U.S. Series to be Available on New Zealand Catch-Up TV Service

HONG KONG/AUCKLAND,
September 17: Disney-ABC International Television Asia Pacific has completed a
deal to make a selection of ad-supported U.S. network series available on New
Zealand broadcaster TVNZ’s catch-up TV service.

These series will be
available for 28 days on TVNZ ondemand for free, 12 hours after the local
broadcast on TV2. The service launches with the first season of Private
Practice, with new seasons of Eli
Stone, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Grey’s Anatomy, Brothers & Sisters and Criminal Minds, among others, to follow.

This marks the first time
that U.S. series will be offered for free online in New Zealand. This is
Disney-ABC International Television’s second free ad-supported video-on-demand
agreement in the Asia Pacific.

“Today, viewers demand
more flexibility and choice,” said Rob Gilby,
the senior VP and managing director for Disney-ABC International Television
Asia Pacific. “Catching up with their favorite shows online, puts viewers in
charge of when and how they watch. We’re delighted to be the first U.S. studio
working with TVNZ, a pioneer in the digital media space in New Zealand, to
bring our hit U.S. series in ways that are innovative and relevant to viewers
here.”

Jason Paris, the head of
emerging business for TVNZ, added: “TVNZ is enormously proud to be able to
partner with Disney-ABC International Television Asia Pacific to ensure that
TVNZ content is the most accessible of any media organization in New Zealand.
The addition of these highly successful U.S. shows will ensure that our
ondemand offering goes from strength to strength.”

—By Jackie Stewart