Radio with Pictures

Radio with Pictures
Genre	Music
Creative director(s)	Alan Thurston, Peter Grattan, Tony Holden, Peter Blake, Simon Morris, Brent Hansen
Presented by	Barry Jenkin Phil O'Brien Karyn Hay Dick Driver
Opening theme	1970s: "Frankenstein" by Edgar Winter (middle part with drums only.) Early 1980s: "Hermann Hiess Er" by Nina Hagen Mid-1980s: "This Heaven" by Marginal Era Late 1980s: "Calamity" by Peter Dasent
Ending theme	1980s and 1990s: "Rock A Bye Baby" by Fetus Productions
Country of origin	New Zealand
Production
Camera setup	Multi-Camera
Running time	one hour
Release
Original network	TVNZ (1976-1986) then 1986-1989, 1991.
Picture format	PAL
Original release	Late 1976, South Pacific Television – 1991

Radio with Pictures was an early music video program, airing on New Zealand broadcaster TV2 (later South Pacific Television) from 1976 to 1989. "RadPix" aired as a weekly, late night series featuring adult and alternative music.

In 1976, TV2 producer Peter Grattan coordinated pop clips being supplied for no charge by record companies, some of them being unsuitable for the children's or prime time schedule (from artists such as The Tubes, Sex Pistols, Stranglers, etc.) With over sixty 'unusable' pop clips, Grattan proposed a late night "radio with pictures" concept to then-Head of Programs Kevan Moore. Moore was a former producer of The C'mon Show, a popular music series in the 1960s, and had included pop clips in that program.

The concept was approved and the first thirteen half-hour episodes aired from September through December 1976. RadPix had no budget and thus no host; instead, imaginative Terry Gilliam-style graphics linked the various pop clips (in later series, similar graphics, by Fane Flaws, were used as part of the opening credits). The first clip to play was Steve Miller's Fly Like an Eagle and the first show also featured New Zealand band Red Hot Peppers (not to be confused with the Red Hot Chili Peppers). Subsequently, a NZ-based act was featured every week and to end the first series, Grattan produced a Keepin' It Kiwi special with ten NZ acts. RadPix also became an avenue for international acts such as Bob Marley, Little Feat, Blondie and Rainbow to gain fans, promote tours and sell records.

RadPix eventually achieved cult status, and record companies also took note: artists aired on RadPix would often see substantially increased sales. Also watching was Mike Nesmith (of The Monkees fame); in November 1976, he saw the show in a motel while on a solo NZ tour. Seeing the concept's potential, he returned to America and shared the idea with Robert Pittman. The result was, ultimately, MTV.

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