Last night’s series finale of Outrageous Fortune hammered the competition, with its highest viewership of 18-49 year-olds in six seasons.
Meanwhile, key critics were in a congratulatory mood, with one peering into the future and declaring it “most successful locally made television series of all time”.

Factual programming will remain the backbone of TV One’s schedule in 2011 but expect more emphasis on “A-grade” drama and comedy.
Today TVNZ programming chief Jane Wilson unveiled her channels’ new-season strategies to media and ad agencies.
“TV One is the leader in factual content but next year we are introducing more A-grade network drama and comedy,” she told Onfilm.

TVNZ today announces its New Season 2011 line up for TV ONE and TV2 which combines the very best in local shows with the biggest international blockbuster series, consolidating its position as market leader.
Head of Sales and Marketing Paul Maher says, “I am thrilled with our programming line up for 2011 – we have outstanding content for both TV ONE and TV2, and look forward to developing opportunities to leverage that content with the 2.4 million New Zealanders we engage with every day.

Shooting will start later this month on The Most Fun You Can Have Dying, a rebellious drama written and directed by debut feature filmmaker Kirstin Marcon. Adapted from the novel Seraphim Blues by Steven Gannaway, The Most Fun You Can Have Dying will be shot in Europe and New Zealand. Marcon says “I am really thrilled to be making this film after six years of planning – we’re shooting in London, Paris, Berlin – and Hamilton – and we’ll be taking the cast, the crew, and eventually the audience on an amazing ride.”

A banner week for NZ drama in primetime will culminate Thursday, when TV One launches what the network hopes will be its answer to TV3’s Outrageous Fortune and TV2’s Go Girls.

Boy and The Cult will cap a rash of Kiwi movies and TV series due on DVD over the next two months.
Taika Waititi’s coming-of-age blockbuster is tentatively slated for September 1, while the Great Southern TV serial will bow on August 19.
Ironically, Vendetta Films is releasing the latter as “The Complete First Series,” even though a second wasn’t commissioned after the first 13 episodes tanked on TV2.

TV3 is using the 10th anniversary edition of Survivor to try to take some of the ratings gloss off TV2’s Go Girls. The good keen Kiwi chick hit has boosted its popularity in the two weeks following its premiere, which rated below its first-season average.

TV2 will be looking for episode two of Go Girls’ second season (8.30 tonight) to build on last week’s debut, which drew fewer viewers than the season one premiere.
It was watched by 10.1% of the network’s target demographic, 18-39 year-olds, and earned a 26.9% channel share.
By comparison, last year Go Girls bowed with an 11.9 rating/37.1 share and the season went on to average an 11.1 rating/33 share.