# 2011 in New Zealand television

"none" is preferred when the title is sufficiently descriptive; see [[WP:SDNONE]]
This is a list of New Zealand television events and premieres that occurred in 2011, the 52nd year of continuous operation of television in New Zealand.

## Events

* 6 February – Four begins airing. This network focuses on programming for children, with shows such as Sesame Street, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends, Peppa Pig, Barney & Friends and several Nickelodeon television shows including original Nicktoons such as Rugrats, Rocko's Modern Life, The Fairly OddParents!, Invader Zim, Hey Arnold!, and SpongeBob SquarePants during the day and a range of programmes aimed at audiences aged 18 to 49 in the evenings. The first programme to air on Four was The Simpsons episode Elementary School Musical.
* 7 February – New Zealand fantasy comedy-drama television series The Almighty Johnsons begins on TV3.
* 28 February – TVNZ 6 closes down. Some TVNZ 6 content, including Kidzone and Shortland Street: From the Beginning, are moved to sister channels TVNZ 7, TVNZ Heartland and TVNZ Kidzone24.
* 13 March – TVNZ U, a social channel aimed at 15 to 24 year olds, is launched.

## Premieres
### Domestic series

Domestic television series premieres on New Zealand television in 2011 :
| Programme | Original airdate | Network |
| The Almighty Johnsons | 7 February | TV3 |
| Bigger, Better, Faster, Stronger | 7 February | TV3 |
| Drew and Shannon Live | 7 February | Four |
| Four Live | 7 February | Four |
| Firstline | 7 March | TV3 |
| Mana Mamau | 7 July | Māori Television |
| Nothing Trivial | 20 July | TV One |
| U Live | 13 March | U |
| Underbelly NZ: Land of the Long Green Cloud | 17 August | TV3 |

### International series

International television series premieres on New Zealand television in 2011 :
| Programme | Original airdate | Network | Country of origin |
| Power Rangers Samurai | 2 July | Nickelodeon | United States |
| Bananas in Pyjamas (2011) | July 2011 | Four | Australia |
| The Looney Tunes Show | 2011 | TV2 | United States |
| Little Charley Bear | 2011 | TVNZ Kidzone 24 | United Kingdom |

### Telemovies and miniseries

Domestic television telemovie and miniseries premieres on New Zealand television in 2011 :
| Programme | Original airdate | Network | Ref |

### Documentaries

Domestic television documentary premieres on New Zealand television in 2011 :
| Programme | Original airdate(s) | Network | Ref |

### Specials

Domestic television special premieres on New Zealand television in 2011 :
| Programme | 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 programme is moved from a free-to-air network's primary channel to a digital multi-channel, as well as when a programme 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 2011 :
| Programme | Date | New network | Previous network | Ref |
International television programmes which changed channel/network in 2011 :
| Programme | Date | New network | Previous network | Country of origin |
| The Simpsons | 6 February | Four | TV3 | United States |
| The Wild Thornberrys | 7 February | Four | TV2 | United States |
| Barney & Friends | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United States |
| Thomas and Friends | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United Kingdom |
| As Told by Ginger | 7 February | Four | TV2 | United States |
| The X's | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United States |
| El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United States |
| Sesame Street | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United States |
| The Wiggles Show | 7 February | Four | TV3 | Australia |
| Hey Arnold! | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United States |
| Rugrats | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United States |
| Curious George | 7 February | Four | TV3 | United States |

### 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. Programmes 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 2011 :
| Programme | Date | Free-to-air network | Subscription network(s) | Country of origin | Ref |

### Programmes returning in 2011

Returning programmes on New Zealand television in 2011 :
| Programme | Return date | Network | Original run | Ref |

### Milestone episodes in 2011

Domestic television series which have reached a milestone in 2011 :
| Show | Network | Episode # | Episode title | Episode air date | Source |

### Programmes ending in 2011

Domestic programmes ending on New Zealand television in 2011 :
| Programme | End date | Network | Start date | Ref |

## Channels

Launches:
* 1 March: Sky Arena

## Deaths

| Date | Name | Age | Notability | Source |