TVNZ U is an interactive television channel, owned and operated by TVNZ. The channel launched March 13, 2011, and features reality programming, as well as an interactive live show and music content. It replaced the now defunct TVNZ 6

TVNZ 6

TVNZ 6 was a digital-only, commercial-free television channel operated by Television New Zealand. It was available in 60.3% of New Zealand homes on the Freeview and SKY Television Digital platforms...

. Leading up to the launch of TVNZ U, there were 13 days worth of programming information and promotional videos aired to advertise the new channel.

U at first, closed-down at 12am or nearby the time and then on-air playing Goodnight Kiwi. The channel returns at 12pm (midday)

Pre Launch

In preparation of the launch of TVNZ U, TVNZ established a Facebook

Facebook

Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...

 page for their new channel, giving fans information about TVNZ U and giving one person the chance to schedule a selected segment of programming on the new channel for a month (known as U tv). On the evening of February 28, 2011, TVNZ 6

TVNZ 6

TVNZ 6 was a digital-only, commercial-free television channel operated by Television New Zealand. It was available in 60.3% of New Zealand homes on the Freeview and SKY Television Digital platforms...

 was officially shut down, allowing TVNZ to air promotional material for the new channel. Since March 6, 2011, these have been videos promoting the new channel. At 3pm on March 9, 2011, TVNZ activated it's U live application on Facebook

Facebook

Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook, Inc. , Facebook has more than 800 million active users. Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as...

, which allows users to share in the program U live, which displays a feed of comments and user generated content from said application.

Launch

TVNZ U was launched on March 13, 2011 at 4:00 pm on Freeview

Freeview

DTV Services, trading as Freeview, is the name for the collection of free-to-air services on the Digital Terrestrial Television platform in the UK. The service is jointly run by its five equal shareholders, BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Sky and transmitter operator Arqiva. DTV Services is designed to market...

 channel 6 and Sky channel 16. The first program to air was U live.

U live

The flagship show is U live, a live show airing from 4pm - 7pm daily. The show features music, interviews, and other general interest content. Viewers are invited to participate via a Facebook application, where they can vote in polls, take part in discussions, and view the show via a live commercial and graphic free stream. Comments and polls are then selected and displayed on screen during broadcast. U live is hosted by Rose Matafeo, Connor Nestor, Tim Lambourne and Matt Gibb. U live draws many parallels to TVNZ's rival network Mediaworks

MediaWorks

MediaWorks may refer to:* MediaWorks New Zealand, runs two television channels and many radio stations across New Zealand* MediaWorks , a Japanese book and magazine publisher, child company of Kadokawa Shoten...

' youth-oriented show Drew and Shannon Live

Drew and Shannon Live

Drew & Shannon Live is a topical entertainment show, airing weekday afternoons on FOUR, and co-hosted by Drew Neemia and Shannon Ryan. It aims to be a daily wrap of relatable entertainment for an 18-49 year old audience...

, which airs on FOUR

Four (New Zealand TV channel)

Four is a television station operating in New Zealand and owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. The channel launched 6 February 2011 at 6pm. The channel broadcasts on channel frequencies previously used by C4 with some shows previously screened on TV3 and C4 now screening on...

.

U's Themed Nights

U will have themed programming for the different days of the week, with each theme having a distinctive title. Selected programming available on each night is listed below.

• Monday - Guts (extreme sport)
  • Sports Unlimited
  • Kings of Nitro

• Tuesday - Dude (male skewed programming)
  • The Buried Life
    The Buried Life
    The Buried Life is a reality documentary series on MTV. The series features Duncan Penn, Jonnie Penn, Ben Nemtin and Dave Lingwood attempting to complete a list of "100 things to do before you die." The pilot episode aired on January 18, 2010, and the show was renewed for a second season in 2010....
    
    
  • Knock Out Sport World
  • Take Me to the Edge
    Take Me to the Edge
    Take Me to the Edge is a British reality series investigating global rites of passage. Host Leo Houlding brings five adults to different parts of the world, where they experience local rites of passage such as rock climbs, running through fire, drinking blood straight from a cow’s neck and climbing...
    
    

• Wednesday - Crush (dating and relationships)
  • The Pick Up Artist
  • Stag
  • Dating the Enemy
    Dating the Enemy
    Dating The Enemy is an Australian comedy about a boyfriend and girlfriend who swap bodies and have to live as each other.-Plot:One Valentine's evening a group of single, dateless friends get together to play Trivial Pursuit. Brett , a friend of the host from Melbourne, has just landed a job as...
    
    

• Thursday - Ursula (female skewed programming)
  • Australian Princess
    Australian Princess
    Australian Princess is an Australian reality television show that first premiered on Network Ten on 5 October 2005. It is produced by Granada Productions, who are responsible for other programs such as Dancing with the Stars, Australia's Next Top Model and Merrick and Rosso Unplanned.The show is...
    
    
  • G Girls
  • Talk to the hand

• Friday - U win (competitive reality)
  • Mission Beach
    Mission Beach
    Mission Beach may refer to:*Mission Beach, San Diego, California, United States*Mission Beach, Queensland, Australia...
    
    
  • Crust Dirt Demons

• Saturday - Sound (music themed programming)

• Sunday - U tv (viewer programmed content)

• Other Shows
  • The Real World: Brooklyn
    The Real World: Brooklyn
    The Real World: Brooklyn is the twenty-first season of MTV's reality television series The Real World, which focuses on a group of diverse strangers living together for several months in a different city each season, as cameras document their lives and interpersonal relationships...
    
    
  • Hollyscoop

• Ginx Games
  Ginx TV
  Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
  
   Shows

Hosted by Julia Hardy

Julia Hardy

-Career:She began her career in 2005 when she was chosen to be a founding presenter of the British television channel Rockworld TV. On Rockworld she co-presented Rockjaw and went on to become a field reporter, covering music events such as Maschinenfest, Download Festival and the Reading and Leeds...

 is every night at 2pm and 10:30 on video game culture.

• Monday
  • Ginx
    Ginx TV
    Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
    
     - Faster

• Tuseday
  • Ginx
    Ginx TV
    Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
    
     - Gamesport

• Wednesday
  • Ginx
    Ginx TV
    Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
    
     - Ginx Files

• Thursday
  • Ginx
    Ginx TV
    Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
    
     - Games Evolved

• Friday
  • Ginx
    Ginx TV
    Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
    
     - Culture Shock/That Hollywood Thing

• Saturday
  • Ginx
    Ginx TV
    Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
    
    

• Sunday
  • Ginx
    Ginx TV
    Ginx TV is an international, multi-language TV channel exclusively dedicated to video games. Ginx TV was founded by former Extreme Sports Channel executives Udi Shapira and Cosmo Spens.- Distribution :...
    
    - GameFace

U tv

U tv gives one lucky viewer the chance to schedule a selected segment of programming on the new channel for a month. The viewer will get the chance to programme TVNZ U every sunday night in their designated month. They wil also be given the chance to present links throughout the nights programming.

External links

• http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/tvnz-partners-gaming-company-4009014
• http://tvnz.co.nz/u
• http://tvnz.co.nz/u/contdown-4032205