This is a list of New Zealand television events and premieres which occurred, or are scheduled to occur, in 2014, the 54th year of continuous operation of television in New Zealand.
Overview of the events of 2014 in New Zealand television
13 January – TVNZ serial drama Shortland Street returns from its summer break, revealing the characters who died in the 2013 season finale.[1]
14 January – It is announced that Trackside, the New Zealand horse racing channel, will no longer be aired on Freeview and will become a pay-per-view channel.[2]
16 January – TVNZ reveal they will be airing the 2014 Grammy Awards on their free-to-air channels direct from the United States. A first for New Zealand free-to-air networks[3]
5 February – Sky Network Television announce they will no longer resell their services through Telecom.[5]
8 February – After winning the broadcasting rights in 2013, Prime Television begins coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics.[6]
17 February – Television New Zealandunit manager, resigns after it is revealed he took part in political conferences and allowed the opposition party (Labour) to use TVNZ facilities.[7][8]
17 February – After a year on hiatus, the controversial reality show, The GC returns for a second season and begins airing on TV3 and funded by Te Mangai Paho.[9][10][11]
19 February – joins the Australian children's act, The Wiggles as the Brown Wiggle.[12]
24 February – With the old UHF/VHF system being turned off in New Zealand in December 2013, Sky Television's profits increase by 22%[14]
28 February – TVNZ reporter, Lisa Owen defects to TV3 to cohost .[15]
9 March – MasterChef New Zealand contestants, Glynn and James, receive complaints regarding posts made on their Facebook page, however TVNZ releases a statement saying they have no control over Facebook or Twitter accounts made by contestants.[16]
11 March – A Trademe.co.nz advert receives a complaint regarding the use and misinterpretation of the surname, "Ramsbottom" minutes are going live.[17]
13 March – Actress Rose McIver is cast in upcoming US television based on a comic book series, iZombie[18]
13 March – New Zealand On Air confirms that they will help fund a two part telemovie for cancelled television show, Nothing Trivial to give closure to the fans.[19]
17 March – In a controversial move, the Board for Māori Television push for former TVNZ Māori and Pacific unit general manager, to become CEO of the network.[22]
22 March – English comedian Tony Robinson announces he will release a television series showing New Zealand war stories[25]
23 March – After announcing when series three of The Block NZ will be based, residents of Point Chevalier's Newell Street unite to stop the shows production[26]
24 March – Sommet Sports announcing they will be providing a satellite service on Freeview and Sky Television effective 14 April.[27]
28 March – New Zealand television blogger, retires from blogging after the birth of his first child.[29]
30 March – Residents of the Auckland suburb, Point Chevalier, discover the houses in the next series of The Block NZ will be multistoried, much to their dismay.[30]
1 April – Rhys Darby's parody television series, Short Poppies, becomes available in New Zealand on TVNZ On Demand.[31]
1 April – Actor Temuera Morrison receives a $1.1 million grant from New Zealand on Air to fund a variety show.[32]
26 April – and announcing they will be providing a satellite service on Freeview and Sky Television effective 26 April.[33]
Domestic television special premieres on New Zealand television in 2014
Program
Original airdate(s)
Network(s)
Ref
: Attitude Special
TBA
TV One
Programming changes[]
Programmes changing networks[]
Criterion for inclusion in the following list is that New Zealand premiere episodes will air in New Zealand for the first time on the new network. This includes when a program is moved from a free-to-air network's primary channel to a digital multi-channel, as well as when a program moves between subscription television channels – provided the preceding criterion is met. Ended television series which change networks for repeat broadcasts are not included in the list.
Domestic television series which changed network affiliation in 2014
°Originally, The Michael J. Fox Show was shown as part of TV3's new line-up. However, it has since been dropped by TV3 and was picked up and has begun airing on sister network, Four.
Free-to-air premieres[]
This is a list of programmes which made their premiere on New Zealand free-to-air television that had previously premiered on New Zealand subscription television. Programs may still air on the original subscription television network.
This is a list of programmes which made their premiere on New Zealand subscription television that had previously premiered on New Zealand free-to-air television. Programmes may still air on the original free-to-air television network.
International television series that premiered on New Zealand free-to-air television in 2014
Programme
Date
Free-to-air network
Subscription network(s)
Country of origin
Ref
Programmes returning in 2014[]
Returning programmes on New Zealand television in 2014
Programme
Return date
Network
Original run
Ref
Milestone episodes in 2014[]
Domestic television series which have reached a milestone in 2014
Show
Network
Episode #
Episode title
Episode air date
Source
Programmes ending in 2014[]
Domestic programmes ending on New Zealand television in 2014