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Kia ora tatou
It feels like a fair bit of water has gone under the bridge since the December funding round and newsletter. In this newsletter we have the results from the March funding round with some terrific new projects now greenlit. More on that later.
You may also have noticed we've been in the news a little more than we're used to. I'd like to provide a quick update on a couple of matters.
On the discussion around the scheduling of the Inside Child Poverty doco, let me say first that we were pleased to fund the documentary as a challenging authorial piece on an important subject. No aspect of the issue, from the NZ On Air Board's perspective, related to the content of this programme. NZ On Air has not shied away from well-argued authorial docos in the past, and this won't change.
The question that was raised, investigated, and then put aside, was whether the scheduling of this project close to an election might be seen as political interference on NZ On Air's part. The Board received advice on this matter, has agreed not to pursue further action and so, from our perspective, the case is closed.
Our offer to support NZ's Got Talent also raised some eyebrows. It's a good discussion, because there are some competing principles at play. But it comes down to our core remit: providing a diverse range of local content for New Zealand audiences. NZ On Air has supported entertainment shows over the years when broadcasters were interested in giving New Zealand performers a prime time opportunity, and when the business case stacked up.
Broadcaster interest over the years has been a bit patchy, in part because of the production costs and in part because of the risk. From Showcase, Young Entertainers and Popstars in the 1990s, to NZ Idol in the 2000s, NZ On Air agreed to help when it was clear programmes like this with a New Zealand flavour weren't on screen.
And right now they're not. NZ On Air has agreed to contribute up to $1.6 million for 13 episodes. We have stipulated that our contribution will not exceed 50% of the production budget; and the format fee will be paid by TVNZ, not us.
Our funding will also help contestants from right across New Zealand get a fair go by enabling the series to travel. We hope we'll be contributing to some brilliant New Zealand talent being discovered and appreciated by a large national audience.
Some of the discussion is around the supposed 'commercial' nature of the programme. If 'commercial' means profitable, then the series is clearly not that. Good ratings for local content rarely translate into bottom line profit although they do, of course, help drive the night. But if 'commercial' means popular, as we think some of the show's critics mean, then we will never shy away from supporting programmes that lots of people want to watch. That's part of our diversity mantra: we don't expect everyone to like every funding decision, but we do try to provide something for everyone.
Does that mean we are satisfied with everything in TV-land? Not at all, and we think the current debates around broadcasting are a healthy sign. There's always room to improve, and it's always been NZ On Air's job to chip away.
We're going to be doing some serious thinking around documentary, as we're worried we're not seeing enough diversity there. We're going to keep raising the bar with Platinum Fund projects as the flag bearers for quality. We look to Prime and Maori Television to provide important programming opportunities that can't or won't be supported by the major networks. And we may well look to wider digital platforms if we can't get the range of content we seek.
As we always say, NZ On Air is in the diversity game. See the funding list at the end of the newsletter for newcomers to our stable of great local content.
Cheers,
Jane
Chair Neil Walter retires
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Neil stepped down at the end of February after more than five years as Chair - and promptly flew off on a UNESCO assignment. The Board and staff pay tribute to Neil for his outstanding leadership of NZ On Air. The hurly burly of a stellar diplomatic career naturally set him up well to cope with broadcasting and its personalities and passion. Along with a considerable intellect, Neil's dry humour was a considerable asset both in Board meetings and also on stage when he spoke for us. Broadcasting Minister Craig Foss has also paid tribute to Neil's leadership of the agency. |
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Neil leaves very large shoes to fill and the Minister will announce his successor in due course. In the meantime we're delighted Board member Nicole Hoey has agreed to act as Chair.
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As the second to last meeting of the financial year, March was always going to be constrained given the limited remaining funding. Despite this, some excellent projects have been supported over a range of genres with funding of nearly $3.3m being approved for 24.5 hours of content. Drama The feature film Medicine Woman was supported for TV One. This is an unique story based on a novella by Witi Ihimaera and set in the Ureweras in the 1930s. It has a strong Maori focus and much of the dialogue will be in te reo. Comedy The development of New Zealand comedy continues with a new comedy/drama series for TV One, Agent Anna. Featuring Robyn Malcolm in the lead, this series follows a recent divorcee as she tackles earning a living as a newly qualified real estate agent. A further series of the successful The Jono Project was also supported for TV3.
