After facing the chopping block, The Almighty Johnsons has used some of its magic to secure funding for a third season.

In the latest round of NZ On Air funding, the TV3 drama has locked in $6.9 million.

The decision comes after rumours were swirling in September that the series had been canned at the end of season two, with the show's cast confirming the news on Twitter.

At the time TV3 said it was in negotiations with the show's creators, South Pacific Pictures.

The Almighty Johnsons, starring Emmett Skilton, Tim Balme and Keisha Castle-Hughes, follows the lives of a Kiwi family who are actually Norse Gods.

An online petition was set up to help save the show.

Other shows to get repeat funding include TV3 comedy 7 Days, which revived $760,000, and First Crossings for TV One with $1,037,748.

New programmes include The Best Bits, a satirical series showcasing comedic talent which has been funded for TV One, and new documentary series The Works, which looks at one of the country's oldest meat processing plants and will be aired on Prime. A spokeswoman for TV3 said the season would air in 2013 ‘‘at the earliest’’.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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