The Zone (Australian TV program)
| Company type | Television series |
|---|---|
| Industry | Television, Video games |
| Founded | April 30, 1994 |
| Defunct | July 1, 1995 |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Headquarters | Australia |
| Owner | Beyond Television Productions |
The Zone was a video game-focused television series from Australia that aired on the Nine Network during Saturday mornings at 8:30AM AEST between 30 April 1994 and 1 July 1995. Created by Beyond Television Productions, the show was mainly presented by Adam Reilly.
Overview
Presented in a magazine-style format, The Zone began with Reilly introducing the weekly segments, which included gaming news, previews, critiques, TV skits, and explanations of gaming terminology. The program also offered game strategies, cheat codes, and competitions for viewers. With primary sponsorship from Sega Ozisoft, it covered a variety of popular gaming platforms of the era such as the Super Nintendo, Sega Mega Drive, PC, arcade machines, and the 3DO.
Typically, two hosts delivered review and preview segments, many of whom were Sydney-based freelancers linked to publications like Hyper and Gamestar. Although Amos Wong contributed to several magazines, he received criticism from readers of Nintendo Magazine System for reviewing Sega titles. Adam Reilly was originally recruited for music contributions but became the host following a successful audition; he eventually departed to focus on his music career. Hosting duties were then assumed by producer Justin "Muttlee" Mansour alongside actress Megan Connolly.
Episodes were filmed on Mondays for broadcast on Saturdays. Due to its 'G' classification and early morning slot, the show was restricted from displaying gameplay footage of titles rated above 'M', including games like Doom and Mortal Kombat II. As a workaround, presenters performed reenactments of gameplay scenes. Operating on a limited budget, production reportedly took place in a repurposed storage area.
The series was discontinued in 1995 after one year on air; the precise reasons for cancellation have not been publicly disclosed. The final episode acknowledged the show's end with humor; however, two episodes remained unaired.
Legacy
Because of licensing complications and modest demand in the market, an official release of The Zone on DVD or other home media formats is unlikely. Nevertheless, some enthusiasts and former production members have uploaded episodes to YouTube, often derived from VHS recordings of the original broadcasts.