By LOUISA CLEAVE television editor
TVNZ is preparing to give away $1 million to a quiz show contestant in a local version of the international television hit Who Wants To Be A Millionaire.
The show, to screen on TV2 next year, will be made by Touchdown Productions, sources said.
But the million-dollar question is whether the Government will consider the contest jackpot a wise use of company money under TVNZ's new brief to make shows that reflect New Zealand culture.
It is understood that TVNZ backed down from a $1 million offer for the rights to the first All Black test match against France next month after Prime Minister Helen Clark questioned the value for money.
Sky is thought to have paid half the amount offered by TVNZ.
TV3 confirmed it would screen delayed coverage of the November 12 test and follow it with the live broadcast of the David Tua-Lennox Lewis fight.
TVNZ is among the more than 70 countries that own the rights to make Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, which is screened in 30 countries. Contestants must answer a series of multiple-choice questions to move up a ladder of prizemoney towards the jackpot.
TV One starts screening the British version of the show on Sunday week.
Ten people worldwide have won the top prize: six from the United States and one each from France, South Africa, Portugal and Israel.
The show screens weekly in the US and Britain, while Australia's Nine channel has screened its version intermittently since April 1999.
TVNZ sources said the local version had been given the go-ahead and preparations would start early next year.
TV2's commissioning editor, Geoff Steven, said he was definitely considering the show, but until the company signed any contracts he could not confirm that it was going ahead.
"As with any production, we've got to look at the cost of making it. If we did Millionaire we'd be doing it within the terms that would be right for the New Zealand market."
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