YOU’LL BE LOVING EVERY MINUTE OF ABC TV IN 2014
ABC TV today announces its 2014 slate featuring an exciting line-up of Australian content, event television and programs that set the agenda for the national conversation.
ABC TV will kick off the year with an explosive start when it hosts the iconic NEW YEAR’S EVE FIREWORKS, live from Sydney Harbour. This four hour television event will be presented by Stephanie Brantz and Lawrence Mooney, and will feature much-loved ABC stars and characters including The Chaser team, Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh), The Moodys and Doctor Blake (Craig McLachlan). The broadcast will include both the 9pm and midnight firework displays, and music performances by Pete Murray, IOTA and Stonefield.
Programming highlights include great new dramas such as ANZAC GIRLS, which tells the story of extraordinary young women who witness the brutality of war; THE CODE, a tale stretching from Australia’s outback to the cool corridors of power in Canberra; and OLD SCHOOL, starring Bryan Brown and Sam Neill.
In entertainment and comedy, we see the highly anticipated return of SPICKS AND SPECKS, introducing comedian Josh Earl as the new host, accompanied by singer-songwriter Ella Hooper and comedian Adam Richard as team captains.
Chris Lilley will bring back JONAH Takalua in a new series that sees him in the midst of island life but still experiencing the familiar frustrations of a bored teenage delinquent.
The Working Dog team returns to ABC TV with UTOPIA, a satirical comedy about the absurdity of government-sponsored schemes; The Chaser team brings us WE’LL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE; Lawrence Leung stars in a painfully unique kung fu comedy MAXIMUM CHOPPAGE; and YouTube sensations the Bondi Hipsters make their TV debut with SOUL MATES.
Highlights from our documentary, factual and arts slates for 2014 include AFGHANISTAN: THE AUSTRALIAN WAR; BRILLIANT CREATURES profiles four Aussies who shook the world; THE FLYING MINERS, the story of a unique Australian work lifestyle; and, filmed in front of a live studio audience, SAVE YOUR LIFE TONIGHT! puts Australia’s health under the spotlight.
Children’s programming highlights include BLUE ZOO, a drama which sees eight teenagers take over an Australian marine park; MY24 in which young Australians chronicle the impact of a life-changing experience; and HOOPLA DOOPLA, the tale of six extraordinary characters with amazing physical skills.
ABC iview continues to be the most popular catch-up service in Australia, and in 2014 the platform will be taken to the next level. To reflect our younger audience’s growing hunger for binge viewing, ABC TV will premiere the entire run of a major new Australian series on iview coinciding with the launch of the first episode on television.
For the first time, iview will premiere two programs created especially for the online service: FRESH BLOOD, a sketch comedy initiative which will uncover Australia’s brightest young talent, and WASTELANDER PANDA, an epic story of loyalty and betrayal in an environment where no-one can survive alone.
In late 2014, viewers who love watching current programs for free on iview will also be able to revisit their favourite ABC programs from the past with a new pay-to-view on-demand service. In collaboration with ABC Commercial, the ABC library will be opened up to allow viewers instant access to recent and archival programs.
To meet the increasing demands on our media colleagues, ABC TV is thrilled to launch a new online MEDIA PORTAL – a comprehensive one-stop-publicity-shop, where media can preview upcoming content and download press kits and images.
“2013 has been another fantastic year for ABC TV. We’ve experienced the greatest increase in share across all networks, with growth in all five city markets,” said Richard Finlayson, Director of Television.
“ABC TV continues to be highly valued and trusted by the Australian public. We tell stories other broadcasters can’t; we innovate, take risks and nurture new talent. We serve broad and niche audiences by providing high quality content across a range of genres. Our vision for 2014 is clear. We want to set a path to enable us to lay claim to being Australia’s most impactful, contemporary and relevant media organisation.”
@ABCtv in 2014