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Documentary
Three documentary projects were supported including The Prophets for Māori Television. This series, to be hosted by Archdeacon Dr. Hone Kaa, will examine the unique Māori response to Christianity that saw the rise of prophets such as TW Ratana, Te Whiti and Rua Kenana. The Last Ocean, from Peter Young, is a feature documentary that will profile the international campaign to have The Ross Sea declared a Marine reserve. This programme will screen on Prime.
A Platinum Fund documentary, The Forgotten General, was also supported for Prime. Based on the recent book by Jock Vennel, The Forgotten General profiles the exploits of the largely overlooked Major General Sir Andrew Russell, who played a significant role in New Zealand's participation in the First World War.
Two TV One Docs projects were also approved at the meeting including The Year of the Elephant, which follows the rehabilitation of a New Zealand circus elephant. Siege: The Interviews will profile the real people impacted by Jan Molenaar's three day siege in Napier in 2009. This programme will accompany the Platinum Fund drama Siege that was supported last year.
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Children's We also supported coverage of this year's Smokefree Rockquest for screening on FOUR and TV3. 2012 will be the 22nd year this event has been televised and it continues to provide an excellent opportunity for young New Zealand musicians to perform and gain exposure to a wider audience.
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The Local Content Report 2011 has been released. The report measures the level of New Zealand content on the six major free-to-air channels. In 2011, total levels were up slightly on 2010 with increases in the genres of sport and news/current affairs due to the Rugby World Cup and extended coverage of the Canterbury Earthquakes. Hours of local documentary, drama, and comedy also increased. Hours of entertainment, information, Maori and children's drama programming decreased. The full report is available here.
As advised in the last newsletter the majority of our funds have now been committed. The final meeting of the current financial year in June will have very little capacity for considering new projects. Remaining funds are likely to be prioritized for returning and planned programmes.
We are releasing today a review of the results of the first three years of the Platinum Fund. The review highlights that the Platinum Fund has been successful in delivering a range of quality programmes that significant numbers of New Zealanders want to watch. The diversity of the programmes made by a varied pool of producers demonstrates the opportunity the fund presents to support programmes not feasible through the General Television Fund.
Read the review here.
Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of the annual TV Guide People's Choice Best of The Box Awards announced on Thursday. Special mention goes to those winning programmes supported by NZ On Air including;
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Category |
Title |
Entrant |
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Best Actor |
Jay Ryan (Kevin, Go Girls - TV2) |
South Pacific Pictures |
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Best Presenter, General |
Marcus Lush (North - TV1) |
Jam TV |
|
Funniest Person On TV |
Jeremy Corbett (7 Days - TV3) |
TVWorks |
|
Best One Off Documentary |
Inside NZ: Inside Child Poverty - A Special Report (TV3) |
Red Sky Film & Television |
|
Best Kids/Youth Show |
What Now (TV2) |
Whitebait Productions |
|
Best One Off Drama |
Tangiwai (TV1) |
Lippy Pictures |
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Best Comedy |
7 Days (TV3) |
TVWorks |
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Best Reality Series |
Missing Pieces (TV3) |
Eyeworks NZ |
We also acknowledge the following programmes for being nominated as finalists in the 2012 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards.
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Category |
Title |
Entrant |
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Best Writing |
The Almighty Johnsons Series 1 Episode 10 |
South Pacific Pictures |
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|
Direction |
My Wedding And Other Secrets |
South Pacific Pictures |
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Drama |
Nothing Trivial |
South Pacific Pictures |
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Environment & Ecology |
Wild Coasts |
South Pacific Pictures |
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Feature Films |
My Wedding And Other Secrets |
South Pacific Pictures |
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History & Society |
Jesus The Cold Case |
Red Sky Film & Television Ltd |
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Performance |
My Wedding And Other Secrets |
South Pacific Pictures |
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Religious Programs |
Jesus The Cold Case |
Red Sky Film & Television Ltd |
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Glenn will be on annual leave from the end of March through to the end of April. In his absence the TV team of Ben, Teresa and Fiona will continue to do all the work as usual. If you have any queries regarding funding or contracting these should be directed to Ben, payments and producer reports are Teresa's specialty, and Fiona handles sales income and new applications.
