News: TVNZ and Sky extend carriage agreement

TVNZ and SKY Television have signed a new agreement making all TVNZ channels available to SKY’s more than 2 million viewers. A few weeks ago this agreement would have been surprising because Sky and TVNZ were thought to be at an impasse (Sky, which also owns Prime, won’t let Prime show on Freeview), but recently the new minister came out and said he’d like to see TVNZ 6 & 7 (previously only Freeview channels) on Sky. Voila. It will be interesting to see if Sky relents and lets Prime go to Freeview now.

SKY Chief Executive John Fellet said that he was pleased to have reached the new agreement with TVNZ which will deliver more viewing options to over 2 million New Zealand viewers.

“The new agreement not only increases the number of channels available through SKY by adding TVNZ 6 and TVNZ 7 to our digital channel line-up but also increases the appeal of our High Definition package through the addition of HD versions of TV ONE and TV2, supporting our strategy of providing subscribers with everything from one box” said Fellet.

This will have implications on Freeview HD, which was previously the only way to see One and 2 in HD. It looks like Freeview is giving up its good hand.

*Tone has received an update that Sky would not be reciprocating by making Prime available on Freeview.