22 March 2006
NZ On Air Backs Comedy and Music Shows
A second series of the irreverent television satire, The Unauthorised History of New Zealand, is to be made with the
help of NZ On Air funding.
The series, produced by Great Southern Television, debuted on TV2 in August last year to critical and audience acclaim
for its off-beat approach to New Zealand’s history.
The show mixed archive footage with a gently satirical commentary drawing reviewers’ praise like “an unending delight”
and “history lessons have never been so funny”.
The same team will make the second series, notably Jeremy Wells as presenter and Paul Casserly as senior writer,
producer and director.
Another entertaining repeat to receive funding is Top of the Pops 2006, which provides a platform for the live
performance of New Zealand music.
The show moves from TV2 to TV3 and C4, and 48 one-hour episodes are to be produced in partnership with Satellite Media
and the BBC.
A teen drama series, Karaoke High, has received funding for 13 half-hour episodes for broadcast on TV2.
Aimed at 9 – 14 year olds and set around a School of the Arts, Karaoke High follows the journeys of six teenagers as
they survive rigorous auditions to put in the hard slog to realise their dreams of making music, song and dance.
TVNZ is producing the series at its Avalon Studios in Wellington.
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Unauthorised History of New Zealand $288,832
7 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVNZ
Producer: Philip Smith
Great Southern Television
Top of the Pops 2006 $550,000
48 x 1 hour
Broadcaster: TV3 & C4
Producer: Shelley Quinn
Satellite Media
Karaoke High $2,500,054
13 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVNZ
Producer: Tina McLaren
TVNZ