Country Calendar

Last updated

Country Calendar
Narrated by Frank Torley (until 2015)
Dan Henry (2016–present)
Opening theme"Hillbilly Child" by the Alan Moorhouse Band
Country of origin New Zealand
No. of episodes1,500+
Production
ProducersDan Henry
Katherine Edmond
Camera setupWidescreen
Running timeApproximately 22 minutes (without commercials) [1]
30 minutes (including commercials)
Original release
Network TVNZ 1 (1966–present)
Release6 March 1966 (6 March 1966) –
present

Country Calendar is a New Zealand documentary television series focusing on rural life in New Zealand. It has been aired on TVNZ 1 since March 1966, making it New Zealand's longest-running television series. [2] Since 2013 the show aired for a season of 30 weeks per year, however as of 2016 it is being broadcast for 40 weeks a year. Episodes from the 2013 season to present are available to watch online, through TVNZ+.

Contents

Country Calendar is currently produced by Dan Henry, with associate producer Katherine Edmond. Frank Torley was well known as the narrator of the show, and also produced the show for 23 years. Torley died in March 2016 following a short battle with cancer. [3]

The Country Calendar theme song is from the song "Hillbilly Child" by the Alan Moorhouse Band. Hyundai New Zealand is the show's naming rights sponsor, with previous sponsors including The National Bank, financial services company AMP, and Tux dog biscuits.

History

Country Calendar was first broadcast on 6 March 1966, primarily as a news show for farmers. It was presented by Fred Barnes, and was approximately 14 minutes in length. The show was primarily shot in a studio, with around 5 minutes shot in the field usually, due to budget constraints. [4] The first field report focussed on a Central Otago apricot orchard.

The show was originally developed to be strictly for farmers, however when Tony Trotter became producer of the show in 1974 he decided to market the show towards a more general audience. [5] [6] Trotter also chose the Country Calendar theme music, Hillbilly Child by British musician Alan Moorhouse, which is still used by the show today.

Frank Torley began contributing to the show as a reporter in its first few years, and 10 years later moved to the show full-time, becoming producer in 1980. He was well known as the "gravelly Mr Country Calendar voice", and became the show's full-time narrator from the start of 2014. [7] Torley retired from the show in October 2015, after developing vocal nodules. He died in March 2016 after a short battle with cancer. [8]

In the 1990s Country Calendar moved to Saturday nights, after 23 years being broadcast on Sunday. The 1990s was also the first time a sponsor was added to the show's title. [9]

Country Calendar has received NZ on Air funding since 1991, and is the longest running programme the agency has funded. [10]

In 2005 a special 40 Years of Country Calendar episode was broadcast, comprising some of the show's highlights and detailing the show's history. [6]

In 2011 Hyundai New Zealand became the show's naming rights sponsor, taking over from The National Bank. 2011 also marked the first year the show was broadcast in high definition. [11]

Similar to during the show's 40th anniversary in 2005, in 2016 a special episode titled Country Calendar: 50 Golden Years was broadcast to celebrate Country Calendar being on air for 50 years. The special was hosted by broadcaster Jim Hickey, who had previously hosted the show for 5 years from 1998. [4] [12]

A Country Calendar exhibition opened at Waikato museum on 11 June 2016, to celebrate 50 years of the show. [13]

In 2017, "Country Calendar" was returned to Sundays at 7.00pm. [ citation needed ]

Production

Country Calendar is one of the longest-running television series in New Zealand (by number of years on air), after Coronation Street. [2] There have been at least 1000 episodes broadcast, although the show's producer suggests between 1200 and 1250 is more likely. [14]

Country Calendar is currently produced by Dan Henry who took over from Julian O’Brien in 2023. Julian O'Brien first became involved in the show in 1985 before taking a break and then returning as producer in 2005. [14] The show's associate producer is Katherine Edmond. Dan Henry is also the narrator, taking over from former narrator Frank Torley after his retirement in October 2015. O’Brien, Henry and Edmond also direct the show, along with directors Kerryanne Evans, Richard Langston, Celia Jaspers, Roz Mason, Howard Taylor, Robyn Janes, Vicki Wilkinson-Baker and Kirsty Babington. [15] The show's researcher is Vivienne Jeffs, who has held the role since 2007.

From 2013 the show has had 30 episodes per season, although this was increased to 40 episodes in 2016. According to Country Calendar's production blog, the show will have crew on the road for close to 250 days, in order to produce the 40 episodes. [16] Country Calendar usually focuses on one story per episode.

In 2016 Country Calendar received $566,720 of NZ on Air funding, from the Documentary and Factual programme fund. This was increased from $425,036 in 2015, the same amount as in 2014 and 2013, due to the 10 extra episodes as of 2016. [17] NZ On Air say that Country Calendar is "consistently the highest-rating NZ On Air funded programme, with more than half a million people tuning in every week". [18] 583,500 people aged 5 or over watched the 2015 series on average.

