New action and adventure TV channel launches in New Zealand

New action and adventure TV channel launches in New Zealand

4 May 2015 - Flame Tree Media, (formerly Juice TV) a leader in operating niche television channels, announced today the launch of New Zealand’s first ever 24-hour action and adventure entertainment channel GARAGE, exclusively available on SKY channel 112.

The adrenaline-fuelled new channel, offering over 3,000 titles of original and exclusive HD content, is sure to be welcome news to the 1.774 million action and adventure enthusiasts in New Zealand*.

Set to pumping tunes, GARAGE will deliver unique access into a world of outstanding extremes featuring award-winning documentaries, inspirational adventure films and television series.

Flame Tree Media founder and Director, Dan Wrightson says, “New Zealand is a nation of adventure lovers from eight to 80 years of age. Until now, there has been a bungy-jump sized gap in the market for those wanting to unlock adventure on TV – GARAGE is the key!”

Whatever action you’re into - surf, snow, skate, ski, moto, bike or some yet-to-be invented other outdoor madness – you’ll find it in the GARAGE. Viewers can expect to see a mixture of high octane international stars like Kelly Slater, Mark Mathews, Shaun White, Travis Pastrana and Tony Hawk plus Wrightson assures that a key component is introducing the hottest local talent on the rise at home and around the world.

“GARAGE will play host to some of the planet’s most extraordinary personalities pushing the limits of what’s possible and having the time of their lives doing it. Our curated and carefully selected content is high-energy excitement that’s family friendly and something fresh for those whose interests lie outside of traditional bat-and-ball sports.”

GARAGE will be run on a daily basis by former Juice TV and SKY Sports host Duane Mutu, who Wrightson says is made for the role.

“To find someone who has previous television hosting experience, is a true action and adventure lover, and has worked with big brands, including as the Globe Athlete Manager is simply perfect. Duane fully understands how the industry works, what brands and agencies are looking for and what makes for a killer programme line-up.”

Mutu says it’s his dream role.

“The content GARAGE will deliver is out-of-this-world and now there’s a channel it calls home on SKY. It’s basically adrenaline junkie heaven in your living room 24/7 – how good is that!”

Mutu says GARAGE will have two hosts as part of the line-up who will be selected by a competition.

“We will announce details of the competition in a few weeks but we are looking for fresh faces never seen before on New Zealand screens. It’ll be a life-changing opportunity for sure. ”

With the launch of GARAGE, Juice TV calls it quits as a stand-alone music channel but will continue to exist as daily 30 minute slot in the GARAGE. Juice’s content will be 100% Kiwi and a mix of music videos and interviews, continuing over 20 years of unflagging support of local talent.

Wrightson says the decision is based on the reality that music-lovers have chosen to access music via phones and laptops rather than traditional television, and copyright owners and labels have made formerly exclusive content freely available to consumers.

“Technology now means streaming music videos on your phone or tablet is simple, cheap and instant. Anyone with a pulse can access Taylor Swift and Ed Sheeran whenever they want - for free. Our continued focus with Juice in its new form on GARAGE is to nurture local roots and continue to offer our community a tasty slice of what they don’t get from other media players.

For me, GARAGE is the next evolution in youth TV - action and adventure entertainment with a killer soundtrack is without doubt, the new ‘Rock n’ Roll’. And like music TV in the past, we’ll be opening up a world of opportunity for young content makers to share and showcase their incredible talents.”

With a television career spanning 20 years, including the creation of Auckland’s first music TV channel, Max TV, Dan Wrightson has been involved in making music TV since the genre was first invented. He says launching GARAGE is incredibly exciting and motivating.

“New Zealand hasn’t seen anything like GARAGE before. It will reinvigorate a fairly stale and bland youth TV market and offer a new home for the next generation of aspirational and inspirational human beings to Unlock Adventure.”

Garage is available on SKY channel 112 from May 15, 2015.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=el3JZfAru-I&feature=youtu.be

ENDS

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