TVNZ Blacksand

What TVNZ Blacksand does

TVNZ Blacksand is the in-house creative and production division of Television New Zealand (TVNZ), New Zealand's state-owned national broadcaster, operating from Auckland and Wellington since 2012. The team delivers end-to-end commercial content services — creative development, video production, digital content, editing, graphic design, sound design, and 2D/3D animation and augmented reality — under a single integrated production roof.

The business primarily serves New Zealand enterprise brands and government clients across food retail (Woolworths, New World, The Warehouse, Pak'nSave), FMCG, automotive (Ford, Kia, Jaguar), banking and insurance (ANZ, BNZ, AA Insurance), telecommunications, and public-sector bodies (Electoral Commission, Fire & Emergency NZ, Ministry of Social Development). Notable output includes award-winning campaigns (Beacon Awards 2019 and 2022), New Zealand's first live prime-time commercial for Skinny, VR experiences including the Shortland Street VR tour that reached approximately 10,000 attendees, and reusable content formats such as DIY Designer.

Revenue is generated through project-based professional services fees billed to brand advertisers and government clients. Go-to-market is sales-led, leveraging TVNZ's broadcaster platform and direct relationships with brand managers via the company website and a creative brief intake process. The entity operates as a division within the state-owned broadcaster rather than as a standalone, investor-backed company, with no disclosed external funding or independent financial reporting. Geographic focus is domestic New Zealand, with an emerging line-production service offering aimed at international productions seeking NZ locations.

Name

TVNZ Blacksand

Legal name

Blacksand

Website

https://blacksand.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TVNZ Blacksand is the in-house creative and production division of New Zealand's national broadcaster TVNZ, delivering end-to-end video production, animation, AR, and VR content for NZ enterprise brands and government clients via project-based professional services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Video Production Services

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Production (51211), Motion Picture and Video Production (512110), Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer Brand & Recruitment Video (MPADAEAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Content Studio & Creative Resourcing (In-house/Embedded Teams) (BPAFAIAJ), Creator Content Production & Co-Creation Studios (BPAFAHAD)

Keywords

• Video production services
• Creative advertising agency
• Broadcast content production
• Commercial video production
• Animation and motion graphics

Headquarters

HQ city

Auckland

HQ country

New Zealand

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Creative and Production Services: Blacksand generates revenue by providing creative development, video production, digital content, editing, graphic design, sound design, and animation services to brands and advertisers. Services are provided on a project basis for clients seeking commercial content production in New Zealand.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

TVNZ Blacksand is TVNZ's in-house creative and production team that creates and produces commercial video content, advertising campaigns, animations, VR experiences, and digital content for brands, advertisers, and government clients in New Zealand. Services span the full production lifecycle from creative concept development and scripting through filming, editing, post-production, graphic design, and sound design, delivered under one roof with access to TVNZ's broadcast platform and talent pool.

Product overview

TVNZ Blacksand is TVNZ's in-house creative and production team offering a comprehensive suite of content creation services. The portfolio centers on commercial video production, creative development, animation (2D/3D/AR), and VR experiences. Key products include the DIY Designer multi-brand format, internal communications video services, and line production for international shoots. Services encompass full production from concept through post-production including editing, graphic design, and sound design, all delivered under one roof with access to TVNZ talent and facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Video Production Full-service commercial video production for television and digital platforms, including scripting, filming, editing, and post-production under one roof. Served brands like Woolworths, ANZ, Ford, and KFC.
• Creative Services Strategic creative development for brand storytelling, campaign concepts, and advertising messaging across multiple channels. Includes campaign ideation and conceptual development for major NZ brands.
• Animation and Motion Graphics 2D and 3D animation, augmented reality, and motion graphics production showcased in the Blacksand Reels and Animation portfolio. Used for branded content and digital campaigns.
• Virtual Reality (VR) Experiences VR content creation including the Shortland Street VR experience (with Mercury Energy) and the Escape My House fire safety VR simulation for Fire and Emergency NZ.
• Line Production Services New Zealand-based line production including location scouting, local fixer services, casting, customs and freight, and post-production. Offers live secure link capability for real-time communication with stakeholders, for international productions shooting in NZ.
• DIY Designer Format Multi-brand advertising format providing DIY tips, tricks, and product advice for home improvement brands, sold as a recurring branded content slot.
• Internal Communications Video Corporate internal communications video storytelling services to engage staff and drive company culture for enterprise and government clients.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approx 10,000 people attended the Shortland Street VR nationwide tour
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers50 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Mercury EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlacksand partnered with Mercury Energy for the Shortland Street VR experience to celebrate Shorty Street's 25th Year anniversary. This was a first for the show and the world, bringing fans the first ever Shortland Street Virtual Reality experience featuring Mercury Energy branding.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Film Construction: NZ commercial production company producing TV commercials, branded content, and digital campaigns for NZ and international brands. Closely comparable as a dedicated commercial video production house competing for the same advertiser briefs.
• Colenso BBDO: Auckland-based creative agency that produces award-winning TVC, digital and integrated campaigns for major NZ and global brands (e.g., Pepsi, Mars, ANZ). Directly comparable as a full-service NZ creative/advertising production house competing for the same enterprise brand budgets Blacksand serves.
• DDB New Zealand: Auckland-headquartered creative agency producing TVC, digital, and content campaigns for NZ and global brands. Overlaps directly with Blacksand on commercial/branded video production and creative development services.
• FCB New Zealand: NZ creative network producing TVC, digital, social and content campaigns for major advertisers. Comparable in service mix and enterprise client focus to Blacksand.
• Special Group New Zealand: Independently-owned NZ creative agency producing award-winning TVC, digital and content campaigns for major NZ brands. Comparable in creative-led, award-recognized positioning and similar enterprise client mix.
• Ogilvy New Zealand: Wellington/Auckland creative agency producing integrated advertising, content and brand campaigns for major NZ enterprise clients. Direct competitor for creative development and branded content mandates.
• Saatchi & Saatchi New Zealand: Full-service NZ creative agency producing TV commercials, digital content, and integrated campaigns for major NZ advertisers. Competes for the same enterprise client set (FMCG, retail, government) as Blacksand.

Emerging players

• Swell NZ: NZ digital/content production shop producing branded content, animation, and social-first campaigns. Comparable on animation and digital content production, with partial overlap on enterprise brand clients but smaller scale.
• Weta Workshop / Weta FX: NZ-based world-leading VFX, animation and immersive experience studio with AR/VR capabilities. Overlaps with Blacksand on the animation, AR and VR creative/technical axis, and on NZ line production for international productions, but operates at much larger scale and global footprint.

Others

• Screentime NZ:

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/blacksand_tvnz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/tvnz-blacksand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TVNZ Blacksand