Broadcaster Discovery NZ is creating new TV channels, new local programmes and expanding its news output in 2022. It’s a big bid to snare more of the local TV market currently dominated by TVNZ and Sky.
Photo: Mediaworks/Discovery Inc
Discovery NZ - the owner of TV channel Three - is replacing the little-watched free-to-air channel Choice with a new one called Gusto and a second entertainment channel, Rush, in March 2022.
They will operate alongside Three and its existing entertainment and lifestyle channels Bravo and HGTV.
That will give the company more free-to-air TV channels - five - than any other free-to-air broadcaster including TVNZ.
Discovery is also promising 70 per cent more local content and the new free-to-air channels may also be destinations for NZ on Air-funded programming. They will also air more of the international programmes created by the US-based global broadcaster and programme-maker itself.
“Viewers can expect our most compelling local production slate ever along with more of Discovery’s great international formats and talent,” Discovery NZ general manager Glen Kyne said in a statement.
“The transition to Discovery ANZ is complete and the network’s success in 2021 has paved the way for this new chapter in New Zealand television,” Glen Kyne said.
Today’s announcement is Discovery’s first significant strategic move in the free-to-air TV market here since it bought the TV arm of MediaWorks - including Newshub - in late 2020 and then integrated it into its Sydney-based operation.
Discovery had already acquired two local channels here without fanfare in 2019: Choice - set up by local producers in 2012 and sold to Canadian company Blue Ant Media two years later - and Canadian lifestyle channel HGTV.
Discovery also has pay-TV channels here, including Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet.
Competitive pressure - and more news
Discovery’s claim that Gusto will be “New Zealand’s fourth primary free-to-air channel” will ring alarm bells at Prime - owned by Sky TV - which currently fits that description.
Discovery also said it would beef up the underused on-demand platform 3Now.
It will also launch an additional 30-minute Newshub bulletin at 8pm on weekdays and begin the morning AM Show half an hour earlier at 5:30am.
This echoed Discovery’s first move after taking over. In February it launched an 1130 bulletin timed to pull in some viewers of TVNZ 1's news at midday.
"We are not only committed to local news . . . but also actively looking for ways to continue developing our news product as part of the future growth of our business," Discovery NZ general manager Glen Kyne said at the time.
But in a restructuring of South Island newsgathering in May, Discovery axed its entire Dunedin bureau which had been in operation since TV3 first launched in 1990.
Last month Discovery proposed to make all its radio reporters redundant because its agreement to supply MediaWorks was coming to an end.
What will be on the new TV channels ?
Discovery says Gusto will offer local and international entertainment content including British drama, documentaries, game shows and films. News from Newshub will also be part of the mix.
Launch titles include Changing Rooms UK, Big Family Farm and Finding Alice - and a new local show called Great Southern Truckers.
Discovery said Rush will "offer viewers unapologetically high-energy shows across the popular survival and adventure genres - including motoring, and off-the-grid living.”
Shows include Wheeler Dealers, Man vs. Wild, Street Outlaws and Treehouse Masters.
In today's announcement, Discovery NZ also committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2026.