Media Release for immediate distribution

10 December 2010

TV Current Affairs series confirmed

Highly regarded current affairs programmes Q+A and The Nation will return to New Zealand television screens next year, with funding from NZ On Air.

The funding agency announced today it will continue supporting the two programmes through its special Platinum Fund.

NZ On Air chief executive Jane Wrightson said TVNZ will receive $798,000 to produce 38 episodes of Q+A. Front Page Ltd will receive $972,000 to produce 36 episodes of The Nation for TV3.

“Both series provide an important point of difference for television current affairs,” Ms Wrightson said. “Public funding allows such programmes to exist outside the demands of commercial prime time. Each programme provides a special opportunity for thoughtful interviews with leading news makers, accompanied by insightful analysis.”

Each programme aims to be the first and the best with stories that matter That competitive spirit creates great results for New Zealand viewers.

“The producers of Q+A say that their programme aims to be the country’s political show of record,” said Ms Wrightson. “The makers of The Nation are aiming to build on the success of their inaugural year and, alongside political stories, will extend into longer-form interviews and taped items to provide even more context for the stories they are covering,” she said.

NZ On Air’s Platinum Fund supports high quality television programmes that have something important to say about New Zealand and cannot be made without public funding. The Fund was created in 2009 and this is the second year these programmes have received support.

ENDS

Funding Details

The Nation 2011
Broadcaster: MediaWorks
Producer: Richard Harman
Front Page Ltd $972,000

Q+A 2011
Broadcaster: TVNZ
Producer: Tim Watkin
TVNZ Ltd $798,000

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