Sky Free

Sky Free is the name used by Sky Network Television for the New Zealand free-to-air television and advertising-supported streaming operations acquired from Warner Bros. Discovery in 2025. The business operates six national free-to-air television channels and the ThreeNow streaming service, with its principal television operations based in Auckland. Its channel portfolio includes Three, Bravo, Eden, Rush and associated timeshift or digital services. The business combines scheduled terrestrial television with satellite, cable and online distribution, and is positioned as a broad-reach, advertiser-funded alternative to subscription television. The company is the latest corporate successor to a New Zealand commercial television operation whose roots extend to TV3. TV3 was established in 1989 after the New Zealand government permitted a privately owned television broadcaster. The service was subsequently controlled by CanWest and became a major competitor to state-owned TVNZ. During the 1990s and 2000s, the operation developed additional channels and services, including TV4, C4 and timeshift channels. MediaWorks New Zealand was created in 2004 through the merger of TVWorks and RadioWorks, bringing the television and radio businesses under one corporate structure. The immediate predecessor of Sky Free was MediaWorks TV Limited, formed in 2013 as the television division of MediaWorks and successor to TVWorks. Under MediaWorks, TV3 was rebranded as Three in 2017, while the portfolio expanded and changed repeatedly. Four became Bravo in 2016 through a joint venture involving NBCUniversal Television Distribution. ThreeLife launched in 2018, and the company also operated The Edge TV, The Breeze TV and ThreeNow. MediaWorks announced in 2019 that it intended to sell its television operations. The sale was completed in December 2020 when Discovery, Inc. acquired the division, which was renamed Discovery NZ Limited and later operated under the Discovery New Zealand and Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand names. Under Discovery and then Warner Bros. Discovery, the portfolio was reorganised around Three, Bravo, Eden and Rush. Newshub served as the television operation's news and current-affairs brand until its final bulletin in July 2024. The closure of Newshub followed a substantial reduction in television advertising revenue and resulted in approximately 300 job losses. Stuff subsequently began producing ThreeNews evening bulletins for Three, while the television business retained its entertainment, reality, lifestyle, drama and sports programming. In July 2025, Warner Bros. Discovery announced that it would sell its New Zealand free-to-air television and streaming assets to Sky Network Television for NZ$1. The transaction was completed on 1 August 2025. Warner Bros. Discovery retained its New Zealand pay-television, HBO Max and local production activities, while Sky acquired the free-to-air and streaming operations. Because the acquired business could no longer use the Discovery name, Sky confirmed that it would be rebranded Sky Free and that trademark applications had been filed for Sky Free and SkyFree. Sky also confirmed that the Three and ThreeNow brands would continue. The transaction created a larger combined free-to-air and digital audience for Sky and Three, while allowing Sky to expand beyond its traditional subscription-TV position into advertiser-funded broadcasting.

Sky Free's corporate history descends from New Zealand's TV3 operation. TV3 was founded in 1989 after the Fourth Labour government authorised a privately owned television broadcaster. CanWest acquired control during the 1990s after foreign-ownership rules were relaxed. In 1998, TV3 relaunched under CanWest with a refreshed identity and a 3 News bulletin. The operation later developed additional services, including youth-oriented TV4, its successor C4, and timeshift channels. MediaWorks New Zealand was established in 2004 through the merger of TVWorks and RadioWorks. Its television portfolio included TV3 and C4, with the group later introducing or operating services such as TV3 Plus 1, Four Plus 1 and The Edge TV. In 2013, MediaWorks TV Limited was formed as the television division and successor to TVWorks. The organisation changed its channel portfolio frequently in response to audience, advertising and distribution conditions. FOUR was replaced by Bravo in 2016 through a joint venture with NBCUniversal Television Distribution, while TV3 was rebranded Three in 2017. ThreeLife launched in 2018, and The Edge TV later moved between broadcast and online distribution. MediaWorks announced in October 2019 that it intended to sell its television operations. The proposed disposal included Three, ThreeLife, Bravo, ThreeNow, Newshub and related channels and facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to wider cost pressures across MediaWorks, including announced job reductions in 2020. The television sale was completed on 1 December 2020 when Discovery, Inc. acquired the division. The business became Discovery NZ Limited and was subsequently presented as Discovery New Zealand. Discovery reorganised the New Zealand and Australian businesses into a trans-Tasman structure in 2021. The restructuring included regional newsroom changes, including the closure of Newshub's Dunedin office. The channel portfolio was subsequently reshaped again. ThreeLife and related services were removed, and Discovery prepared Eden and Rush as replacements for Choice TV and other services. Eden focused on lifestyle, drama and factual programming, while Rush was designed around high-energy factual, survival and adventure content. After Discovery, Inc. merged with WarnerMedia in 2022, the New Zealand television operation became part of Warner Bros. Discovery. Three carried selected major sports programming, including free-to-air coverage of the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. The company also continued to operate entertainment, factual, lifestyle and news brands. Warner Bros. Discovery announced in 2024 that it would close Newshub, citing the long-term decline in television advertising revenue. The final Newshub bulletin aired on 5 July 2024, with approximately 300 positions affected. Stuff later supplied ThreeNews evening bulletins for Three. This marked the end of the predecessor organisation's long-running in-house television news operation. In July 2025, Sky Network Television agreed to buy Warner Bros. Discovery's New Zealand free-to-air television and streaming assets for NZ$1. Completion occurred on 1 August 2025. Warner Bros. Discovery retained pay television, HBO Max and local production activities in New Zealand. The acquired company was renamed Sky Free because it could no longer use the former Discovery name. Sky retained the Three and ThreeNow consumer brands and used Sky Free as the corporate and trademark identity for the free-to-air and advertising-supported activities.

