TV3 (New Zealand)

TV3

Current TV3 logo, its second since launch, introduced in 2003.
Launched 26 November 1989
Owned by MediaWorks New Zealand
Picture format HDTV (1080i)
Slogan "For Me It's 3"
Country New Zealand
Broadcast area National
Sister channel(s) Four, The Edge TV
Timeshift service TV3 plus 1
Website tv3.co.nz
Availability
Terrestrial
DVB 64-QAM on band IV
Satellite
DVB QPSK 576i on 12644/12456 MHz
DVB 8PSK (encrypted) on 12358 MHz
Cable
DVB QAM

TV3 is a New Zealand nationwide television channel. Launched on 26 November 1989, it was New Zealand's first privately owned television channel. It has had a tumultuous history with a variety of owners and has been placed in receivership twice. Currently TV3 is owned by MediaWorks New Zealand and since 2016, has been focussing more on general entertainment providing only a limited news and current affairs service under the banner of Newshub.

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 carries 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.

History

Original TV3 logo
Later version logo

Early history 1985-1990

Prior to the advent of TV3, there were only two nationwide television stations in New Zealand both run by the state broadcaster TVNZ. 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).

There were numerous delays to the launch date of TV3. The granting of the warrant was surrounded by litigation and coincided with the share market crash in October 1987, which wiped out a large proportion of the capital that TV3 required to establish the channel. In late 1987 the then Minister of Broadcasting, Richard Prebble, announced that much of the UHF spectrum in New Zealand would be auctioned to allow for an increased number of television channels; this led to in a reduction in the value of TV3's warrant due to the increased competition. The drawn-out tribunal process of frequency allocation that TV3 had just won was replaced by a bidding process that allocated frequencies in weeks rather than months or even years.

These problems resulted in TV3's ambitious regional plans being rationalised before being shelved completely. The network was to be based in Auckland with limited studios and news and sales teams in the other main centres.

Broadcasting started on 26 November 1989 with a preview of what viewers could expect to see. Its first broadcast was a two-hour special previewing the network's programmes and featuring comedians David McPhail and Jon Gadsby playing cameramen. TV3's initial slogan proclaimed 'Come home to the feeling'; a derivative of the 'Come home to the best' slogan used on NBC in the United States at the time. At time of launch about 60 percent of the New Zealand audience could receive TV3's regular broadcasts.

Early in TV3's life, financial supporters of the network included ABC and NBC as a minority shareholding, who later sold their interest.

TV3 failed to gain ground against a recently revitalised TVNZ and was placed into receivership on 2 May 1990. TV3 continued to broadcast with the major creditor, Westpac Banking Corporation, supporting the network by taking a large shareholding.

Canwest Global 1991-2007

As TV3 needed investment during a climate of economic recession, the government liberalised the rules on foreign ownership of television stations (raising the 15 percent cap to 49 percent and later removing all restrictions), allowing TV3 to search for an investor overseas. In December 1991, CanWest Global Communications Corporation took a 20 percent shareholding in TV3 and secured a management agreement allowing it full control to operate the station. CanWest introduced tighter controls on budgets while targeting the lucrative 18- to 49-year-old audience. TV3's audience share and advertising revenue steadily increased, leading to significant profits. TV3 also steadily increased its coverage within New Zealand, adding dozens of transmitters and translators, often with the assistance of New Zealand On Air. By 1998, about 97 percent of the population could receive the channel.

On 2 October 1996, TV3 announced a reshuffling of its broadcast frequencies to enable it to launch a new network, to be called TV4 Network Limited, on the VHF band. TV4, which started on 29 June 1997, is a free-to-air network aimed at a younger audience than TV3. The launch was considered successful, with high brand recognition and ratings significantly higher than MTV, TV4's television rival. TV4's opening broadcast was the controversial Tyson–Holyfield boxing rematch.[1]

In April 1997 CanWest purchased Westpac's 48 percent shareholding in TV3, taking CanWest's stake to 68 percent. In June CanWest picked up the More FM Radio network, followed in November with the purchase of the remaining 32 percent of TV3. In April 1998, CanWest announced that it had made C$22 million in the six months to February 1998 in New Zealand, up a third on the same period the year before. TV4 contributed positively to the result, with some of the increase due to the inclusion of More FM, while TV3 was continuing to experience strong revenue growth.

The position of TV3 was strengthened by alliances with SKY Television to broadcast major sporting events. The election of the Labour government in 1999 refocussed TVNZ as a semi-non-commercial broadcaster, no longer ratings-driven and no longer attempting to dominate the free to air television market. As a commercial broadcaster, TV3 was in a position to take advantage of TVNZ's change of focus.

