Channel 2 (TVNZ) - Weekday morning menu (Feb 1992)
Channel: Patrick Te Pou
Date: 2024-03-25

In the early 1990s Channel 2 (now TVNZ 2) had a structured morning line-up that was popular among viewers. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the weekday morning line-up for Channel 2 in the first week of February 1992.

6am: Around the World in Eighty Days
To start off the morning, viewers were greeted with Around the World in Eighty Days, a classic animated series based on the novel by Jules Verne. The series followed the adventures of Phileas Fogg and his loyal servant Passepartout as they attempt to travel around the world in just 80 days. This show lasted one season of 16 episodes, broadcast during the 1972/73 season by NBC. It was the first Australian-produced cartoon to be shown on network television in the United States.

6.30am: The Bullwinkle Show
Following Around the World in Eighty Days was The Bullwinkle Show, an animated comedy series featuring the iconic moose and squirrel duo, Rocky and Bullwinkle. The show also introduced viewers to other beloved characters such as Boris Badenov and Natasha Fatale.

7am: The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin
Next up were reruns of The Adventures of Teddy Ruxpin, a fantasy animated series based on the popular toy. The show followed the adventures of a young teddy bear who can talk and his friends as they go on exciting adventures.

7.25am: Jem
For fans of 80s pop culture, Jem was a must-watch. This animated series followed Jem, the lead singer of the rock band Jem and the Holograms, as she balanced her music career with her double life as Jem and her alter ego Jerrica. The show was known for its catchy songs and colourful animation, making it a favourite among viewers.

8am: ITN World News
At 8am the morning line-up on Channel 2 took a break from cartoons and switched to news with ITN World News. This half hour news programme brought New Zealanders the latest international headlines through ITN, fresh off the satellite from London. This was a great opportunity for viewers to stay informed before heading out for the day. (In the winter months, ITN World News was shown at 7am and repeated the same day at 8am.)

8.30am: Punkin' Puss & Mushmouse
Punkin' Puss & Mushmouse was a series of 10 minute cartoons screening at 8.30am. This short and sweet show featured the misadventures of Punkin' Puss the cat and Mushmouse the mouse as they constantly tried to outsmart each other.

8.40am: Sesame Street
At 8.40am children and parents could learn and have fun with Sesame Street. This iconic educational programme featured lovable characters such as Big Bird, Bert, Ernie, Grover, Oscar the Grouch and Cookie Monster, as well as introducing viewers to te reo Māori through a Māori language segment called "Te Whakapiri Māori". This initiative, which ran on TVNZ from 1982 to 1987, was groundbreaking as it promoted the use of te reo Māori in mainstream media.

9.35am: Play School
For the youngest viewers, Play School was a familiar and comforting presence on TVNZ many years ago. These reruns of the locally made series provided educational content for preschoolers, with segments promoting learning through play, music and storytelling. 

10.05am: Aerobics Oz Style
For those looking to get active, Aerobics Oz Style was the perfect show to tune in to. This fitness programme, hosted by fitness instructor June Jones, featured a range of workouts that viewers could follow along with. This was a great way for viewers to stay fit and healthy at home.

10.30am: Neighbours 
Finally, at 10.30am, it was time for Neighbours, a long-running Australian soap that was once a hit with Kiwi audiences. These were reruns of earlier episodes, first shown on TVNZ in 1988, which allowed viewers to catch up on the drama and romance in the lives of the residents of Ramsay Street.

Overall, the weekday morning line-up for Channel 2 in 1992 was a well structured mix of entertainment and information. According to Aline Sandilands, TVNZ's head of public relations at the time, the decision to introduce 24 hour programming for Channel 2 was made to cater for viewers' holiday patterns during the summer months. However, as the holiday season ended, viewers reverted to their 'working' habits and switched off earlier.

Despite its short-lived run during the summer, 24 hour television was the beginning of a change in the New Zealand television landscape. It showed there was a demand for more diverse and longer hours of programming, paving the way for the development of new channels in the years to come. For viewers who struggled with insomnia, there was always a late night movie to look forward to on the weekends, making for a well rounded viewing experience.

Channel 2's 24 hour programming was reintroduced in May 1993, beginning on Friday and Saturday nights.

Special thanks to the NZ Analogue Archive (via Instagram) for the use of this clip, and I would like to apologise to you all for the quality of the picture or sound.