We are very pleased to have given the green light to funding for a radio documentary series being played on RDU98.5FM in Christchurch entitled A Flat City: Voices of Christchurch Music. The 13 part series examines the impressions and experiences of the city's creative community following the February 2011 earthquakes. It will cover the emotional, social, creative and financial impact of the quakes on everyone from musicians to venue owners and engineers and features interviews from a long list including The Unfaithful Ways, Truth, Cairo Knife Fight, The Bats and Tom Cosm. The series is playing on Saturdays at 2pm. More details can be found here.
Regional Television DSO Assistance of up to $70,000 each has been granted to Canterbury Television, Channel 9 and TV Rotorua to help them make the switch to digital broadcasting. These channels expect to be offering a digital service before the end of the year. Typically, channels will simulcast their digital transmission alongside their existing analogue service before eventually switching off the analogue.
Community Radio Hamilton received $40,000 from the contestable access radio capital fund to help them move to an FM frequency. CRH was successful in being granted the 89FM frequency in the most recent allocation of non-commercial frequencies. The station is working frantically to fund-raise the additional budget required to move to FM broadcast.
The new Making Tracks music funding scheme was launched in July last year and since then, we have done six funding rounds. Over that time we have taken in 761 applications and have funded 196 projects. Just over half - 53% - of those 196 projects are targeting mainstream media and 47% are aimed at connecting with an audience via alternative platforms and online. And nearly half of those 196 projects(86) are by artists who have never had funding from NZ On Air before and arguably, wouldn't have been able to get funding from NZ On Air under the previous funding regime. That is encouraging, given the reforms last year were aimed a promoting greater diversity and giving opportunities to new and emerging artists.
It is going to be harder for the Radio Broadcasters' Association to deliver on its 20% local music content pledge now that Kiwi FM has dropped its 100% New Zealand music format. Local music content on commercial radio last week was 16.27%, down nearly 2% in the wake of the Kiwi decision. As a result, the other formats - in particular, Pop and Adult Contemporary - are going to have to work harder if the 20% in the RBA Code is to be achieved by the end of the calendar year. Needless to say, we will do what we can to help.
Alternative radio stations in New Zealand help champion difference and diversity in New Zealand music. In the wake of the music policy reforms last year to promote greater diversity, NZ On Air has pressed go on a number of new alternative radio music programmes around the country. Included in the new suite of programmes are the music fan documentary series True Fan on 95bFM Auckland, The Altearoa Breakfast Hit on Thursday mornings on Radio Control in Palmerston North, The Moot Sound on Wellington's Radio Active, RDU Christchurch will air their new show Exposed, Dunedin's Radio One will air a 15-episode series called Just Landed, and George FM step in with a new music feature called The Jump. Expect loads of fresh new and different NZ tunes on the wireless over the coming months via these features.
NZ On Air sent two music staff to the Sounds Aotearoa New Zealand Music Expo in New Plymouth this week. Sounds Aotearoa is a music Industry trade expo, conference, and series of showcases across two days in the lead up to WOMAD. In this, its third year, one of the Sounds Aotearoa seminar panels was Funding Avenues for Contemporary New Zealand Music, which featured Brendan Smyth from NZ On Air talking about our new Making Tracks music funding scheme, alongside delegates from Creative New Zealand, Te Mangai Paho and the NZ Music Commission. Live music showcases over the two-days included Clap Clap Riot, The Nudge, Iva Lamkum, Nga Tae and Scratch 22.
The Digital Content Partnership Fund (DCPF) was established in 2007 as part of NZ On Air's first digital strategy. This was a first step in funding online and mobile content and provided $1m per annum over four years for the creation of new digital content across the various NZ On Air work programmes. 2011 was the 4th year for this fund.
The review notes that 16 diverse projects were funded. They achieved varied levels of success with some conspicuous highlights such as the International Digital Emmy won by Reservoir Hill. There were no projects that were not completed and overall the DCPF provided a valuable opportunity to experiment with funding professionally produced online content. This is an area that is still in the early stages of development internationally.