During 2004 the station was transferred into the ownership of Canwest MediaWorks New Zealand as a way of listing 30 percent of the Canadian company's New Zealand assets on the New Zealand share market. TV3's parent company TVWorks announced its annual revenue at $124 million in October 2004, which was $13 million up from the previous financial year.

Ironbridge Capital 2008- 2015

In May 2007 it was announced that Ironbridge Capital, an Australian private equity firm, was paying $386 million or $2.43 a share for the 70 percent of CanWest MediaWorks New Zealand owned by CanWest Global Communications. It was also offering the same price to minority shareholders under a full takeover bid. When Mediaworks was purchased by Ironbridge Capital they took on $700 Million of debt.

On 1 April 2008, TV3 was the first New Zealand television network to introduce high-definition television, to coincide with the launch of Freeview HD and MySky HDi in New Zealand. The first programme to broadcast in true 1080i high definition (i.e. not upscaled) was that night's screening of Boston Legal.

During 2012, TV3 with partial funding from NZ On Air purchased and installed a Microsoft Windows-based DVB RLE subtitle encoding system for on-the-fly conversion of their MXF playout encoded Teletext stream sourced and synchronised from TVNZ Access Services converted EBU STL subtitle files. The purpose was to provide captions that were previously unavailable on the Freeview HD service. After the install TV3 discontinued all existing Freeview Teletext captions in favour of the new format.

Ironbridge got caught out by the global financial crisis and couldn't afford to pay the interest on the debt they acquired at the time of purchase. On 17 June 2013 Mediaworks went into receivership, this being the second receivership for TV3. Of the $700 million Inland Revenue is claiming $22 million which is being disputed by the company. Following the receivership, KordaMentha became receivers allowing TV3 and the radio stations owned by Mediaworks to remain on air and all staff to retain their jobs. The new owners agreed to buy the company for an undisclosed sum and the secured lenders, the banks, agreed to reduce the debt to $100 million in return for a stake in the new company.[2]

In August 2014, former CEO of NZX, Mark Weldon, was appointed as the Group Chief Executive Officer of Mediaworks and became responsible for managing TV3 as well as the company's radio and interactive operations.[2]

2015 -

In 2015, Oaktree Capital Management acquired a controlling 77.8% share in the business, by purchasing shares from RBS and Westpac.[3]

In May 2016, Mark Weldon resigned as chief executive five days after top news presenter, Hilary Barry, announced her resignation. Other high-profile staff to leave included John Campbell and former TV3 head of News, Mark Jennings. Weldon was unpopular among staff for his slash and burn approach to cutting staff. Former broadcaster Jeff Hampton, says Weldon changed the whole ethic and nature of TV3: “The man with no media experience set about dismantling an organisation which had credibility and stood for the underdog, in an effort to turn it into money-spinner based on reality television.”[4] Media commentator, Bill Ralston, said Weldon left the company "in a hundred pieces" and "directionless" by getting rid of key senior staff members.[5] Following the news of Weldon's resignation, there were celebrations on social media and within the MediaWorks office. As part of those celebrations, Hilary Barry and co-presenter Mike McRoberts were seen carrying cases of alcohol into MediaWorks head office shortly before they presented the 6pm news.[6]

Content

Current

In-house produced

News

Under the leadership of Mark Weldon, the news department provided by TV3 lost many of it key staff including John Campbell and Hilary Barry. In 2016, it was providing only nine hours of peak programming a week . It has a one-hour bulletin Newshub which airs nightly at 6 pm presented by Hilary Barry and Mike McRoberts. Paul Henry broadcasts from 6am to 9am on both TV3 and Radio Live, while Newshub Midday provides a midday half-hour update. Newshub Late airs Monday to Friday at 10:30pm, replacing Nightline, The Paul Henry Show and Newsworthy.

Foreign news stories are sourced from Seven News, TechExplained, Ten News, ITN News, Reuters, CBS News and Global News

Current affairs

TV3's current affairs flagship half-hour, Story airs Monday-Thursday at 7:00pm. The Friday Story airs only on Friday at 7:00pm and weekend morning show The Nation airing on Saturday at 9:30am and Sunday at 10am.

Sport

TV3 previously held the free-to-air rights to New Zealand cricket tests and one day internationals from 1999 to 2004, All Blacks rugby tests, Super 12 and the National Provincial Championship from 2000 to 2005, as well as the NRL from 1998 to 2002, but lost these when Sky Network Television bought Prime Television, TV3 also had a weekly sports show and became broadcaster for the Wellington 500.

