KEY POINTS:
Shortland Street fans who miss an episode will be able to pay $2 to view it via a new TVNZ website from next year.
The state broadcaster yesterday revealed plans for an on-demand service through which it will have shows such as Asia Down Under, Celebrity Treasure Island and Motorway Patrol available for download within 24 hours of screening on TV.
Some content from TVNZ's archive will also be available.
Chief executive Rick Ellis said negotiations to offer overseas programmes through the portal were under way and several deals could be finalised by the time the website goes live, expected to be on March 1.
Programmes such as One News and programme previews would be free on the website. Others would cost around $2 for a half-hour episode.
Mr Ellis said the demands of viewers were changing and many wanted to watch TV at a time that suited them.
"The traditional business of television is changing."
Mr Ellis said the first episode of Karaoke High, a local drama screening at 7pm on TV2 over the Christmas and New Year period, was watched 13,000 times online last week.
NZ Broadcasting School head Paul Norris said the plan was encouraging but internet speeds were an issue.
"The difficulty for many people will be that they may not have an adequate broadband service in order to download the material quickly and easily."
He said the website would be expensive to establish and run and charges were understandable to help recoup costs.
"I think TVNZ is really to be commended for getting on with it," said Mr Norris. "They seem to be ahead of TV3 in this regard."
TV3's owner, CanWest MediaWorks, set up a new-media division called Networks this year and plans to launch an enhanced news portal early next year.
Television NZ also released its strategy for the next five years, entitled Inspiring on Every Screen.
TVNZ says it plans to offer shows via devices such as iPods and through new delivery methods such as internet-protocol TV.
