TVNZ responds to Coro concerns
I am absolutely hopping mad, so am writing this complaint as I wait for Coronation Street to come on at the ungodly time of quarter to 10 until quarter to 11 tonight. I don’t need to ask why TVNZ 1 is playing around with this programme – it is because they want to cancel it. We oldies are not all stupid you know – but we do get tired earlier than the younger ones. It is clear to me, and many other ardent viewers of
Coronation Street, that by screening it so late on Friday and Saturday nights we will give up watching because we just can’t sit up that late. Hence, TVNZ 1 will feel justified in cancelling the programme because of ‘poor ratings’. Coronation Street’s viewers are mostly the older generation who are not out partying on Friday and Saturday nights, so why are programmers hell-bent on taking away the little pleasure we have? Once Coronation Street was screened, as with Shortland Street, at 7pm for half an hour every weeknight and there was nothing wrong with that. Why can’t it go back to that spot? And don’t reply with ‘we can watch repeats in the afternoons’ – many of we
elderly are still quite productive and don’t sit around all day watching television. There have been enough letters of complaint to justify Coronation Street being moved to a more reasonable time for viewers, so listen to your audience. After all, we are your bread and butter. Gwyneth Jones (Tauranga)
The fans haven’t gone away, TVNZ, in spite of your apparent wish and the contempt you hold for us. We cannot record Coronation Street or watch OnDemand. We also do not watch the reality programmes you put on before our show, but switch to Sky TV instead. Can’t you give us an earlier spot, even if it’s before 6pm? Or how about another channel, eg Duke? Go on, give us a break. (Or are you not even aware of these letters?) Lorraine Jackson (Auckland)
What a good way to treat loyal TVNZ 1 viewers of Coronation Street, by putting it on late at night. I don’t care about myself but I do care about the elderly people of New Zealand who have been watching this programme since day one. I remember when I first saw this show when I was a child – it was in black and white, and the main characters then have now passed away. If you treat the older generation this way I wonder how you treat your old parents or grandparents? Come on, TVNZ, do the right thing and put Coronation Street on at a decent time five times a week until we catch up, like Emmerdale. Shane (Auckland)
TVNZ 1 responds: Thanks for all your comments about Coronation Street scheduling. Coro has a loyal following and we don’t like to upset the fans. However we have had to be commercially minded when making programming decisions – although we avoid changing the Coro schedule if at all possible. TVNZ OnDemand is a great place to go for a time that suits you to watch Coro, and we also play the daytime repeats on TVNZ 1 for you to catch up. Thanks for watching Coronation Street!