TVNZ cuts: Shortland Street's three episodes per week

Long-running soap Shortland Street will be back on screens from next year - with a difference.

South Pacific Pictures and TVNZ have announced today that the show will screen just three times a week next year, rather than its current format of five episodes a week.

It will air on TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+. The release today promises viewers “fewer, higher impact episodes”, aiming to attract younger audiences to the show.

TVNZ’s chief executive Jodi O’Donnell said: “The TV environment is changing fast and we’re moving with our viewers.

Media and Communications Minister Paul Goldsmith said the Government would take “immediate action” to support New Zealand’s media and content production sectors – including allowing a 40% screen production rebate to apply to Shortland Street.

The show currently costs TVNZ in the region of $20 million to produce each year.

Goldsmith described the show as “an important institution” for generating talent and it would “be great” if it continued.

First published by NZ Herald

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