TVNZ, Sky to launch pay-TV service

Thursday 24 Nov 2011
Sky and Television New Zealand (TVNZ) have confirmed they are launching a joint pay-TV service, TVNZ reports.

The partnership will deliver pay channels to a digital decoder, which is also readied to use Ultra-Fast-Broadband (UFB) in the future.

The new service, using Sky’s digital terrestrial spectrum, will provide paid-for and free content, including free-to-air channels, and will launch in the first half of 2012.

No content or pricing details are yet available but will be announced “in the near future”, the companies said.

SKY has a 51 percent shareholding and TVNZ a 49 percent shareholding in the joint venture.

SKY’s Chief Executive Officer, John Fellet, said: “It’s exciting to be working together with TVNZ to provide Kiwis with more television viewing options. We’ll be working hard to develop a brand new television service we believe will appeal to a large number of households.”

TVNZ’s 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.”

TVNZ’s Head of Digital Media and Channels, Eric Kearley, will serve on the board of the venture. He said viewers would have “more choice of how they access free and paid-for content”.

They would also be in a position to access further options once UFB comes on stream.