Nothing Trivial will be no more with TVNZ announcing it is axing the comic drama.
Ratings for the locally made programme declined dramatically this year, with viewers increasingly dropping off the TV One Wednesday night time slot.
It follows the axing of hit TV 2 young adults drama Go Girls, with TVNZ declining to recommission the show, South Pacific Pictures said.
Go Girls followed the lives of a group of ambitious young adults from Auckland’s North Shore and launched the careers of actress Anna Hutchison, who recently appeared alongside Charlie Sheen in Anger Management, and Jay Ryan who stars in Prime’s Beauty and the Beast.
Nothing Trivial followed a pub quiz team of five friends who each found themselves unlucky in love. It was created by Gavin Strawhan and Rachel Lang, the co-creators of popular westie drama Outrageous Fortune.
Viewer numbers for the target audience of 25- to 54-year-olds almost halved in the last year, dropping from 10.3 per cent to 5.3 per cent.
Average audience numbers in that group dropped from 183,000 to 96,000 for the show, latest Nielsen figures reveal.
But TVNZ dismisses claims that TV dramas are struggling to maintain audiences as more viewers move online.
“We still have a number of successful dramas,” TVNZ spokeswoman Georgie Hills said.
“Shortland St for 21 years has been going strong, an absolute ratings juggernaut.
“On TV One Agent Anna came on board this year and we’re bringing it back next year.”
The network was also launching the comedy drama series Step Dave and Cover Band, and would introduce new Sunday Theatre programmes featuring the work of local writers and actors in 2014, Hills said.
“We absolutely love Nothing Trivial and are really disappointed people didn’t come to it this year,” she said.
“We have to follow the lead of our audience when they walk away and 2013 was the lowest rating season to date.”
Nothing Trivial’s core cast members have taken to Twitter to voice their frustration at the network’s decision.
“No series 4. Such a bummer. Especially when you see how this series ends! Shame to lose more drama,” Shane Cortese, who plays Mac Delany tweeted.
“Writers have ideas flowing for many seasons to come, cast had committed for least 2 more.
“NZOA is so supportive of NZ drama, it’s a network call I believe.”
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