-
1 week ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
Warner Bros Discovery-owned New Zealand broadcaster Three has commissioned crime drama series Ms X from Dynamic Television, South Pacific Pictures and Plus6Four Entertainment. The 8×45′ series will also be available on streamer ThreeNow and is slated to be broadcast as part of Three’s 2026 slate. The series is scheduled to go into production in early June, on location in New Zealand. Australian actress Melissa George (The Mosquito Coast, The Slap) will lead the cast.
-
1 week ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
The BBC in the UK has acquired the second season of New Zealand comedy series Homebound 3.0, produced by Kevin & Co Productions. The original 8×30’ series was created and developed by New Zealand/Chinese comedian Sam Wang, who also plays the lead. The series had a long development with Wang initially pitching the idea at the SPAPA conference’s South Pacific Pictures Big Pitch competition in 2019, which he won.
-
1 week ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
Malaysian broadcaster Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has acquired the rights for Australian children’s series Ready, Steady, Wiggle! distributed by ABC Commercial. The deal will see RTM broadcast seasons four to seven of the children’s programme expanding the global audience reach of the reinvigorated Wiggles format which has been in production for over three decades. The Wiggles’ expansion into Asia follows long-term success in Australia, North America, and the UK.
-
1 week ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
The New Zealand screen sector has praised the legacy of former TVNZ commissioner, NZ On Air board member and television presenter Andrew Shaw, who died on May 24 aged 68 after a lengthy illness. Shaw began his career as a teenage performer on TVNZ in the 1970s, hosting children’s show Hey Hey It’s Andy, and evolved into a producer, director and executive commissioner with the network.
-
1 week ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
Screen Producers Australia (SPA) is agitating for urgent policy intervention from the newly formed Australian government following last week’s release of the Australian Communications and Media Authority’s (ACMA) annual findings in the Commercial TV Program Expenditure Report.
-
1 week ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
Wesley Enoch has been appointed acting chair of national arts funding body Creative Australia after founding chair Robert Morgan prematurely stepped down from his role, one year earlier than his inaugural five-year term. Morgan was due to serve until August 2026 after being appointed by the government in July 2021. Australian Arts minister Tony Burke announced that Creative Australia deputy chair Wesley Enoch will step in as acting chair until a permanent replacement is confirmed.
-
2 weeks ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
Australian public broadcaster the ABC has officially appointed Kelly Williams to the newly created role of director of First Nations strategy. Williams has a 36-year management and editorial history with the broadcaster and most recently served as head of indigenous, diversity and inclusion. She was appointed acting director of First Nations strategy last October following a critical report into racism at the organisation, titled Listen Loudly, Act Strongly.
-
2 weeks ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
Australian commercial television networks have dropped their investment in Australian programming by A$50m (US$32m) across the last financial year, although spend on children’s content has increased. The latest statistics from the Australian regulatory authority ACMA show a decrease in annual investment in local content from A$1.67bn the previous year to A$1.62bn during the 2023/24 financial year.
-
2 weeks ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is partnering production and distribution companies in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand on a global initiative aiming to bolster international coproductions and up-skill Kiwi screen workers. The new International Placement Initiative (IPI) is part of NZFC’s current trade mission, which has visited Mumbai, London and Cannes.
-
2 weeks ago | 
c21media.net | Natalie Apostolou
Australian drama series Ladies in Black has been acquired by UKTV for broadcast across the UK and Ireland on streaming service U. The UK acquisition accelerates the global demand for the series which has already secured sales with Now TV in Hong Kong, YLE in Finland and Proximus Media House in Belgium via distributor ABC Commercial.
