Brand New with Tried-and-True

29 October 2008

Media Release

Brand New with Tried-and-True

Funding allocated at NZ On Air's October meeting will ensure the needs of a widely diverse range of special interest television audiences are met in the year ahead.

Almost $7.8 million dollars of NZ On Air's Special Interest television budget was allocated at the October meeting, and that funding will support more than 186 hours of programming.

"The breadth of programming on offer is huge," said NZ On Air Chief Executive, Jane Wrightson. "Along with our returning series, we're pleased to be able to support a brand new series that will focus on migrant and refugee communities settling in New Zealand."

“Minority Voice introduces us to New Zealanders rarely seen on screen,” Ms Wrightson said. “Each week, through a collection of personal stories, a cross-section of migrant and refugee groups explore issues and share their experiences as new New Zealanders.

“It promises to be a fascinating insight into what it’s like to resettle your family within an entirely different culture.”

Returning to the screen next year are the highly successful series Attitude, Tagata Pasifika, Pacific Beat Street and Asia Downunder.

"We welcome the return of specialist series that have found a real resonance with the communities they serve," said Ms Wrightson.

The special interest stable is rounded out with the renewed funding for Rural Delivery, Praise Be and My God, along with the Young Farmer Contest and English subtitling for the Māori children’s show Pukana.

Jane Wrightson said that these types of programmes would not proceed in a commercial environment. NZ On Air ensures they do proceed, and that they screen on free-to-air channels that reach a nation-wide audience.

"We also make sure that they are available for rescreening on regional television channels at no charge after their first free-to-air broadcast, and that means an even larger audience has the opportunity to see them," said Ms Wrightson.

ENDS

Funding details:

Minority Voice $354,761
10 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVOne
Producer: Julia Parnell
ButoBase Ltd

Attitude 2009 $1,600,000
40 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVOne
Producer: Robyn Scott-Vincent
RSVP Productions

Tagata Pasifika 2009 $1,445,317
52 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVOne
Producer: Stephen Stehlin
TVNZ

Pacific Beat Street 2009 $1,310,702
36 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TV3
Producer: Stan Wolfgramm, Julie Smith
Drum Productions

Asia Downunder 2009 $1,268,148
40 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVOne
Producer: Melissa Lee
Asia Vision

Rural Delivery $776,571
30 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVOne
Producer: Tracy Nodwell, Sarah Nixon
Showdown Productions

Praise Be 2009 $494,898
49 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TV One
Producer: Ron Pledger
TVNZ

My God 4 $410,000
10 x ½ hour
Broadcaster: TVOne
Producer: Amanda Evans
Pacific Screen

Young Farmer Contest 2009 $60,000
1 x 1 hour
Broadcaster: TVOne
Producer: Mark Leishman, Jo Raymond
Dexterity Productions

Pukana Subtitles 2009 $71,639
52 x 1 hour
Broadcaster: TV3
Producer: Nicole Hoey, Pania Papa
Cinco Cine Film Productions

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