This review will form part of the background material for a revised Digital Strategy that we are currently working on. It is expected a draft revised strategy will be considered by the Board at the June meeting. Until a new digital strategy is adopted no requests for proposals for online or mobile projects will be issued.
Read the review here.
A get-together is being held at the end of September this year to celebrate 75 years of 3ZB and 50 years of television in Christchurch. More details can be found here.
Actress and radio personality Lee Hatherly passed away in February after a short illness. Most recently she played a small role in the yet to be released NZ On Air funded Two Little Boys. Our thoughts are with her friends and family.
We are very sad to be saying goodbye to our invaluable Assistant
NZ Music Manager David Ridler as he returns to the world of radio.
David is passionate about New Zealand music and has been with
us for four years working tirelessly and enthusiastically to get
more of it on our airwaves. We've all enjoyed working with David
and we wish him all the best in his new role looking after The
Radio Network's music brands including ZM, Classic Hits
and Radio Hauraki in Wellington.
Television Funding Decisions
|
Genre |
Programme |
Total Amount Approved |
No. Of Episodes |
Length of Episodes (minutes) |
|
Production Company |
Channel |
|
Children |
GIRL VS BOY (additional) |
34,600 |
8.0 |
30.0 |
|
KHF Media |
TV 2 |
|
Children |
SMOKEFREE ROCKQUEST 2012 |
301,312 |
6.0 |
30.0 |
|
Satin & Lace Productions |
FOUR |
|
Comedy |
AGENT ANNA |
1,359,850 |
6.0 |
30.0 |
|
Great Southern Television |
TV One |
|
Comedy |
THE JONO PROJECT 3 |
897,364 |
20.0 |
30.0 |
|
TVWorks |
TV3 |
|
Documentary |
THE LAST OCEAN |
80,000 |
1.0 |
90.0 |
|
The Ross Sea Documentary |
Prime |
|
Documentary |
THE PROPHETS |
211,524 |
7.0 |
30.0 |
|
Scottie Productions |
Maori Television |
|
Documentary |
* THE FORGOTTEN GENERAL |
179,971 |
1.0 |
60.0 |
|
Kingfisher Films |
Prime |
|
Drama |
MEDICINE WOMAN |
199,999 |
1.0 |
120.0 |
|
South Pacific Pictures |
TV One |
|
Documentary |
♦ THE YEAR OF THE ELEPHANT |
109,948 |
1.0 |
60.0 |
|
Lippy Pictures |
TV One |
|
Documentary
|
♦ SIEGE: THE INTERVIEWS |
32,437 |
1.0 |
60.0 |
|
Screentime |
TV One |
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* This programme was supported by the NZ On Air Platinum fund ♦ These programmes were funded from TV One Docs |
The Inside NZ Working Group has made the following funding decision for TV3 documentaries:
|
Genre |
Programme |
Total Amount Approved |
No. Of Episodes |
Length of Episodes (minutes) |
|
Production Company |
Channel |
|
Documentary |
YEAR OF THE DRAGON |
tbc |
1.0 |
60.0 |
|
Firehorse |
TV3 |
Radio Programmes Funding Decisions
|
Genre |
Programme |
Total Amount Approved |
No. Of Episodes |
Length of Episodes (minutes) |
|
Channel |
|
Music |
Exposed |
20,000 |
52.0 |
20.0 |
|
RDU 98.5FM |
|
Music |
Just Landed |
20,000 |
15.0 |
60.0 |
|
Radio One |
|
Music |
The Altearoa Breakfast Hit |
9,500 |
50.0 |
120.0 |
|
Radio Control |
|
Music |
The Jump |
20,000 |
960.0 |
5.0 |
|
George FM |
|
Music |
The Moot Sound |
20,000 |
20.0 |
30.0 |
|
Radio Active |
|
Music |
True Fan |
20,000 |
10.0 |
60.0 |
|
95bFM |
|
Special Interest |
Easter 2012 |
15,000 |
1.0 |
720.0 |
|
Newstalk/Radio Sport |
Regional TV DSO Assistance Fund
|
Channel |
Total Amount Approved |
|
Production Company |
|
Canterbury Television Limited |
Up to 70,000 |
|
Canterbury Television |
|
Channel 9 Dunedin TV |
Up to 70,000 |
|
Allied Press |
|
TV Rotorua |
Up to 70,000 |
|
Rotorua Television Trust |
Access Radio Funding Decisions
|
Funding Type |
Region |
Station |
Total Amount Approved |
|
Access Radio Capital Fund |
Waikato/Lakes |
Community Radio Hamilton |
40,000 |
Music Funding Decisions
|
Funding Type |
Artist - Project |
Total Amount Approved |
|
Production Company |
|
NZ Music International |
Awa - Never Never |
5,000 |
|
Awa Music |
|
NZ Music International |
The Thomas Oliver Band |
4,500 |
|
The Licorice Factory |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Artisan Guns - It Pulled You In |
