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."
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Comments and questions4
Much as it pains me to agree with Clare Curran this and the earlier decision to fund NZ's Got Talent represent an appalling waste of public money.
This is no more than a transfer of wealth from the NZ tax payer to the overseas developers of these downmarket "franchises". I am sure we could develop similar downmarket TV formats of our own for a lot less.
As soon as any article mentions the Labour party speaking out about anything I lose all interest, they are such a totally inept bunch of fringe loonies these days. God help is if they ever get back in to power, it would be worse than what we have now.
Looking at any other country, the 'Got Talent' programs are crap, they highlight the many idiots who audition and produce nothing that becomes famous. The X Factor produce people who make a bit of money like One Direction. Great to see someone from Labor is still making these funding calls. OK, you've got me, they are all shit, but the Got Talent shows are way shitterer.
For once i would love Mediaworks to promote the merits of their own product without feeling the need to slam TVNZ's in the process, presumably with the aim of making thier own look better? If you have to sell the virtue of your product through running down the competition, that doesn't really say alot for your faith in said product. $1.6 million is $1.6 million, to say it equates to more to TVNZ because they are producing less episodes is pathetic and actually ridiculous. Perhaps Mediaworks are just annoyed that TVNZ beat them to the punch with a locally made talent show, but seriously it's childish and petty to constantly be out in the media running down the opposition. How about promoting the positives in your own company rather than essentially saying 'We're cr*p, but they're worse"...