Scripted strategy

Our investments in Scripted content fall under the Creation stream of our Investment strategy.

We define Scripted as any media content with a fictional, scripted storyline, including genres such as drama, dramedy, comedy, and animation.

All content is available online, and in many cases also for linear broadcast.

Our funding levels for Scripted projects are tiered:

• Tier 1: Projects seeking >$3m
• Tier 2: Projects seeking $1m - $3m
• Tier 3: Projects seeking <$1m

There is no funding cap for online first or digital-only-release projects. However, we are looking to reach the widest possible audience and the business case must support the funding requested.

We are looking to deliver a breadth of compelling and entertaining content to local audiences, grow the capability and capacity of our screen sector, and hopefully continue the trend of domestic IP projects succeeding overseas.

We welcome applications from productions seeking access to the NZ Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR), especially those for which we would be ‘last in’ funders, to provide the final piece of the finance plan as these projects can most quickly enter pre-production.

Creators looking to apply for Scripted funding should read the General Application Guidelines and the Information for Applicants for the round they are applying to for more information.

Tamariki and rangatahi are key audiences for NZ On Air under the Broadcasting Act.

We fund content – from drama and animation, to webseries and games – for young people of all ages.

Because the media habits and interests of tamariki and rangatahi are quite different to older audiences, and quite distinct from each other, we have specific strategies for content creation and distribution for these important audiences.

Māori content plays a crucial part in our purpose of reflecting and developing the identity and culture of Aotearoa New Zealand. We make special provision for Māori content, as described in our Rautaki Māori.

Our funding is targeted at content that will appeal to all New Zealanders, including Māori.

We undertake an ancillary and complementary role to the Māori broadcasting funding agency Te Māngai Pāho. We co-venture on projects which meet our shared objectives.

With increasing interest by New Zealanders in podcasts, NZ On Air accepts applications for funding under either Scripted or Non-fiction in the general funding rounds.

NZ On Air defines a podcast as an episodic series of digital audio files, which a user can download or stream over the internet and listen to via a computer or mobile device. Podcasts are similar to radio programmes in form, but they exist as audio files that can be played at the user’s convenience anytime or anywhere.

How we will assess podcast applications

With finite funds we must determine which podcasts most warrant public funding. For NZ On Air, these are podcasts that:

• require a significant level of research and
• address public media topics that are not being addressed elsewhere and
• are densely researched, and narratively structured.

We are less likely to consider funding lower-cost recorded audio interview-style podcasts. We expect the podcasts we support to have a strong distribution and promotion network so that there is a good chance of the content being heard by a sizeable audience. The support of a primary commissioning platform is required and a significant contribution from that platform is expected. Read more about platform support.

We are open to supporting podcasts that have teamed up with a global podcast network. We may consider projects behind a paywall if backed by a significant platform contribution (on a minimum match-funding basis) and coupled with a free access outcome.

In order to make room for fresh ideas, we are unlikely to fund more than four series of a single podcast.

Development funding helps content makers structure a concept, for example researching or writing scripts or treatments.

It is primarily for drama and animation projects, because these are high cost, high risk genres where more certainty is required before production funding can be considered.

It is also occasionally allocated to complex Non-fiction series where significant research is needed to test whether there is adequate material available to tell the story.

We usually require a co-investment by the platform supporting a development funding application. We also support a limited number of eligible projects with first-stage development funding without the support of a platform.

Development funding does not guarantee production funding. You can read about our approach to development funding in our content development guidelines.