KEY POINTS:
The popular TV3 comedy-drama show Outrageous Fortune has won funding of almost $10 million from New Zealand On Air for a third season.
NZ On Air acting chief executive Bernard Duncan said the agency had committed $9,970,000 to a further 22 one-hour episodes of the show about a West Auckland criminal family.
"The programme has been very successful and it's a measure of our confidence in it that the board has given the thumbs-up to a third series."
NZ On Air has also agreed to fund TVNZ's proposal for a serial called The Point. Mr Duncan hoped it would be as successful as Shortland Street.
NZ On Air has agreed to $8.3 million for the production of 230 half-hour episodes.
Another drama to get backing is Filmworks' The Strength of Water. The 100-minute film is about a Maori boy coping with the death of his twin.
NZ On Air agreed to contribute $500,000 to the production, which is jointly supported by the Film Commission and German investors. The film will screen on Maori Television.
Finance was also awarded for another six-part series of bro'Town ($1,550,000) and seven episodes of The Unauthorised History of New Zealand ($295,514).
- NZPA
