Local? Outrageous!

NZ TV series Outrageous Fortune has caused a storm across the Tasman, but not for its adult content. Australian screenwriters are threatening protests and possible strikes over a decision by Channel Nine to include the program in its mandatory local drama quota. Outrageous Fortune currently accounts for about 30 of the 250 points of local drama needed by Channel Nine to maintain its broadcasting licence. Despite a 1997 Australian High Court ruling states that NZ programs can count as local, a “tacit agreement” has always existed between television stations and the national industry that the rule would not be abused. “Something has changed,” says Screen Producers Association of Australia executive director, Geoff Brown. “This is a fight for us: if one network gets away with it, what are the others going to do? We will be in the streets in February and March.” Outrageous Fortune is subsidised by the NZ government, which provides $NZ400,000 in funding per episode.