TV3 Coverage of Christchurch Anniversary 22.02.12

MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday 20 February, 2012

TV3 Coverage of Christchurch Anniversary 22.02.12

• LIVE Broadcast of Christchurch Memorial Services at 8am and 12noon on TV3.
• Special bulletins of Firstline, 3 News and Campbell Live with Rachel Smalley, Mike McRoberts and John Campbell reporting from Christchurch.
• Television premiere of Gerald Smyth’s acclaimed feature documentary When A City Falls at 7.30pm
• Online streaming and special content at www.3news.co.nz including public message boards

TV3 is marking the anniversary of the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake with special programming that will allow New Zealanders throughout the country to share in the day of remembrance.

On Wednesday 22 February, TV3 will broadcast Christchurch memorial services at 8am and midday, with Rachel Smalley, Mike McRoberts and John Campbell presenting coverage LIVE from Christchurch, on 3 News, 3 News Firstline and Campbell Live.

At 7.30pm on Wednesday night, TV3 will screen acclaimed feature documentary When A City Falls. Filmmaker Gerard Smyth has produced what many consider the definitive story of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and their aftermath. When A City Falls was released in cinemas late last year and was number one at the Christchurch box office for five weeks. This is its television premiere.

Leading up to Wednesday 22 February, TV3 will have extensive news and current affairs coverage of the Christchurch anniversary, both remembering the events of February 2011 and looking at the future of Christchurch. John Campbell will host Campbell Live from Lyttleton tonight (Monday 20 February) and Sydenham on Tuesday night.

Online, 3news.co.nz will have extensive coverage of the week’s events, including LIVE streaming of key television coverage and interactive timelines at a dedicated mini-site 3news.co.nz/Christchurch (Please note: the mini-site will go LIVE at noon Tuesday 21 February). Message boards will invite the public to share their memories and take stock of life a year after the quake.

Additional online video available at the site includes last night’s 60 Minutes piece ‘Aftershock', a moving record of the quake as it happened, edited from the footage of five separate camera crews and the recordings of the 111 emergency calls, and Behind the Seen, a short film behind-the-scenes with the TV3 news crews as they scramble to cover the February events.

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A timeline of the Wednesday 22 February coverage is below.

For further information please contact:
Rachel Lorimer - Mediaworks Publicity Manager
T: 021 436 503 E: rlorimer@mediaworks.co.nz

22 FEBRUARY, 2012

6am – 9am: FIRSTLINE

Firstline will be broadcast from Christchurch with Rachel Smalley and Hamish Clark LIVE in Latimer Square, and will include Latimer Square memorial service scheduled to commence at 8am.

12noon-1.30pm: CIVIC MEMORIAL SERVICE

John Campbell and Mike McRoberts will present a special broadcast of the Civic Memorial service LIVE from Hagley Park, in Christchurch.

At 12.51pm, two minutes silence will be observed as a mark of respect to those lost in the 2011 earthquake. The silence will also be observed across TV3’s websites and social media pages.

6pm-7pm: 3 NEWS

Mike McRoberts will be in Cathedral Square to co-present a special 3 News bulletin. Hilary Barry will co-anchor from the Auckland studio.

7pm-7.30pm: CAMPBELL LIVE

John Campbell will present a special edition of Campbell Live from the top of the Millennium Hotel, looking over Cathedral Square and surrounds.

7.30pm-9.30pm: WHEN A CITY FALLS

Filmmaker Gerard Smyth has produced what many consider the definitive, on-the-ground story of the 2010 and 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and their aftermath. To mark the anniversary of the February quake, this special screening is the television premiere of When A City Falls, a moving testament to the people of Christchurch.

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