This story was originally published on The Spinoff.
A year-and-a-half ago, beloved local children’s series What Now made the hugest swing of it’s television tenure. After four decades as a live studio show, the series pivoted to be digital-first. YouTube became the primary platform for the show, with short videos being uploaded regularly and a pre-recorded episode packaging it all together still airing every Sunday morning on TVNZ2. “We did a big thing and a brave thing,” says Janine Morrell-Gunn, executive producer of What Now and director of Whitebait Media. “After 42 years on television, it’s been tantamount to moving the Titanic.”
