Sky and TVNZ to launch digital pay TV service in New Zealand

Thursday, November 24th, 2011
SKY Television logo

SKY Television and Television New Zealand (TVNZ) today announced that they have formed a partnership to launch a new digital pay television service, delivering pay channels over SKYs digital terrestrial spectrum. SKY has a 51% shareholding and TVNZ a 49% shareholding in the joint venture.

The new service will provide paid-for and free content, including free-to-air channels, to a digital decoder, which is also readied to utilise Ultra-Fast-Broadband (UFB) in the future.

The launch will be in the first half of 2012, timed to take advantage of the digital switchover (DSO), when a large number of New Zealand homes will need to transition to a digital television service.

SKYs Chief Executive Officer, John Fellet, said;

Its exciting to be working together with TVNZ to provide Kiwis with more television viewing options. Well be working hard to develop a brand new television service we believe will appeal to a large number of households.

TVNZs Chief Executive Officer, Rick Ellis added;

TVNZ and SKY have enjoyed a growing relationship in recent years and our strategy is to reach more New Zealanders in more ways. This investment helps us to achieve this.

TVNZs Head of Digital Media and Channels, Eric Kearley, who will also serve on the Board of the venture, added;

This is a win for consumers who will enjoy more choice in terms of how they access free and paid-for content and future proofs access to further options once UFB comes on stream.

The joint venture will announce further details, including content and pricing, in the near future.