Operating under the umbrella of the Minister of Broadcasting in New Zealand, TVNZ is the state broadcaster that has various FTA channels, as well as dedicated VOD services with an Ad-supported business strategy. The company has a strong focus on news, sports, local content, and international event coverage.
Launched in 2007 as a catch-up service, TVNZ+ is the streaming service of the conglomerate, which offers free content, such as news updates and programs seen on linear channels. In addition, it offers dozens of local and international titles exclusively available on the platform.
‘Unlike other digital offerings in New Zealand, TVNZ+ has invested in our value proposition for the TVNZ audience, who come to the platform eager to supplement the content they watch on TV’, said Carmen Aitken, GM of Product and Data at TVNZ.
With 2 million Kiwis turning to TVNZ every day to be informed and entertained, the executive remit is to ensure these viewers can access what they want to watch when they want to watch it and on the device of their choosing. ‘With accelerating audience growth across TVNZ ’s online product offering, we are focused on championing customers and pushing boundaries in order to build great digital experiences that surprise and delight our commercial clients and audience’, she remarked.
One of the differential values of the service is the way it is distributed, according to the executive. The broadcaster has established alliances with technology companies, who make TVNZ+ available on their grid of applications. At the moment, the service is available on smart TVs from Samsung, Panasonic, Sony, and LG, as well as video game devices such as PS5, and Xbox Series X. ‘We want people to be able to enjoy the experience on devices they usually have at home’.
The service suffered an update on premium/ad-skipping plans, as well as its brand look. Going from TVNZ OnDemand to TVNZ+.
When it comes to international content, TVNZ+ has some exclusive rights in this market. The service has distribution rights for some titles from Warner Bros. Discovery, like Batwoman, and the paranormal series produced by Taika Waititi Wellington Paranormal. It also distributes the joint TVNZ and AMC Networks television series The Dead Lands, an adaptation of the 2014 New Zealand film The Dead Lands. Also has distribution rights to multiple Paramount+ series.
