Thu 5 Jun 2008 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
It's looking increasingly unlikely that NZ On Air and TVNZ will provide a television programme dedicated to LGBT New Zealanders in 2008, election year. The situation has angered one former gay TV producer, while others are taking a 'wait and see' approach. The producer of last year's The Outlook programme Glenn Sims says he will not create new episodes of that show for 2008, and both TVNZ and NZ On Air are tight-lipped on plans for the future of the gay TV genre. "I'm shocked and upset that nothing's happened," says now defunct Queer Nation series producer Johnny Givens. "TVNZ and NZ On Air have spent a great deal of time researching the needs of our community - and it was clear that we had a great need for a special interest programme," he told GayNZ.com. "Where is our community on air in this election year?" Research done by NZ On Air in recent years has strongly pointed to the need for a dedicated programme for LGBT New Zealanders, Givens explains. "There should be a programme made for the queer community. Of course there should be. Takataapui's doing very well on Maori TV. It's a very good programme and they're doing great work. TVNZ and TV3 have the opportunity - and TVNZ have been supportive in the past. If they're not supporting us now, I think our community deserves to know why. "We fought for many years for the funding and time for our communities, and it's very important to us." Claudette Hauiti, CEO of Front of the Box Productions, who make the award-winning Takataapui for Maori Television, believes there would be no funds left now for a new show to start screening this year, but that NZ On Air will seek applicants for a programme to be made for 2009. "NZ On Air have a commitment to fund minority programming, and they helped out Takataapui with some left-over funding for our current series. The money should be there for producers to apply for later this year." RedFlame Productions' Glenn Sims says he would consider making more gay-themed television, but he'd want to produce a very different style of show to what we've seen recently. "We need a new direction that is supported by the broadcasters, the funding agencies and the audience," he points out. "Finding that direction won't be easy. "I don't think there's an automatic right for us to have a 'gay TV' show any more. Positive and non-stereotyped representation and visibility in mainstream programmes is probably more important."