2015 in New Zealand television

This is a list of New Zealand television events and premieres that occurred in 2015, the 56th year of continuous operation of television in New Zealand.

Events

• 22 February – An episode of The X Factor causes controversy after featuring a man convicted of manslaughter auditioning for the programme and reaching the Boot Camp stage. ^[1]
• 1 March – TV3 series The X Factor apologises after broadcasting an episode featuring convicted killer Shae Brider, who auditioned for the show, thus causing distress to the family of his victim. ^[2]
• 16 March – X Factor judges Natalia Kills and husband Willy Moon are fired from the series by TV3 for launching into a tirade against contestant Joe Irvine on the previous day's show. ^[3]
• 19 March – Natalia Kills and Willy Moon apologise for the X Factor tirade. ^[4] I am Giant drummer Shelton Woolright and Australian singer Natalie Bassingthwaighte will replace the couple. ^[5]
• 12 April – TV3 announces that its Sunday evening news bulletin will be shortened to 30 minutes from 24 May. ^[6]
• 18 May - Beau Monga wins the second series of The X Factor .
• 21 May - TV3 announces (on Budget day) that the Campbell Live current affairs programme is to be axed, and replaced by a Monday to Thursday current affairs programme to follow the news. ^{[7] [8] [9]}
• 8 June – Launch of Newsworthy, TV3's new late night weekday news programme, which is presented by Sam Hayes and David Farrier. ^[10]
• 19 July - Stars in Their Eyes host Simon Barnett and his partner Vanessa Cole win the sixth series of Dancing with the Stars .

Premieres

Domestic series

Domestic television series premieres on New Zealand television in 2015

Program	Original airdate	Network	Ref
Westside	31 May	TV3

International series

International television series premieres on New Zealand television in 2015

Program	Original airdate	Network	Country of origin	Ref
In the Club	7 March	TV One	United Kingdom
Judge Rinder	2 February	TV2	United Kingdom
Thunderbirds Are Go	12 April	TV2	United Kingdom, New Zealand
Humans	11 August	TV3	United Kingdom, United States
The X Factor	16 September	TV3	United Kingdom
Battle Creek	22 September	TV One	United States
Heroes Reborn	28 September	TV3	United States
The Player	29 September	TV One	United States
The Muppets	1 November	TV2	United States
Supergirl	1 November	TV2	United States
The Octonauts	TBA	TV2	United Kingdom, Ireland

Telemovies and miniseries

Domestic television telemovie and miniseries premieres on New Zealand television in 2015

Program	Original airdate	Network	Ref

Documentaries

Domestic television documentary premieres on New Zealand television in 2015

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network	Ref

Specials

Domestic television special premieres on New Zealand television in 2015

Program	Original airdate(s)	Network(s)	Ref

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 2015

Programme	Date	New network	Previous network	Ref

International television programmes which changed channel/network in 2015

Programme	Date	New network	Previous network	Country of origin	Ref

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.

Programme	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)	Country of origin	Ref

Subscription premieres

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 2015

Programme	Date	Free-to-air network	Subscription network(s)	Country of origin	Ref

Programmes returning in 2015

Returning programmes on New Zealand television in 2015

Programme	Return date	Network	Original run	Ref

Milestone episodes in 2015

Domestic television series which have reached a milestone in 2015

Show	Network	Episode #	Episode title	Episode air date	Source

Programmes ending in 2015

Domestic programmes ending on New Zealand television in 2011

Programme	End date	Network	Start date	Ref
Campbell Live	29 May	TV3	2005	[8]

Deaths

Date	Name	Age	Notability	Source
9 January	Bernard Buck	88	news reporter	[11]
11 January	Chic Littlewood	84	children's show presenter	[12]
18 February	Doug Armstrong	83	sports broadcaster	[13]
5 April	Steve Rickard	85	pro-wrestler, sports presenter	[14]

References

1. Beswick, Angela (26 February 2015). "X Factor NZ to air apology over killer". 3 News. TV3. Archived from the original on 28 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
2. "TV3 'truly sorry' over X Factor interview". Otago Daily Times . 2 March 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
3. "Two judges on New Zealand's X Factor have been fired". BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. BBC. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 16 March 2015.
4. "X Factor New Zealand judges apologise after being sacked for abusive comments". BBC Radio 1 Newsbeat. BBC. 19 March 2015. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
5. Walters, Laura (19 March 2015). "Shelton Woolright and Natalie Bassingthwaighte are the new X Factor judges". Stuff . Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
6. Lomas, David (12 April 2015). "TV3 to reduce Sunday 6pm news bulletin to 30 minutes". Stuff . Fairfax New Zealand. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
7. "The sad end of John Campbell". Stuff (Fairfax). 21 May 2015.
8. "John Campbell thanks fans after departure news". Stuff (Fairfax). 21 May 2015.
9. "What now for John Campbell?". Stuff (Fairfax). 22 May 2015.
10. Hazlehurst, Beatrice (3 June 2015). "Living and working together - can TV3 presenters cope? -". New Zealand Herald . Fairfax Media. Retrieved 3 June 2015.
11. "Tributes Online - Tribute Book". Tributes.co.nz. Retrieved 9 July 2015.
12. "Legendary Kiwi entertainer Chic Littlewood dies". TVNZ. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
13. "Former TVNZ presenter, Doug Armstrong, dies". OneNews. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
14. "NZ wrestling great dies | Radio New Zealand News". Radio New Zealand. 6 April 2015. Retrieved 9 July 2015.