Three programs from Down Under premiere in the US in August, one nationally and two in local markets.
For updates about shows from Australia and New Zealand added to US linear TV and streaming channels throughout the month, see the Down Under TV Viewing Guide.
(For details about the August 2024 premieres of shows from the UK, Canada, Ireland, and countries in Europe and elsewhere, visit The British TV Place, The Euro TV Place, and The Global TV Place.)
Programs and dates are subject to change without prior notice.
Videos below may contain content that is not suitable for everyone.
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NATIONAL PREMIERES
Under the Vines: Season 3 (NZ)
Rebecca Gibney (Wanted, Packed to the Rafters, Halifax: Retribution) and Charles Edwards (The Crown, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Downton Abbey) are back as former Sydney socialite Daisy Monroe and ex-London lawyer Louis Oakley in the third season of this romantic comedy-drama series.
Set in rural New Zealand, the new season follows Daisy and Louis as they continue to run the small Oakley Wines vineyard in Central Otago, while navigating their complicated love lives.
Six months on from the Season 2 finale, Season 3 finds the pair trying to oust William (Mark Mitchinson, Mystery Road, “The Hobbit” films), the mysterious stranger who claims to own half of their vineyard. It seems the annoying shanty-singer’s claim might be legit, so the Oakley crew must get crafty in their bid to oust him — especially as he seems to be ingratiating himself into the lives of their rivals, Don (John Bach, The Sounds) and Marissa (Sara Peirse, Love Me), at Shimmering Lake. But how well will Daisy do after she challenges William, a former professional poker player, to a winner-takes-all game of “Texas Hold ’em”?
On top of all that, Daisy has a ton of other distractions, including wedding plans for her nuptials with David (Kirk Torrance, The Dead Lands), and “heart parent” duties for the impending arrival of Nic (Carrie Green, Wellington Paranormal) and Vic’s (Allan Henry, Our Flag Means Death) twin babies. Then there’s Tippy (Trae Te Wiki, Shortland Street), who doesn’t want to talk about a new change in her life, and Louis, who seems distracted after his rebuffed declaration of love.
Under the Vines: Season 3, an Acorn TV Original series, premieres in the US, Canada, UK (including Northern Ireland), and Australia with two episodes on Monday, August 19, exclusively on Acorn TV. New episodes will drop singly on Mondays through September 16.
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Catch up on Under the Vines Seasons 1-2
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LOCAL/REGIONAL PREMIERES
Bear: Koala Hero (AU)
This documentary follows wildlife activist Tyson Mayr and his team, including Bear, a six-year-old Australian Koolie dog that works as a koala detection dog, as they rescue and rehabilitate injured koalas from burnt-out bushland across Australia. Bear became an international sensation by locating over 100 injured koalas caught in scorched areas left behind by Australia’s 2019-2020 wildfires.
Bear – Koala Hero is confirmed for airing on or after Thursday, August 1, on the following public TV stations and state/regional networks: Idaho Public Television, Kentucky Educational Television (KET), KLRU, KRCB, KRSU, KUEN, WHYY, WIPB, PBS Wisconsin, WNED, WNEO, WOSU, WPBS, WPTD, WPTO, WSBE, WSKG, and WyomingPBS.
Deception: World War II (AU)
Through the use of archive footage and expert interviews, this four-part docuseries explores stories of subterfuge, covert operations, and countermeasures used to deadly effect by both sides of WWII — from propaganda disinformation campaigns and daring acts of espionage behind enemy lines, to the creation of fictional armies. Tracking six years of conflict, the program picks apart various wartime operations and looks at the men and women who managed to fool entire governments and armies.
Deception: World War II is confirmed for airing on or after Thursday, August 1, on the following public TV stations and state/regional networks: Idaho Public Television, Iowa PBS, Kentucky Educational Television (KET), KENW, KLRU, KQEH, KRSU, KWSU, PBS North Carolina, WBGU, WGBH, WITF, WNED, and WSBE.
NON-PREMIERE PROGRAMS BEING ADDED TO STREAMING SERVICES
Far North (NZ)
Inspired by the true story of New Zealand’s largest meth bust, this crime comedy-drama series follows a Tongan-Australian gang, whose lucrative drug deal with a global cartel goes awry, leaving them stranded with 500kg of meth and a boatload of lies. In their increasingly desperate pursuit of their ultimate payday, they unwittingly involve an ordinary Kiwi couple — pesky 70-year-old Māori diesel mechanic Ed (Temuera Morrison, The Mandalorian, My Life Is Murder) and his aqua-aerobics instructing wife, Heather (Robyn Malcolm, Black Bird, Harrow). Amidst the absurdity, Ed and Heather must navigate treacherous waters, hoping to both thwart the gang and survive the ludicrous ordeal.
Far North begins streaming Monday, August 19, on Acorn TV and its digital channels, including Acorn TV on Prime Channels.
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