TVNZ promises spring treats

Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (above) and Gotham below are part of TVNZ's spring lineup.

Broadcaster says 16 shows have been fast-tracked so fans can see them soon after the US.

Television fans are being promised a "massive spring lineup" of blockbuster shows by TVNZ.

The broadcaster yesterday said the screening of 16 American shows - some new and some returning - had been "fast-tracked" to show on its channels and ondemand service shortly after their US debuts.

It is the most recent offer from networks and television services for New Zealand viewers, with Spark's Lightbox service - which offers 5000 hours of content for a monthly subscription fee of $15 - going live last month, around the time TV3 owner MediaWorks announced some of its new shows.

TVNZ said its spring lineup included the debut of Batman prequel Gotham, on TV2, within days of its September 22 screening in the US, as well as the new season of Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, which will star Lucy Lawless, and season three of Arrow, which starts on October 9.

Days later, viewers could look forward to the first episode of season five of The Walking Dead, showing on TV2 on October 13 - hours after it screens in the United States.

Jeff Latch, TVNZ's head of content, said feedback showing viewers wanted to "access content as soon as it plays in the US market" prompted the spring lineup.

"We've fast-tracked shows in the past, it's just we're stepping it up to a whole new level. For example, we screened The Walking Dead hours behind the US on TV2 last year. In March we released a bunch of fast-tracked shows on-demand.

"It looks like demand for this has grown further. That's why we are releasing a large number of new US shows on air and on demand to meet the demand," he told the Herald.

MediaWorks weighed in on the TVNZ announcement, pointing out its own fast-tracked shows. "This isn't a new thing. Fast-tracking is something we've done over the past few years when it makes sense for our viewers," a spokeswoman said.

The X-Factor USA and Homeland had been broadcast within hours of screening in the US, she said.

NZ on Air chief executive Jane Wrightson said the fast-tracking of international shows on free-to-air channels benefited local content.

"Foreign content has to arrive here faster" and with free-to-air channels doing their best to ensure this, it kept audiences interested and meant local content - also showing on these channels - was likely to have more viewers. Sky, which is due to launch its own subscription video on demand service at the end of the year, said fast-tracking shows "makes sense" for all broadcasters.

"That is what customers want, to be up to date with latest available episode," a spokeswoman said.

Meanwhile, TVNZ has announced South Auckland-raised Detective Sergeant Rob Lemoto will be the new frontman for its Police Ten 7 show.