TV3 (New Zealand)

TV3 is a New Zealand nationwide television channel. Launched on 26 November 1989, it was New Zealand's first privately owned television channel. The channel currently broadcasts nationally (with regional advertising targeting four markets) in digital free-to-air form via the state-owned Kordia on terrestrial and satellite. Vodafone also carry 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.

TV3 is general entertainment channel owned by MediaWorks New Zealand with a significant news and current affairs element under the banner of Newshub. About 50% of TV3's programming is local, most of which airs at prime-time.

History

Applications to apply for a warrant to operate New Zealand's third national television network opened in 1985. The Broadcasting Tribunal announced in 1987 that TV3 had won the warrant. TV3 initially aimed to provide a regionally based television service, with linked studios based in each of the four areas (Auckland, Wellington, Waikato/BOP, and South Island).