1989: TV3
November 26, 2021
By AHNZ
Today in history, 26 November, 1989, TV3 began broadcasting.
The State TVNZ monopoly on TV was busted, television had been deregulated. However, it was a far from even playing field for the new and exciting station to go up against the well-funded and entrenched TVNZ.
TV3 was required to have a high quota for local content. Too high to afford, actually, which put them on the ropes where they have been these past 31 years.
This local content problem is currently solved by awful ‘news’ and ‘comedy’.
Perhaps my first experience of nostalgia was when Philip Sherry appeared anew to anchor the news at the dawn of TV3. I realised that I recognised this man!
“Former TV presenter Philip Sherry has died aged 87, after a lifetime of distinguished public service and newsreading.” – NZ Herald (July 2021)
Sherry has been credited for the quote: “Newsreading is like riding a bicycle. All you need is sobriety and good eyes.”
Darren McDonald, a later TV3 newsreader, must have heard that and said “hold my beer.” Good eyes were sufficient qualification for Darren…
“In early 2002, a number of people were arrested for selling methamphetamine and importing MDMA into New Zealand; McDonald was amongst them. In 2003, he pleaded guilty to offering to supply methamphetamine and conspiracy to supply ecstasy. He admitted having been a drug addict from the age of 21, saying that he would spend around $1000 on drugs each week, and that he had even read the news while high on methamphetamine.” – ref. Wiki
Some memorable shows we owe to TV3…
The Billy T James Show
Ice TV
The Jaquie Brown Diaries
You & Me
Outrageous Fortune
The Paul Henry Show
3 National News
Campbell Live
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3 thoughts on "1989: TV3"
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Anarchist History of New Zealand is not brought to you by New Zealand On Air
Once they investigated on the basis that they represented a population. Now they investigate on the basis that represent an idea (open borders / open society/good versus evil – racist). They haven’t perceived the good in the contrary position.
Those ideas do represent a population too though, the r-selected. However, if you wanted to deepen that, it turns out that those preferences and consents might actually be falsified.