10,000 |
|
Let The People Speak Entertainment |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Avalanche City - Sunset |
10,000 |
|
Avalanche City |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Dead Fools Fiesta - Bedroom Eyes |
6,000 |
|
Bull Run Records |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Dear Time's Waste - Heavy / High |
10,000 |
|
Dear Time's Waste |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
DJ CXL feat J Williams, K.One & TT - Stuck On You |
6,000 |
|
Illegal Musik |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Erakah - Everyday |
6,000 |
|
Nehnes Label Group |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Gemma Copas - Hey Boy |
10,000 |
|
Dryden Street Ltd |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Home Brew - Dedicated To |
10,000 |
|
Young, Gifted & Broke |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Illegal Banditz - Bring Me Back |
10,000 |
|
Illegal Musik |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Julien Dyne feat Ladi6 & Parks - Who Are You |
6,000 |
|
Wonderful Noise |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Junica - Stay |
10,000 |
|
Dryden Street |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Jupiter Project - The Celebration |
10,000 |
|
Jupiter Project |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
K.One - All Over Again |
10,000 |
|
Illegal Musik |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Knives At Noon - Heartache For The Heartbreak |
10,000 |
|
Liberation Music (NZ) |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
L.A. Mitchell - Apple Heart |
10,000 |
|
L.A. Mitchell |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Late Nyte Hype - We All Are |
6,000 |
|
LTPS Music |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Lawrence Arabia - The Listening Times |
6,000 |
|
Honorary Bedouin Records |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Opossom - Blue Meanies |
6,000 |
|
CRS Music Management |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Outsiders - My Answer |
10,000 |
|
Anchorless Records |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Parallel Dance Ensemble - Mind Free |
10,000 |
|
Permanent Vacation |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
PNC - I'll Be On It feat. Awa |
6,000 |
|
Frequency Media Group |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
She's So Rad - Confetti |
10,000 |
|
From The Crate |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Sola Rosa - Spinning Top |
6,000 |
|
Way Up Recordings |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
The Babysitter's Circus - No More |
10,000 |
|
Control Freak Music |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
The Black Seeds - Pippy Pip |
6,000 |
|
The Black Seeds |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
The Eversons - Creepy |
6,000 |
|
Lil Chief Records |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
The Heavy Metal Ninjas - M45 |
10,000 |
|
The Heavy Metal Ninjas |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
The Veils - Train With No Name |
10,000 |
|
Pitch Beast |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Trei feat MC Tali - Homecoming |
6,000 |
|
SOM Music |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - So Good At Being In... |
10,000 |
|
CRS Music Management |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Vince Harder - Far From Here |
6,000 |
|
Illegal Musik |
|
NZ Music Making Tracks |
Von Voin Strum - Shiver Roses |
6,000 |
|
Famous Music |
Printable versionIn this issue...
-
A Note From Our CEO -
New to TV Screens -
Local Content Report -
Funding Constraints -
Platinum Fund Review -
Bouquets -
Television Manager on leave -
A Flat City -
Regional Television and Community Radio -
Making Lots of New Tracks -
A Bit of a Dip -
New Alt Radio Shows -
Sounds Aotearoa -
Digital Content Partnership Fund Review -
Christchurch Broadcasters' Reunion -
Lee Hatherly -
Goodbye and Goodluck -
Funding Decisions March 2012
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