Popstars (New Zealand TV series)

Popstars is a New Zealand reality documentary television show. The first series aired on TVNZ in 1999 and showed the establishment of a five-piece girl group, TrueBliss. The series was the origin of the Popstars reality TV series format, which went on to be sold to over 50 countries. A second New Zealand series of Popstars will be screened in 2021.

Popstars
GenreReality television
Created byJonathan Dowling
StarringSeries 1: Megan Alatini, Carly Binding, Joe Cotton, Keri Harper, Erika Tacacs
Narrated byIan Hughes
Opening theme"Pop Muzik"
Country of originNew Zealand
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes9
Production
Executive producerGeoff Steven
ProducerJonathan Dowling
Running time30 minutes
Production companyEssential Productions (1999)
Release
Original networkTVNZ
Original release20 April 1999 (1999-04-20)
Chronology
Related showsPopstars (Australia)

Format

Unlike the modern Idols or The X Factor television franchises — which are presented as singing contests with public votes — the original 1999 New Zealand series of Popstars was presented as a documentary. It looked at the formation of a modern pop group from the auditions through to the first released single. There was no public vote – the five group members were decided by a panel of music industry experts.[1]

Popstars creator Jonathan Dowling licensed the series concept to production company Screentime in Australia,[2] who then on sold it to TresorTV in Germany before taking it worldwide.[3] The series format was sold to over 50 countries internationally.

Series one (1999)

The first series of Popstars screened on TVNZ's TV2 channel in 1999. The series was made up of nine half-hour episodes.[1] The show's producers received $291,170 in funding from NZ On Air.[4]

The series focused on the formation and development of the five-piece girl group TrueBliss. The group's five members were Joe Cotton, Keri Harper, Erika Takacs, Carly Binding and Megan Alatini. Popstars followed TrueBliss as they recorded singles, music videos, album and embarked on a promotional tour of New Zealand.[5]

The show also featured series creator and producer Jonathan Dowling and musician Peter Urlich.

Series two (2021)

In November 2020, TVNZ announced that a second series of Popstars would be part of its 2021 lineup. While TVNZ has not confirmed details of the series format, it says the format has been updated to reflect the current music industry in New Zealand.[6] While the first series was only looking for solo female singers between 18 and 26, series two of Popstars only has a minimum age of 16 and no limits on gender or upper age, and it also welcomes entries from groups.[7]

The series will have a host, the New Zealand singer Kimbra.[6]

References
  1. "Popstars: A Perspective". NZ On Screen. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  2. Shaps, Simon (16 April 2009). "Ten Years on, the man who reinvented TV talent shows". Retrieved 24 October 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  3. Cleave, Louise (15 July 2000). "'Popstars' concept a hit with US giant". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 16 October 2017.
  4. "NZ On Air". Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  5. "TrueBliss Profile". Audio Culture. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  6. "Popstars, The Apprentice, The Bachelor and The Bachelorette all lined up for TVNZ in 2021". Stuff. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  7. "POPSTARS – the original Kiwi talent show is coming back for 2021!". TVNZ. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
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