Sky Free
Sky Free is a New Zealand television subsidiary of Sky Network Television operating free-to-air channels and the ThreeNow streaming service.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
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.
History
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 Network Television completes its acquisition of the free-to-air and streaming assets and renames the subsidiary Sky Free.
- 2024
Newshub closes
[1]Newshub airs its final bulletin after Warner Bros. Discovery announces the closure of its news division.
- 2022
Eden and Rush are introduced
[1]The channel portfolio is reorganised with Eden and Rush replacing earlier services.
- 2020
Discovery completes acquisition of MediaWorks TV
[1]Discovery acquires the television division and renames the subsidiary Discovery NZ Limited.
- 2018
ThreeLife launches
[1]MediaWorks launches a lifestyle-focused channel under the ThreeLife name.
- 2017
TV3 becomes Three
[1]The flagship commercial channel receives the Three identity.
- 2016
FOUR becomes Bravo
[1]A joint venture with NBCUniversal Television Distribution leads to the replacement of FOUR by Bravo.
- 2013
MediaWorks TV Limited is formed
[1]MediaWorks creates its television subsidiary as the successor to TVWorks.
- 2004
MediaWorks New Zealand is created
[1]TVWorks and RadioWorks merge to create MediaWorks New Zealand, bringing the television and radio businesses into one group.
- 1989
TV3 is founded
[1]TV3 is established as a private New Zealand television broadcaster after regulatory changes permit commercial competition to state television.
Products and positioning
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.
Marketing campaigns
- 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.
Brand decisions
2025
Sky Network Television acquires the free-to-air and streaming assetsM&ABackground
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)
2024
Warner Bros. Discovery closes NewshubStrategyBackground
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.
2022
Eden and Rush replace earlier channel servicesProduct launchBackground
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.
2020
Discovery acquires MediaWorks TVM&ABackground
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.
2019
MediaWorks decides to sell its television divisionM&ABackground
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.
Recent events
- 2025
Sky Network Television agrees to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's free-to-air assets[1]
M&A
Sky announced an agreement to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery's New Zealand free-to-air television and streaming operations for NZ$1. The transaction completed on 1 August 2025.
- 2025
Discovery NZ is renamed Sky Free[1]
Product launch · M&A
Sky confirmed that the acquired company would be rebranded Sky Free for trademarking reasons, while Three and ThreeNow would remain in use.
- 2024
Warner Bros. Discovery proposes closing Newshub[1]
Leadership change · Other
Warner Bros. Discovery proposed closing the Newshub news division because of declining television advertising revenue. The proposal generated concern about media concentration and the future of commercial television news in New Zealand.
- 2024
Newshub broadcasts its final bulletin[1]
Other
Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that Newshub's final bulletin would air on 5 July 2024. Stuff subsequently produced ThreeNews evening bulletins for Three.
- 2022
Choice TV is replaced by Eden and Rush[1]
Product launch · Product generation
Discovery announced a channel reshuffle that replaced Choice TV with Eden and introduced Rush, while retaining selected programming and adding new local and international content.
- 2022
Three selected as free-to-air Rugby World Cup broadcaster[1]
Campaign · Other
Three was announced as the New Zealand free-to-air broadcaster for the delayed 2021 Rugby World Cup, played in 2022.
- 2021
Discovery restructures its Australian and New Zealand operations[1]
Leadership change
Discovery announced plans to combine its Australian and New Zealand activities into a trans-Tasman organisation and appointed general managers for the two markets.
- 2021
Newshub closes its Dunedin newsroom[1]
Other
The Dunedin office was closed as part of Discovery's regional restructuring, leaving Christchurch as the principal South Island bureau alongside freelance coverage.
- 2020
Discovery agrees to acquire MediaWorks television operations[1]
M&A
Discovery confirmed the acquisition of MediaWorks' television arm, including Three, Bravo, ThreeNow and Newshub. Completion took place on 1 December 2020.
- 2019
MediaWorks announces sale of its television division[1]
M&A
MediaWorks announced plans to sell its television operations, including Three, ThreeLife, Bravo and associated streaming and news services.
Sources1 sources
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