NZ On Air funded

Native concept
Foreign concept

Foreign

Primetime

Daytime
Daytime burn off
Late night burn off
Daytime burn off

Revoked

In-house produced

Local

Foreign

Output contracts

Mediaworks acquired a first-run and re-run contract with HD sourced material for 20th Century Fox Television content (which includes films under the brands 20th Century Fox, DreamWorks Animation – 2008 to present, Fox Atomic, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Icon Films – 2007 to 2012, now belongs to Prime Television New Zealand and Regency Enterprises), which was previously held by TVNZ. When TVNZ outbid them for their previous Disney Media Distribution contract. In 2015, they had the rights to Metro Goldwyn Mayer for more recent films.

Exclusive contracts with CBS News, ITV News and Seven News for international news coverage.

Mediaworks has long held first-option contracts with NBC Universal (which includes films under the brands Focus Features and Universal Pictures) with select HD material from February 2011.[7] As well as until the start of the US 2012 season,[8] a first-option contract with CBS Television Distribution (which included films under the brands Paramount Pictures and non-animated DreamWorks Pictures) with select HD material from the end of 2012, this deal came to an end for new content from the start of 2013. From mid-2013, TV3 secured a first option deal with Sony Pictures Television for new content for TV series and movies that will be scheduled for late 2013 and the 2014 season. This deal signals a move away from the more expensive exclusive Fox deal, which is still under re-negotiation following the broadcaster's change in ownership.[9]

On 20 December, MediaWorks re-signed a revised down scaled exclusive deal with Fox.[10] As a result of their receivership, they lost their first-option rights over NBC-Universal shows, which resulted in TVNZ acquiring the rights to Brooklyn Nine Nine in 2014. They also lost their rights to air 20th Television programmes, which resulted Prime Television New Zealand to air Sleepy Hollow, and Television New Zealand to air Empire.

Broadcasting details

From launch in November 1989 until digital television transition is completed on 1 December 2013, TV3 broadcast terrestrially using the analogue PAL-B&G. Except for Kapiti where it broadcast on ITU Band IV (UHF), TV3 broadcast in the main urban areas on ITU band III (VHF high). In other areas and infill transmitters in the main urban areas, it broadcast on either band I (VHF low), band III, band IV or band V (UHF).[11][12] In some areas, TV3's analogue broadcast was on a different transmitter from TV One and TV2's analogue broadcasts, and viewers needed an additional antenna to pick up the channel; these included Hamilton, Tauranga, Taupo, Gisborne, Kapiti, Masterton, and Nelson.

TV3 is a broadcasting member of the Freeview platform as well as broadcasting on SKY Digital. TV3 began screening widescreen transmissions on both platforms on 11 April 2007, although TelstraClear InHomeTV, which gets most of its content from SKY Digital, switched back to screening the cropped version of TV3 for a couple of months due to non-widescreen customer complaints. TelstraClear resumed broadcasting the widescreen version of TV3 on 24 July 2007. In April 2008 TV3 commenced 1080i high definition broadcasts on the Freeview|HD terrestrial platform and on SKY Network Television's HD satellite platform.

3NOW

3NOW logo

TV3's and sister channel FOUR's programmes are streamed on-demand through 3NOW. 3NOW is available on the 3NOW website as well as on iOS and Android devices.

Timeshifting

The TV3 Plus 1 logo

TV3 as part of their contract with Freeview to provide at least four channels launched a low cost timeshift service for terrestrial viewers from 30 March 2009. It is a standard hour delayed timeshift channel of the TV3 broadcast taken from their Auckland feed that was created originally for the Sky platform, meaning the channel broadcasts Auckland regional advertising. TV3 Plus 1 is available on digital terrestrial and digital satellite.[13]

