SPADA applauds today's announcement of new Free to Air TV channel ChoiceTV on the Freeview digital platform by SPADA company member Top Shelf Productions.

"Firstly, SPADA would like to congratulate Vincent Burke and the Top Shelf team on launching this ambitious and exciting new free-to-air channel and business venture. Secondly, it's exciting to see the opportunities this new free-to-air channel will create for local production companies to produce new content and for screening of their back catalogue and for audiences to see New Zealand film, drama and comedy as well as a range of new and different international programming," said SPADA CEO Penelope Borland.

"NZ is rapidly heading towards the first Digital Switch Over in September and when that day comes we will be there to provide viewers with free access to a greater choice of popular programmes. Viewers are demanding more high quality free to air content and as a major producer of local programming it made sense for Top Shelf to be involved in the first of NZ's new Freeview TV channels." said ChoiceTV and Top Shelf Director, Vincent Burke.

ChoiceTV's programming will centre on entertainment, information, and lifestyle content from around the world. To achieve this, major shareholder Top Shelf Productions (one of New Zealand's leading production companies) has acquired unique and previously unseen international content; programmes that will tap into the tastes and interests of many Kiwi viewers with themes like homes, travel, gardening, food, adventure, health & fitness and comedy and drama.