New funding for NZ children’s TV programmes

Tuesday 11 Oct 2011
NZ On Air today announced investments of over NZ$14 million (US$10.9 million) in New Zealand children’s television programming to screen in 2012.
The organisation, an independent government funding agency, said it was critical that there was significant programming on New Zealand screens which reflected the country’s culture and identity to its young people.

“NZ On Air has an annual funding round dedicated to children’s programming to ensure sufficient focus is placed on this important audience,” said NZ On Air chief executive Jane Wrightson.

“We are very pleased we’ve been able to renew some excellent programmes that have been embraced by their audiences. These include ‘What Now’, ‘I Am TV’ and ‘The Erin Simpson Show’ for TV2 audiences, ‘Sticky TV’ for FOUR audiences, and the relative newcomer ‘Tiki Tour’ for TV2 preschool audiences,” she said.

Twelve children’s programmes in total have received funding, representing over 450 hours of programming for diverse young audiences.

“Without NZ On Air funding, New Zealand children’s programming would not be present on our screens,” said Ms Wrightson. “This year competition was intense and there were several other projects we would have liked to have supported if the funds had been available.”