Fantasy Fans Lose Two Great Resources

An article is Stuff covers the financial woes of the New Zealand TV studio where many shows including Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, Xena: Warrior Princess, and Legend of the Seeker as well as movies like “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe” has passed into receivership.

Tony Tay Film Ltd. has been unable to meet its commitments to creditors and receivers have been called in to try to pay off the company’s debts. The firm owns a controlling interest in the studio, while minority partnership Auckland (city) Council has an opportunity to buy out Tay’s stake. The studio ran into trouble as a result of the Great Recession of 2008-2009. The article says that Disney pulled out of New Zealand because of the cash crunch it experienced in the recession, which offers small consolation to fans of Legend of the Seeker who are trying to save the show.

In other news, online publication The Torch Online, which offered encouragement to fans of the TV show, has announced it is discontinuing publication about fantasy-related news. Torch Online founder Brent Hartinger announced he had published a new book, Shadow Walkers, and that he has to turn his attention to other matters.

The Torch Online was a good site and I’m sorry to see it go into hibernation.