'Shortland Street' has been a pillar of New Zealand television for over 30 years, but lately, its future has been hanging in the balance - now we know what the future holds for our beloved Kiwi soap.
TVNZ and South Pacific Pictures have announced that from 2025, Shortland Street will be screening three times a week instead of the usual five nights a week. This comes as a result of cost-cutting measures.
TVNZ Chief Executive Jodi O’Donnell said their goal was “to build a sustainable model for the long term” that has a “digital-first strategy in mind.”
While many fans will be disappointed to lose two nights a week of hospital drama, it's far from the worst-case scenario - it was widely speculated the show would be axed as a part of major changes at TVNZ that saw shows like 'FairGo' and 'Sunday' getting the chop.
'Shortland Street' is one of the most popular shows on TVNZ+, having been streamed over 20 million times, proving it’s still a hit with many Kiwis. It debuted in 1992 and helped launch the careers of many actors including KJ Apa, Temuera Morrison and Karl Urban.
The many gripping storylines have continued to keep Kiwis on the edge of their seats, including - and perhaps most notably - the tale of the 'Ferndale Strangler’, which captivated and terrified audiences back in 2008.
It’s a shame that we will see less Chris Warner on our screens but a massive relief we get to keep Shorty in these difficult times.
