First Platinum Fund projects announced

Broadcast funding agency NZ On Air today announced the first projects to receive funding from the new Platinum Fund.

The Platinum Fund was established in March this year to stimulate new high-quality locally made television programmes.

The fund is available for projects to screen on any of the six free-to-air broadcasters. NZ On Air’s Board met this week to consider the first Platinum Funding round.

“The priority this year is for drama, documentary and current affairs programmes that are demonstrably different from anything we’ve funded before,” said NZ On Air chief executive Jane Wrightson.

“This is an aspirational fund and we are setting the bar high.

“We received a good range of proposals, and have decided to go ahead with funding for development or production for a number of projects.

“We have provided funding for the development of several prime time drama concepts. In early 2010 we will announce which of these will go on to receive production funding.

“We have also allocated funding for two current affairs series, which will screen in 2010. TV One’s Q&A will be joined by a new programme for TV3 called The Nation.”

“Providing for two studio-based interview series, both different in format and style, will bring excellent choice for New Zealand audiences,” she said.

Ms Wrightson said it was likely that both series would screen on Sundays, but at different times. NZ On Air will assess the success of both series towards the end of 2010.

“We will look at audience feedback, quality of journalism and whether these funded programmes are clearly different from other current affairs programmes. Depending on this assessment, both, neither or just one series could receive funding in the future.”

Platinum Funding has also been allocated for four compelling historical documentaries for TV One (applications to be called for) and an arts documentary for prime time screening on Maori Television.

NZ On Air is still finalising the amount of funding for each programme. Final funding decisions will be released in around two weeks.