Digital H.222 transports

Free-to-air SD Satellite Services on transport 5 via the Sky New Zealand DVB network
Service Description NDS LCN DVB name Streams
1054 TV3 second channel hour delayed 512 FOUR PLUS1 1003 (H.262@4Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 1103 (MP2@256kbit/s – 48000x2), 1903 (teletext subtitle)
1034 TV3 music channel 114 The Edge TV 1004 (H.262@3Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 1104 (MP2@256kbit/s – 48000x2)
EPG Sky encoded guide N/A N/A 18 (DVB EIT)
Defunct Services
1033 TV3 Auckland 3 TV3 1003 (H.262@4Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 1103 (MP2@256kbit/s – 48000x2), 1903 (teletext subtitle)
DVB encrypted HD Satellite Service on transport 8 via the Sky New Zealand DVB network
Service Description NDS LCN DVB name Streams
1165 TV3 Auckland 3 TV3 1003 (H.264@8Mbit/s – 1920x1080ix25), 1103 (AC-3@384kbit/s – 48000x6), 1113 (MP2@192kbit/s – 48000x2), 1903 (teletext subtitle)
EPG Sky encoded guide N/A N/A 18 (DVB EIT)
Free-to-air SD Satellite Services on transport 21 via the TVNZ Digital DVB network
Service Description NorDig LCN DVB name Streams
1916 TV3 hour delayed 8 TV3 PLUS1 518 (H.262@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 656 (MP2@192kbit/s – 48000x2), 856 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x36x4 rendered teletext)
1917 TV3 Waikato/BOP 3 TV3 509 (H.262@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 647 (MP2@192kbit/s – 48000x2), 850 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x36x4 rendered teletext)
1918 TV3 lower north 510 (H.262@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 648 (MP2@192kbit/s – 48000x2), 850 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x36x4 rendered teletext)
1919 TV3 south island 511 (H.262@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 649 (MP2@192kbit/s – 48000x2), 850 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x36x4 rendered teletext)
1920 TV3 Auckland 512 (H.262@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 650 (MP2@192kbit/s – 48000x2), 750 (teletext subtitle), 850 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x36x4 rendered teletext)
1921 TV3 second channel 4 FOUR 513 (H.262@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 651 (MP2@192kbit/s – 48000x2), 851 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x36x4 rendered teletext)
EPG TVNZ encoded guide N/A N/A 18 (DVB EIT), 1001 (MHEG DSM-CC)
Terrestrial Services on transports 29 to 32 via the Kordia DVB network
Service Description NorDig LCN DVB name Streams
1300 TV3 regional 3 TV3 450 (H.264@10Mbit/s – 1920x1080ix25), 400 (HE-AAC-LOAS@96kbit/s – 48000x2), 410 (AC-3@384kbit/s – 48000x6), 1020 (RLE interlaced 8 colour rendered teletext)
1301 TV3 second channel 4 FOUR 451 (H.264@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 401 (HE-AAC-LOAS@96kbit/s – 48000x2), 1030 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x35x4 rendered teletext)
1302 TV3 hour delayed 8 TV3 PLUS1 452 (H.264@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 402 (HE-AAC-LOAS@96kbit/s – 48000x2), 1040 (RLE interlaced 8 colour 720x35x4 rendered teletext)
1304 Sub-leased channel 18 The Shopping Channel 454 (H.264@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 404 (HE-AAC-LOAS@96kbit/s – 48000x2)
1305 TV3 music channel 11 The Edge TV 453 (H.264@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 403 (HE-AAC-LOAS@96kbit/s – 48000x2)
1306 TV3 second channel hour delayed 9 FOUR Plus 1 456 (H.264@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 406 (HE-AAC-LOAS@196kbit/s – 48000x2)
EPG TVNZ encoded guide N/A N/A 18 (DVB EIT), 1003 (MHEG DSM-CC)
Defunct Services
1303 TV3 music channel 9 C4 455 (H.264@2Mbit/s – 720x576ix25), 405 (HE-AAC-LOAS@196kbit/s – 48000x2)

See also

References

  1. ↑ "aus.tv.history :: TV4". Austvhistorynz.tripod.com. Retrieved 24 October 2010.
  2. ↑ "TV3's owners in receivership". 17 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "MediaWorks Ownership Update".
  4. ↑ "Why we care about resignations at a TV company".
  5. ↑ "Mark Weldon right to resign from MediaWorks, former TV3 news boss says".
  6. ↑ "Mark Weldon's resignation from MediaWorks will benefit brands".
  7. ↑ "TV3 Yet to Get House in HD Order". ScreenScribe.tv. 2011-02-06. Archived from the original on 2013-10-29.
  8. ↑ "Prime Coup Bad News for HD Fans UPDATED". ScreenScribe.tv. 2012-05-30. Archived from the original on 2012-06-01.
  9. ↑ "New Era for Mediaworks" (Press release). MediaWorks. 2013-11-07. Retrieved 2015-01-18.
  10. ↑ "Mediaworks TV Inks New Content Deal with 20th Century Fox Television Distribution" (Press release). MediaWorks. 2013-12-30. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03.
  11. ↑ "New Zealand Television Transmission Stations in Operation – North Island" (PDF). Kordia. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  12. ↑ "New Zealand Television Transmission Stations in Operation – South Island" (PDF). Kordia. 31 March 2008. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  13. ↑ "MediaWorks announce new Freeview channel". 24 November 2008. Retrieved 25 November 2008.

External links

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