and channel 33 on Saturn TV. Te Reo is available on Freeview satellite channel 24 and channel 59 on SKY Digital. Viewers can call the helpline on 0800 MA TATOU (0800 628 2868) for advice on how to tune in to Maori Television or go to the website, www.maoritelevision.com, for more information including video on demand.

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