Television in New Zealand was introduced in 1960 as a state-run service. The broadcasting sector was deregulated in 1989, when the Government allowed competition to the state-owned Television New Zealand (TVNZ). There are currently three forms of broadcast television: a terrestrial (DVB-T) service provided by Freeview; satellite services provided nationwide by both Freeview and Sky; and an internet television service delivered over cable and fibre broadband provided by Vodafone.
Television New Zealand, more commonly referred to as TVNZ, is a television network that is broadcast throughout New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. All of its currently-operating channels are free-to-air and commercially funded.
Sky Network Television Limited, more commonly known as Sky, is a New Zealand broadcasting company that provides pay television services via satellite, media streaming services and broadband internet services. It is also a wholesale channel provider to New Zealand IPTV provider Vodafone. As at 30 June 2021, Sky had 955,168 subscribers consisting of 561,989 satellite subscribers and 393,179 streaming subscribers. Despite the similarity of name, branding and services, such as Sky Go and MySky shared with its European equivalent, Sky, there is no connection between the companies.
Three is a New Zealand nationwide television channel. Launched on 26 November 1989 as TV3, it was New Zealand's first privately-owned television channel. The channel currently broadcasts nationally in digital free-to-air form via the state-owned Kordia on terrestrial and satellite. Vodafone also carries the channel for their cable subscribers in Wellington and Christchurch. It previously broadcast nationally on analogue television until that was switched off on 1 December 2013.
Newshub is a New Zealand news service that airs on TV channel Three and on digital platforms. It formerly operated across radio stations run by MediaWorks Radio until December 2021. The Newshub brand replaced 3 News service on the TV3 network and the Radio Live news service heard on MediaWorks Radio stations on 1 February 2016. In late 2020, MediaWorks sold Newshub to US multimedia company Discovery, Inc. The acquisition was completed on 1 December 2020.
The Edge is a youth-oriented New Zealand entertainment brand consisting of a national radio network, a music television channel - The Edge TV, and an entertainment website. The radio network and website are owned and operated by MediaWorks New Zealand while the TV channel is now owned by Discovery, Inc.
Freeview is New Zealand's free-to-air television platform. It is operated by a joint venture between the country's major free-to-air broadcasters – government-owned Television New Zealand and Radio New Zealand, government-subsidised Māori Television, and the American-owned Discovery New Zealand. It consists of a HD-capable digital terrestrial television service, to around 86% of the population in the major urban and provincial centres of New Zealand, and a standard-definition satellite television service, called Freeview Satellite, covering the whole of mainland New Zealand and the major offshore islands. Freeview uses the DVB-S and DVB-T standards on government-provided spectrum.
The mass media in New Zealand include television stations, radio stations, newspapers, magazines, and websites. Most outlets are foreign-owned; media conglomerates like NZME, Stuff, MediaWorks, Discovery and Sky dominate the media landscape. Most media organisations operate Auckland-based newsrooms with Parliamentary Press Gallery reporters and international media partners, but most broadcast programmes, music and syndicated columns are imported from the United States and United Kingdom.
Discovery New Zealand is a division of Discovery, Inc. that operates several television channels in New Zealand. It operates six national free-to-air television channels, six pay TV channels on Sky and the Newshub multi-platform news service.
MediaWorks New Zealand is a New Zealand-based radio, outdoor advertising and interactive media company jointly owned by U.S. company Oaktree Capital Management and out-of-home advertising company QMS. It operates nine national radio brands, twelve websites and one locally operated radio station.
Igloo was a New Zealand prepaid pay TV service launched on 3 December 2012. The Pace-supplied receiver provides customers access to free-to-air channels through Freeview, and previously a small selection of pay TV channels could be purchased for 30 days. On 1 March 2017, Igloo closed and the receiver was updated to allow viewers to use New Zealand's Freeview television service.
The Edge TV is a New Zealand online streaming channel that was officially launched as a television channel on 27 June 2014 as an extension of The Edge radio brand, which is owned by MediaWorks New Zealand. In September 2020, MediaWorks sold The Edge TV along with its entire television arm to the United States multinational mass media company Discovery, Inc., with the acquisition being finalised in December 2020. MediaWorks still produces the content which is broadcast on frequencies owned by Discovery Inc. On 21 March 2022, The Edge TV will go back to being an online-only streaming channel, alongside sister channel Breeze TV.
Cook the Books was a New Zealand cooking show. It is based on the Cook the Books bookstore that focuses on NZ chefs who have released their own cookbooks and to cook from them. The show is hosted by Carly Flynn, and aired its first season on Choice TV on 30 October 2014 along with a second season in 2015.
The Bachelor New Zealand is a dating game show based on the original US version, The Bachelor. It aired on Sunday and Monday nights on Three. The first season's bachelor was Art Green and the show was won by Matilda Rice. The second season's bachelor was Jordan Mauger and the show was won by Fleur Verhoeven. The third season's bachelor was Zac Franich and the show was won by Viarni Bright.
Hamish Morley Dodd is a New Zealand celebrity interior designer, television and radio presenter. He is most notable for appearing on the New Zealand television show My House My Castle, as the interior designer. The show aired for ten years, from 1999 until the final season in 2009.
Bravo is a New Zealand television channel owned and operated by Discovery New Zealand and 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.
Clarke Timothy Gayford is a New Zealand radio and television broadcaster, presenter of the fishing documentary show Fish of the Day. He is the fiancé of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Christopher Mark Luxon is a New Zealand politician and former business executive who is currently serving as leader of the New Zealand National Party and is the Leader of the Opposition. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Botany electorate since the 2020 general election. He was the chief executive officer of Air New Zealand from 2012 to 2019. Luxon also served in Judith Collins' shadow cabinet as Spokesperson for Local Government, Research, Science, Manufacturing and Land Information, as well as being the Associate Spokesperson for Transport. He has been leader since 30 November 2021, succeeding Collins.
Breeze TV is a New Zealand music streaming channel that was launched by The Breeze radio station on 16 April 2020 as a replacement for MediaWorks New Zealand's former ThreeLife + 1 on channel 14. Breeze TV was launched alongside sister channel The Edge TV, which replaced ThreeLife on channel 11. On 1 December 2020, Discovery, Inc. acquired Breeze TV as part of its acquisition of MediaWorks' television operations. On 21 March 2022, Breeze TV became an exclusively online streaming channel, alongside sister channel The Edge TV.
