Homegrown Television Ltd was formed in early 2002 by Jude Dobson.

 

Jude has been a presenter on television screens in New Zealand since April 3rd 1989, starting with Sale of the Century, as co-host. When Sale moved to TV3 four years later, Jude stayed with TVNZ and started presenting various lifestyle programmes. Starting with Alive and Kicking with Ricki Morris, she then presented Body and Soul, Open Home, and then then the first of the Friday night one hour home/garden and lifestyle shows which still continue in various forms today. The first was Town and Country in 1995, which then morphed into NZ Living. By the beginning of 1997 Jude had her own magazine show 5.30 with Jude airing every week night. After three years it moved to 5pm, where it remained for another 2 years, and was re-named 5 o'clock with Jude Dobson.

 

When this series finished at the end of 2001, Jude pitched an idea to TVNZ for a magazine style series with content pertinent to parents, called Homegrown, which she wanted to make herself. With the acceptance of that series, television production company Homegrown Television was born. Although Jude produced and presented the Homegrown series, she now primarily produces and narrates later productions.  Co- producing with Jan McIntosh (a producer and director of over 25 years experience, whom Jude met while doing 5.30 with Jude) they continue to produce quality programmes with well researched information, which to date have been aimed at those looking after the most vulnerable members of our society- our children. With the aim of supporting and educating parents as to the very important role they have to play in raising the next generation, Jude is actively involved in various child welfare issues. She is a mother of three - two girls and a boy, and Jan is a mum to two sons.