Country Calendar is known to sometimes feature spoofs, where the series will occasionally break format and air an unannounced satirical episode. [19] In 1974, a spoof episode aired focusing on the fictional character Fred Dagg (portrayed by satirist John Clarke). A spoof was first aired in 1977 with a farmer playing a fence as a musical instrument, and since then have included sheep dogs controlled by radio and a high fashion range of rural clothing, among others. [20] While the spoofs were generally well-received, the radio-controlled dog episode resulted in numerous calls of it being inhumane. A Country Calendar – Spoofs Special highlighting the spoof episodes of the show was broadcast in 1999. [20] The last part of the 2016 program marking the show's 50th anniversary was a spoof featuring an app designed to let farmers talk to their working dogs.

There are 10 Country Calendar DVDs on sale, including ‘Best of’ DVDs for each season from 2014 to 2017, as well as DVDs comprising episodes on different topics. These include Country Calendar Goes Fishing, Country Calendar on Horseback and Country Calendar Goes Green. The 50th anniversary special is also available on DVD. [21] The NZ On Screen website also features some archived special episodes of the show which can be viewed online.

Awards

Country Calendar has won numerous awards during its time on air. [22]

YearAwards NameCategoryNomineeResult
1975Feltex Television AwardsFirst Series AwardCountry CalendarWon
1977Feltex Television AwardsBest Specialty ProgrammeCountry CalendarWon
1980Feltex Television AwardsBest Information ProgrammeCountry CalendarWon
1981Feltex Television AwardsBest Information ProgrammeCountry CalendarWon
1982Feltex Television AwardsBest Information ProgrammeCountry CalendarWon
1983Feltex Television AwardsBest Information ProgrammeCountry CalendarWon
1993New Zealand Film and Television AwardsBest Factual SeriesCountry CalendarWon
2000TV Guide Television AwardsBest CameraPeter Young (for episode Yankee Harvest)Won
2002TV Guide Television AwardsBest Factual SeriesCountry CalendarWon
2002TV Guide Television AwardsBest Camera, Non-DramaPeter YoungWon
2005New Zealand Screen AwardsBest Director (Factual Programming/Entertainment)Jerome Cvitanovich (for episode Oamuru Stone)Nominated
2005Qantas Television AwardsBest Camera, FactualPeter YoungWon
2006TV Guide Best on the Box Awards*Best Lifestyle ShowCountry CalendarWon
2007Air New Zealand Screen AwardsAchievement in Camerawork, DocumentaryPeter Young (for episode Cray Coast)Won
2007Qantas Television AwardsBest Camera, FactualCountry Calendar (for episode Autumn Muster)Nominated
2007TV Guide Best on the Box Awards*Best Lifestyle ShowCountry CalendarWon
2015TV Guide Best on the Box Awards*Best Lifestyle/Advice ShowCountry CalendarWon
2018Huawei Mate20 NZ Television AwardsBest Camerawork - Documentary/FactualPeter YoungNominated
2020NZ Television AwardsBest Factual SeriesCountry CalendarWon

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">TVNZ</span> New Zealand state-owned television network

Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a television network that is broadcast throughout New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. All of its currently-operating channels are free-to-air and commercially funded.

<i>Shortland Street</i> New Zealand television soap opera

Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital. The show was first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992 and is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 7,900 episodes and 32 years. It is one of the most watched television programmes in New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Campbell (broadcaster)</span> New Zealand journalist and television personality (born 1964)

John James Campbell is a New Zealand journalist and radio and television personality. He is currently a presenter and reporter at TVNZ; before that, he presented Checkpoint, Radio New Zealand's drive time show, from 2016 to 2018. For ten years prior to that, he presented Campbell Live, a 7 p.m. current affairs programme on TV3. He was a rugby commentator for Sky Sports during the All Blacks' test against Samoa in early 2015 — a fixture he had vocally campaigned for while hosting Campbell Live.

Nightline is a New Zealand late night news programme that premiered on TV3 on 19 February 1990. Its final host was Sacha McNeil, and Nightline ceased to air in December 2013, replaced by controversial broadcaster Paul Henry's new programme The Paul Henry Show in early 2014, and then in 2015 by a new late night news bulletin programme called Newsworthy with Samantha Hayes and David Farrier at the desk. This was replaced in 2016 by Newshub Late.

Jeremy Wells is a New Zealand media personality who hosts the Radio Hauraki breakfast show with Matt Heath, Seven Sharp alongside Hilary Barry, and Taskmaster New Zealand.

<i>Fair Go</i> 1977 New Zealand TV series or programme

Fair Go is a New Zealand consumer affairs television programme hosted by Pippa Wetzell. First aired in 1977, it was New Zealand's second longest-running local programme. It was also one of its highest-rated programmes, frequently placed high in the New Zealand TV Guide list of most viewed programmes. It aired its final episode on 13 May 2024.

Te Karere is a news and current affairs show that was New Zealand's first Māori language television programme. Te Karere is broadcast on Television New Zealand's TVNZ 1 at 4:00 pm on weekdays after Tipping Point and repeated 1:05 am and 5:35 am the following day. The focus of the programme is content which is of national significance to the targeted Māori audience.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dominic Bowden</span> New Zealand television presenter

Dominic Joseph Bowden is a New Zealand television personality, host and voice actor. He is best known as the host of New Zealand reality series including New Zealand Idol, Dancing with the Stars New Zealand and The X Factor New Zealand. When based in Los Angeles, he hosted the American reality music competition show, The Next Great American Band and as a Hollywood reporter for the Erin Simpson show. Bowden has been called "New Zealand's Ryan Seacrest."

