TV3 gets $1.6m but grouses it's half the funding of TV One's NZ's Got Talent

NZ on Air has today confirmed the New Zealand version of The X Factor, to screen on TV3, will receive $1.6 million in taxpayer funding.

New Zealand's Got Talent, which screens on TV One, received the same amount in public funding.

But Mediaworks spokeswoman Rachel Lorimer was quick to point out that the X Factor's funding covers 30 one-hour episodes, while NZ's Got Talent's grant is spread across just 14 one-hour episodes - meaning TVNZ effectively receives double the funding.

Ms Lorimer said the full X Factor budget was confidential, but that NZ on Air was a "minority funder."

Sony Music will partner with MediaWorks for the local version of the X-Factor.

Mediaworks says the US version of the show, whose judges include creator Simon Cowell and Britney Spears, is one of TV3's highest rating shows. The latest US series began screening in NZ this week.

The local version fo the franchise will screen next year.

Labour Communications and IT spokeswoman Clare Curran slammed the decision, and the earlier NZ's Got Talent funding.

“NZ on Air is clearly bowing to pressure from the two major commercial networks to fund “commercially attractive” programme content at the expensive of its many other public service broadcasting responsibilities," Ms Curran said this afternoon.

"There are plenty of other original New Zealand arts, entertainment, prime-time projects begging for NZ on Air funding - and they should be given priority."

Chris Keall
Fri, 14 Sep 2012

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TV3 gets $1.6m but grouses it's half the funding of TV One's NZ's Got Talent

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