MTV promises 'wealth of NZ music'

Young and old turned up for the MTV launch party in Aotea Square yesterday. Picture / Dean Purcell

MTV, the music television channel whose cultural highpoints include Beavis and Butthead and Punk'd, marked its New Zealand launch with a party in central Auckland yesterday.

Hundreds of spectators - ranging in age from the young and hip to the hip replacements - crowded into Aotea Square for performances from artists with one name and bands that spell their names phonetically.

Under threatening skies, hip hop singer Aaradhna kept the crowd going after a spirited lead-in by MTV host Amber Peebles.

Ms Peebles, rather ambiguously, exclaimed frequently that MTV would "make New Zealand music history".

It will do so in a good way, station programmer Stefan Chapman said in a statement yesterday.

"The launch of a truly Kiwi MTV is a hugely exciting opportunity. Not only does the NZ public get to finally see all the programmes they have been hearing about internationally, but we now have an exceptional new outlet to enjoy the wealth of NZ music in the market."

At Aotea Square, yesterday, 16-year-old Dane Bonnici of Remuera was looking forward to spending some time in front of MTV.

"It will be a change from C4. They have cool shows."

A number of MTV shows already screen on C4, but "MTV does them with more style", Dane said.

MTV began broadcasting at 6pm yesterday on Sky Digital Channel 35.