NZ soap Shortland Street wins last-minute reprieve but production schedule cut back

Shortland Street has aired for five nights a week since 1992

New Zealand’s longest-running domestic drama series, Shortland Street, will be reduced from five to three nights per week when it returns to TVNZ screens in 2025 for its 34th season.

The soap has aired five nights a week since 1992. Despite being the most-watched local series on TVNZ+, with 20.1 million streams and a cumulative broadcast reach of 2.2 million viewers in 2023, TVNZ has had to cut production hours and “reimagine” its delivery in a bid to keep audiences engaged and sustain the show in the long term.

Screen funding agency NZ On Air has provided NZ$3m (US$1.8m) to support continued production.

Industry speculation had suggested for months that the series was in peril after restructuring at TVNZ led to cuts in staffing and locally produced current affairs.

This week, communications and media minister Paul Goldsmith confirmed the government would ‘tweak’ the eligibility criteria for the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate (NZSPR) for locally made content with strong industry and cultural value, like the long-running Shortland Street.

Without the adjustments made this week, Shortland Street would not have been eligible for the NZSPR.

The show’s producer, South Pacific Pictures (SPP), praised the minister for changing the NZSPR and allowing funding for the series and also NZ On Air for its funding support.

SPP chief Kelly Martin said: “We’re pleased to see the show continue into this exciting new chapter. Fewer episodes mean a greater focus on creating the storylines that will cut through with audiences in a competitive market. We’ll bring all the things Shorty viewers love on steroids for three days per week, with stories that dig deep into real-life and topical issues in New Zealand.”

TVNZ chief executive Jodi O’Donnell said the programming changes were a response to the fast-changing television environment.

“For some time, we’ve been reimagining what is possible for Shortland Street and we’re delighted to be able to continue the much-loved show with this new, creative format. We’re extremely grateful for the external support from NZ On Air, as well as access to the New Zealand Screen Production Rebate, to help keep this iconic drama on screen and make it a more commercially viable proposition for TVNZ,” she said.

The broadcaster’s goal is “to build a sustainable model for the long term, so we’ll be continuing to evolve how Shortland Street is delivered on TVNZ+ with our digital-first strategy in mind. We have an extremely engaged online audience for Shortland Street and we want to take the show successfully into the future and ensure its ongoing relevance,” she added.