[Samm]

New Zealand On Air won't give taxpayer funding for another series of The X Factor and is steering clear of other big talent show formats, the funding agency confirmed today.




New Zealand On Air paid MediaWorks $1.6 million for The X Factor series last year - where Moon and Kills were not judges - and $800,000 for this year's series, where they were.

In 2012 New Zealand On Air paid $1.6 million and $800,000 for the second series in 2013.

Funding for the heavily sponsored reality show has attracted controversy in the past partly because of the high commercial value, overseas-based control and hefty fees charged by the franchise owner Simon Cowell.

Kalafatelis said the shows provided a big profile for New Zealand performers.

The format was popular overseas and received taxpayer funding because it was expensive to make and would not be made without taxpayer support.

New Zealand On Air had been assured by producers that the comments by Moon and Kills had not been scripted for them.

In a statement, X Factor NZ's executive producer Andrew Szusterman also denied rumours the incident was a stunt.

"This was not planned. It came as a complete shock, and as we have said and demonstrated by our actions, this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable. The speculation is totally baseless."

New judges would be announced within the next 48 hours, Szusterman said.

http://m.nzherald.co.nz/entertainmen...ectid=11418652

Don't think anyone would of cared if the Natalie drama wasn't here but this is hilarious screaming