EQ Media Group appoints new NZ head of unscripted development

Amy Schaeffer

EQ Media Group Australia & New Zealand has appointed Amy Schaeffer as head of unscripted development in New Zealand.

Schaeffer is a researcher and writer who has worked across unscripted projects including Crypto Bros, How Did You Do That? and The Garden Pantry, with a background in television presenting, audience analysis and communications.

Based in EQ Media Group’s Auckland office, she will work alongside executive producer Richard Fletcher in New Zealand and general manager/exec producer Brendan Dahill in Sydney.

Recent international productions launched by EQ Media Group’s New Zealand production company include upcoming Cooks on Fire for TVNZ and Griff’s Canadian Adventure for Channel 4, BBC First Canada, Eden and ABC Australia.

Other titles include Rhys Darby Big in Japan for TVNZ and Network 10 Australia, This Could Go Anywhere for Prime and Under the Vines, a comedy-drama co-produced with Libertine Pictures for AMC Networks’ Acorn TV and TVNZ.

“The local market is ever adapting and the unscripted production space is incredibly strong as reflected in high audience engagement,” said Schaeffer. “We want to see more Kiwi faces on screen which drives a demand for Kiwi stories. I am excited to be able to create more local stories for both domestic and international audiences and have a passion to see New Zealand content succeed on both local and global stages.”

 Fletcher added: “We are delighted to have Amy join the team in New Zealand and this appointment highlights EQ Media Group’s commitment to bringing foreign investment from international co-production partners to develop Kiwi stories and tell them to the world. We can’t wait to expand both the scope and the global reach of our local unscripted production slate.”