Outrageous Fortune

News Fortunate move - Outrageous returns to Aussie screens

8 Oct Esperanza Aussie! | 9 comments | 1063 reads

SPEAKING of dysfunctional family dramas, the outstanding Outrageous Fortune has a new home on Foxtel.

Screened briefly on Nine last summer, the wily West family will now be seen on the new-look Arena in a prime time twice-weekly timeslot.

New Zealand's coolest show has three series in the can (with a fourth to be made in 2008) and, in a nod to that great English television tradition, they even did a one-off Christmas telemovie.

Who knew Auckland could be so entertaining?

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News NZ as Local Content for Australia?

9 Jan tv-fan's blog | 1 comment | 525 reads

Screenwriters in Australia may take action over a Channel Nine decision to include a NZ programme, Outrageous Fortune, in its Australian drama quota. Outrageous Fortune, which airs on Nine on Mondays at 10.30pm, is the story of an Auckland criminal family trying to get on the straight and narrow. It accounts for about 30 of the 250 points of local drama needed by Channel Nine to maintain its Australian broadcasting licence.

News The Australian Writers' Guild Challenges the Nine Network not to Claim NZ Program as Australian Content

19 Dec Rachel's blog | 3 comments | Read more | 726 reads

The Australian Writers' Guild (AWG) today challenged the Nine Network not to claim the New Zealand made program Outrageous Fortune as part of their annual Australian Content Standard quota.

The Nine Network began screening 22 episodes of the New Zealand made, government subsidised drama series on the 11 December. It is understood the network will attempt to have the program qualify for upwards of 20% of its annual quota for Australian drama in a non-rating period, in the 10.30pm timeslot.

The AWG accepts that following the Project Blue Sky Decision of the High Court of Australia in 1997, New Zealand programs can qualify as Australian quota under the Closer Economic Relations Agreement (CER) between the two countries. However, if Nine decides to claim quota points in respect of Outrageous Fortune it will be the first such move by an Australian television broadcaster to represent New Zealand drama on our screens as Australian.
"While technically allowable it goes completely against the spirit and intent of local content regulations," said Jacqueline Woodman, Executive Director of the AWG. "It would indicate a blatant disregard for the health of the Australian industry and an insult to local industry practitioners."