Bravo (New Zealand TV channel)

Bravo

Country	New Zealand
Programming
Picture format	576i SDTV
Timeshift service	Bravo Plus 1
Ownership
Owner	NBCUniversal International Networks [1]
Sister channels	CNBC Eden HGTV Rush Three Universal TV
History
Launched	3 July 2016
Replaced	Four
Availability
Terrestrial
Freeview	4 (HD)

Bravo is a New Zealand television channel owned and operated by NBCUniversal International Networks, broadcast via the state-owned Kordia transmission network, Sky and on the website ThreeNow. The channel launched on 3 July 2016. Much like its American cable network counterpart, Bravo focuses on design, food, glamour and pop culture. ^[1]

History

The channel was announced by Mediaworks on 2 May 2016. The goal of the channel was to increase the amount of reality shows available on free-to-air television in New Zealand, and boosting production of such formats in the country, as New Zealand had "very low" airtime for reality formats, and filling in a gap for female audiences, in a market where subscription television was decreasing, favouring Freeview. The channel scheduled its first original production, The Real Housewives of Auckland , for August 2016. ^[2]

Bravo launched on 3 July 2016. Following the closure of Four, a one and a half minute promotion aired, previewing the content to be expected on Bravo. The first show to be broadcast on Bravo was Top Chef , at 5:10 am.

On 1 May 2017, Bravo adopted a new black logo to match its U.S counterpart, which had rebranded to that same logo three months earlier.

In early September 2020, MediaWorks confirmed that it would be selling its television media assets, which include Bravo, to the US mass media multinational company Discovery, Inc. ^{[3] [4] [5]}

On 1 December 2020, Discovery, Inc completed the acquisition of MediaWorks TV Limited. This acquisition also includes sister channels The Edge TV, The Breeze TV and Three, and news service Newshub.

On 10 December 2024, Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand sold their stake in the joint venture. NBCUniversal International Networks is now the sole owner of the channel. ^[6] Bravo content is still available on Warner Bros. Discovery's ThreeNow through a renewed partnership created between the two companies. ^[7]

On 22 July 2025, Warner Bros confirmed it would be selling its New Zealand free-to-air television assets (Bravo, Three, Eden, Rush and HGTV) and streaming operations (ThreeNow) to Sky for NZ$1. The sale is expected to be completed on 1 August 2025, with Warner Bros. Discovery continuing to provide channels a continued supply of company's content under a multi-year commercial agreement. ^{[8] [9]}

Bravo Plus 1

Bravo Plus 1 logo

On 3 July 2016, coinciding with the launch of Bravo, MediaWorks launched a standard hour delayed timeshift channel of the broadcast to replace Four Plus 1. ^[10]

References

1. "MEDIAWORKS AND NBCUNIVERSAL ANNOUNCE JOINT VENTURE". mediaworks.co.nz. Retrieved 5 May 2016.
2. "Mediaworks dumps FOUR for new reality channel Bravo". Stuff.
3. "MediaWorks TV arm sold to Discovery channel owner". Stuff . 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
4. "MediaWorks confirms sale of TV operations to Discovery Inc". Newshub . 7 September 2020. Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
5. Peacock, Colin (7 September 2020). "Global media giant set to be NZ's biggest private TV broadcaster". Radio New Zealand . Archived from the original on 7 September 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
6. "Bravo TV New Zealand Limited Particulars of Shareholding". NZ Companies Office. 10 December 2024. Retrieved 27 July 2025.
7. "Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer enhance renewed partnership for Bravo New Zealand" (PDF). December 2024.
8. "Sky TV agrees to buy Three for $1". 1News . 22 July 2025. Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
9. Burr, Lloyd (22 July 2025). "From US$20m to $1 in five years: The Three-Sky deal explained". Stuff . Archived from the original on 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
10. "Bravo to launch on July 3". Newshub . 22 June 2016. Archived from the original on 20 February 2018. Retrieved 1 May 2020.