Family Television’s studio in Matamata has undergone a transformation during the school holidays.

The broadcaster has redesigned its studio with staff working overtime to build a new set that is bigger and better. What was three sets is now just one. The new set is interchangable and will be modified to provide three different looks for shows EveryDay, InDepth and Farming Today. Now each show has its own furniture and panels on roller wheels that are used to create unique identities.

Executive Producer of Family Television Paul Fawcett says it will greatly enhance the look of the shows and be a much more “user-friendly” working environment allowing technical staff to maximise the stations’s limited resources.

“It will allow greater ease of set-up and set-down and reduce the time allocated to doing these things, now systems such as the light set can remain in the one place throughout all shows, says Mr Fawcett.

The set has been designed with attention to detail and ingenuity by Set Designer and local Handyman, Mike Clancey, who came up with the idea for a modular desk for the Indepth set and mobile panels. These features ensure that the studio can be quickly and easily changed ready for the next show.

“It’s taking things a step-up. Having a more professional set means a more professional product,” says Production Manager Lance Bauerfeind.

Since Family Television was launched in 2002 there have been numerous changes to its sets except that of Current Affairs Show InDepth which hasn’t had a change since going to air one year ago. Viewers are not likely to notice huge changes, aside from a Plasma screen and new desk, as the background colour remains unchanged but for InDepth presenter, Janene Forlong, the new set is a vast improvement on its predecessor. “It will reinvigorate the whole show,” she says.

“It’s fresh. It’s spacious and it’s going to be more practical for guests, crew and me,” says Mrs Forlong.

Family Television currently produces Farming Today, EveryDay, InDepth, Mish Mash, and Hooked on Fishing with local personality, Chris Bungard, all of which Rotorua viewers can now tune into, with some having regional differences.

Family Television Rotorua launched in July and the Network has plans for it to have its own studio and programming within a year. Family Television has grown significantly since 2002 and will continue to grow with new production staff and changes to show structure and content. Family Television hopes to launch into Hamilton early 2007.

Photo: Let’s Go Shopping presenter (left), Kathy Peters, and producer, Marion Farrell, test out the new set.

For a tour of the new set and to meet the team please contact Paul Fawcett on 07 888 5030 ext 812.

11a Meura Street, Matamata
Phone: 07 888 5030 Fax: 07 888 6050