• 2025

  Sky acquires the free-to-air operations and launches Sky Free

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  Sky Network Television completes its acquisition of the free-to-air and streaming assets and renames the subsidiary Sky Free.

• 2024

  Newshub closes

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  Newshub airs its final bulletin after Warner Bros. Discovery announces the closure of its news division.

• 2022

  Eden and Rush are introduced

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  The channel portfolio is reorganised with Eden and Rush replacing earlier services.

• 2020

  Discovery completes acquisition of MediaWorks TV

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  Discovery acquires the television division and renames the subsidiary Discovery NZ Limited.

• 2018

  ThreeLife launches

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  MediaWorks launches a lifestyle-focused channel under the ThreeLife name.

• 2017

  TV3 becomes Three

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  The flagship commercial channel receives the Three identity.

• 2016

  FOUR becomes Bravo

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  A joint venture with NBCUniversal Television Distribution leads to the replacement of FOUR by Bravo.

• 2013

  MediaWorks TV Limited is formed

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  MediaWorks creates its television subsidiary as the successor to TVWorks.

• 2004

  MediaWorks New Zealand is created

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  TVWorks and RadioWorks merge to create MediaWorks New Zealand, bringing the television and radio businesses into one group.

• 1989

  TV3 is founded

  [1]Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org

  TV3 is established as a private New Zealand television broadcaster after regulatory changes permit commercial competition to state television.

A New Zealand free-to-air and ad-supported television platform combining broad-reach national channels with digital streaming, entertainment, lifestyle, factual and sports content.

• Free-to-air television channel · 1989

  Three

  Three is the principal general-entertainment channel in the portfolio and the direct successor to TV3. It carries locally produced and acquired entertainment, reality, drama, current-affairs and sports programming. The channel has also served as the home of the former Newshub news service and later ThreeNews evening bulletins produced by Stuff.

• Advertising-supported streaming service

  ThreeNow

  ThreeNow is the group's digital streaming and catch-up platform. It provides online access to selected television programming and supports the ad-funded distribution model of the free-to-air operation. The service originated under the MediaWorks television business and was retained after the 2025 acquisition by Sky.

• Free-to-air entertainment channel · 2016

  Bravo

  Bravo is an entertainment channel introduced in New Zealand in 2016 when FOUR was replaced through a joint venture involving NBCUniversal Television Distribution. Its programming has centred on reality, lifestyle, factual and entertainment formats.

• Free-to-air lifestyle and entertainment channel · 2022

  Eden

  Eden replaced the proposed Gusto identity and was introduced as a channel for lifestyle, British drama, game shows, factual programming and selected films. Its schedule also included an evening Newshub bulletin under the former Discovery New Zealand structure.

• Free-to-air factual and adventure channel · 2022

  Rush

  Rush was introduced as a high-energy factual and adventure channel. Its announced programming included survival, motoring, outdoor and extreme-adventure formats such as Wheeler Dealers, Man vs. Wild, Street Outlaws and Treehouse Masters.

• Television news service · 2016

  Newshub

  Newshub was the predecessor group's television, online and app-based news service. It replaced the 3 News identity on the TV3 network and Radio Live news branding in 2016. Warner Bros. Discovery ended the service in July 2024.

• 2022Rugby World Cup 2021 free-to-air coverage

  New Zealand

  Three was selected as the New Zealand free-to-air broadcaster for the delayed Rugby World Cup 2021, held from October to November 2022.

  Outcome. The event expanded the channel's sports offering and was broadcast during the Discovery New Zealand period.

  Source

• 2025

  Sky Network Television acquires the free-to-air and streaming assetsM&A

  Background

  Warner Bros. Discovery decided to exit New Zealand free-to-air television while retaining pay television, HBO Max and local production activities.

  Action taken

  Sky Network Television acquired the free-to-air television and streaming operations for NZ$1, completing the transaction on 1 August 2025.

  Aftermath

  The subsidiary was renamed Sky Free, while Three and ThreeNow were retained as consumer brands.

  Acquisition price. NZ$1 (Transaction announced and completed in 2025)

  Source

• 2024

  Warner Bros. Discovery closes NewshubStrategy

  Background

  Warner Bros. Discovery cited a significant decline in television advertising revenue and proposed ending its New Zealand news operation.

  Action taken

  The company rejected a staff proposal for a smaller bulletin service and confirmed that Newshub would end on 5 July 2024.

  Aftermath

  Approximately 300 positions were affected, and Stuff began producing ThreeNews bulletins for Three. The decision prompted public concern about media concentration in New Zealand.

  Source

• 2022

  Eden and Rush replace earlier channel servicesProduct launch

  Background

  Discovery planned to refresh its free-to-air channel portfolio after earlier services, including ThreeLife, were removed or repositioned.

  Action taken

  The proposed Gusto channel was renamed Eden, and Rush was introduced as a separate high-energy factual and adventure service.

  Aftermath

  The portfolio focused on lifestyle, drama, factual, survival and adventure programming.

  Source

• 2020

  Discovery acquires MediaWorks TVM&A

  Background

  MediaWorks was selling its television arm amid structural pressures affecting commercial television.

  Action taken

  Discovery acquired the television operations, including Three, Bravo, ThreeNow and Newshub, with completion on 1 December 2020.

  Aftermath

  The business was renamed Discovery NZ Limited and later became part of Warner Bros. Discovery.

  Source

• 2019

  MediaWorks decides to sell its television divisionM&A

  Background

  MediaWorks sought to dispose of its television operations, including its channels, streaming service and news business.

  Action taken

  The company pursued a sale that was ultimately completed with Discovery in 2020.

  Aftermath

  The television division left MediaWorks and became Discovery NZ Limited.

  Source

1. 1Sky Freeen.wikipedia.org