Miriama Te Rangimarie Smith is a New Zealand film and television actress who has played roles in various TV shows such as Xena: Warrior Princess, Karaoke High and Shortland Street. Her best-known roles, however, were Moz in the third season of The Tribe, Dana McNichol in Mercy Peak, and Elsa / Principal Randall in the 2004 Power Rangers series, Power Rangers Dino Thunder. She was one of the three judges on the first season of entertainment show New Zealand's Got Talent that aired on Prime TV in 2008. She starred as Brady Trubridge on the TVNZ 2 drama series Filthy Rich.

Paolo Rotondo is a New Zealand director, writer and actor of stage and screen.

Home Front is a lifestyle television series that aired on TVNZ's channel Television One in New Zealand. It combines "home makeover" ideas, home maintenance and DIY tips, and guided tours around the homes of well-known New Zealanders. The series premiered on 6 July 2000 with several series of 13 episodes each.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenstone TV</span>

Greenstone TV is a New Zealand-based television production company who produce factual, entertainment, drama and documentary television programs. Productions have been made for TVNZ 1, TVNZ 2, Three and Prime in New Zealand, and the Seven Network in Australia.

WhitebaitMedia is a local independent New Zealand production company producing children's programmes. It was founded by Janine Morrell-Gunn in 1998.

Asia Downunder was a television magazine programme, formerly known as Asia Dynamic, reporting on activities of Asians in New Zealand and New Zealand Asians abroad which ran from 1994 to 2011. Its target audience was the Asian population in New Zealand, and the programme is funded by New Zealand On Air.

Gerard Mark Leishman is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster. He was the breakfast host on the Magic radio network. from 15 April 2015 to 9 December 2022 and is also news editor and presenter of The Daily Report, an agribusiness news show on Country TV. He also hosts a half hour long form interview series called Point of View on Country TV. As of 2023, he is a newsreader and fill-in host for Radio New Zealand.

Francis Desmond Torley was a New Zealand television reporter and producer, best known for his work on Country Calendar spanning almost 50 years.

<i>Mike King Tonight</i> 2003 New Zealand TV series or program

Mike King Tonight is a New Zealand late-night talk show hosted by mental health advocate and then-comedian, Mike King, that aired for one season in 2003. It aired on TV2.

Flatmates is a New Zealand reality show. It followed the lives of several house friends while they were living under the same roof. The show was broadcast on the now-defunct channel TV4 in 1997, and ran for two seasons with the follow-up, More Flatmates. The show was produced by Top Shelf Productions and funded by NZ On Air. The show was a finalist for the New Zealand television awards in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vincent Burke (producer)</span> NZ Television and Film Producer (1952–2022)

Eric Vincent Burke was a New Zealand television and film producer. Burke was the founder of Top Shelf Productions which was established in 1988. With a career spanning thirty years, Burke was noted for his documentary work and television productions that addressed social issues and everyday life.

Andrew Shaw is a New Zealand television executive, broadcaster and former presenter.

References

  1. ↑ "Hyundai Country Calendar". TVNZ OnDemand. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  2. 1 2 "1966 – key events – The 1960s – NZHistory". www.nzhistory.net.nz. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  3. ↑ "Country Calendar's Frank Torley dies". Radio New Zealand. 28 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Fifty years of capturing Kiwi farming". Stuff. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  5. ↑ "Tony Trotter – NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  6. 1 2 "40 Years of Country Calendar – Television – NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  7. ↑ "Frank Torley – NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  8. ↑ "Country Calendar's Frank Torley dies aged 75". New Zealand Herald. 29 March 2016. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  9. ↑ "Background – 40 Years of Country Calendar – Television – NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  10. ↑ "Country Calendar". www.nzonair.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  11. ↑ "Country Calendar shacks up with Hyundai, adding fuel to glue factory rumours for National Bank stallion". stoppress.co.nz. 13 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  12. ↑ "Jim Hickey – NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Hyundai Country Calendar to celebrate 50 years on air at Waikato Museum – Waikato Museum". waikatomuseum.co.nz. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  14. 1 2 "On TV, 5–11 March: including Country Calendar and Kolkata with Sue Perkins – New Zealand Listener". New Zealand Listener. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  15. ↑ Country Calendar Team , retrieved 1 April 2016
  16. ↑ "Producer's Diary – autumn 2016". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  17. ↑ "National TV". Archived from the original on 10 April 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "Country Calendar". www.nzonair.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  19. ↑ "Weekend Rewind: Country Calendar turns 50". New Zealand Herald. 5 March 2016. ISSN   1170-0777 . Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  20. 1 2 "Background – Country Calendar – Spoofs Special – Television – NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  21. ↑ "Hyundai Country Calendar on DVD". TVNZ Ondemand. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
  22. ↑ "NZ On Screen". www.nzonscreen.com. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.