Networks set to unleash season's hottest shows

As viewers hunker down over winter, free-to-air networks are preparing to unleash some of their hottest shows of the year.

TV3's Outrageous Fortune is among the most widely anticipated returns, and is back from July 13.

The channel will also welcome back New Zealand's Next Top Model, Wipeout, Nurse Jackie and NCIS and introduce X Factor Australia.

Other returning favourites include new seasons of Top Chef and Family Guy on TV3, plus The Office and How I Met Your Mother on C4.

Prime's offerings include the Gordon Ramsay-hosted Masterchef USA and the return of America's Got Talent.

Karen Bieleski, Prime's Head of entertainment, said the channel also had Being Human, a supernatural drama about a vampire, a ghost and a werewolf which should appeal to True Blood fans.

Prime will also introduce local documentary Rivers, Peta-Mathias-hosted food and travel show Peta Unplugged in Marrakech and BBC's "flagship action series" Survivors, about the effects of a devastating virus.

TV2 welcomes back Chuck, paranormal thriller Fringe and The Mentalist.

TV One has the local drama series This Is Not My Life, from the makers of Outrageous Fortune and Go Girls.