There's growing calls among industry experts for the Government to give NZ-produced reality shows a funding boost.

Local versions of shows like Married at First Sight and The Block currently don't get the 40 percent screen production rebate available to other programs - and Kiwi TV broadcasters are hoping to turn that around.

SPADA President Irene Gardiner says these shows were originally funded by advertising revenue - which has dried up in recent years.

"What's happened in our local industry is because of years and years of the big tech-ers operating here without regulation - advertising revenue has massively reduced and the spend that the big networks have for local content has basically gone down."

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There's growing calls among industry experts for the Government to give NZ-produced reality shows a funding boost.
Local versions of shows like Married at First Sight and The Block currently don't get the 40 percent screen production rebate available to other programs - and Kiwi TV broadcasters are hoping to turn that around.
SPADA President Irene Gardiner says these shows were originally funded by advertising revenue - which has dried up in recent years.
"What's happened in our local industry is because of years and years of the big tech-ers operating here without regulation - advertising revenue has massively reduced and the spend that the big networks have for local content has basically gone down."
LISTEN ABOVE

With a straight down the middle approach, Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive on Newstalk ZB delivers the very latest news and views to New Zealanders as they wrap up their day.

Heather du Plessis-Allan Drive

Irene Gardiner: SPADA President on the calls for the Government to help fund Kiwi reality shows

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/7784f840-c291-422a-924b-ad9000bbad71/clips/dfe52fa1-700d-46ad-adab-b2c90069fe2f/transcript