$1.77 million to keep rival news shows on air

TVNZ Q+A host Guyon Espiner. Photo / Supplied

NZ On Air says it will continue to support rival current affairs shows Q+A and The Nation next year, investing $1.77 million in them.

Chief executive Jane Wrightson said the programmes, which air on TVNZ and TV3 respectively, deserved funding as both aimed to be the best and first with current affairs stories. "That competitive spirit creates great results for New Zealand viewers."

TVNZ will receive $798,000 for 38 episodes of Q+A and production company Front Page $972,000 for 36 episodes of The Nation for TV3.

The funding will come from the agency's platinum fund, created last year to support programmes which have something important to say about New Zealand but cannot be made without public funding, she said.

"Public funding allows such programmes to exist outside the demands of commercial prime time. Each programme provides a special opportunity for thoughtful interviews with leading news makers, accompanied by insightful analysis."

- NZPA