Three
Three is a New Zealand national free-to-air television channel, originally launched as TV3 in 1989.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Three is a New Zealand national television channel and one of the country's principal commercial free-to-air broadcasters. It began broadcasting as TV3 on 26 November 1989, becoming New Zealand's first privately owned national television channel and breaking Television New Zealand's long-standing free-to-air monopoly. The service was created after a competitive warrant process for a third national television network, but its launch was delayed by litigation, the 1987 share-market crash and difficulties raising the capital needed for an ambitious regional operation. The eventual network was headquartered in Auckland, with more limited production, news and sales operations in other major centres. At launch, TV3 combined general entertainment, local programming, news, current affairs, sport and imported series. Its early years were financially difficult. Advertising income and audience performance were weaker than expected, several current-affairs and sports programmes were cancelled, staff were made redundant, and the company entered receivership in May 1990. Westpac became a major supporting shareholder and the channel was subsequently opened to overseas investment after the government relaxed foreign-ownership restrictions. Canwest acquired an influential stake in 1991 and later consolidated ownership, bringing tighter cost control and a stronger focus on the commercially important 18-to-49 audience. Under Canwest, the network expanded its transmission coverage and by the late 1990s was available to approximately 97 percent of New Zealand's population. TV3 broadened its portfolio in the 1990s. In 1997, its associated TV4 network launched as a younger-skewing free-to-air channel. TV3 also developed stronger relationships with Sky Television, built a significant local-content schedule and used major international programming and events to compete with TVNZ. In 2004, the television operation was placed within Canwest MediaWorks (NZ), allowing part of the Canadian group's New Zealand assets to be listed locally. Ironbridge Capital acquired control of CanWest MediaWorks (NZ) in 2007, and the resulting MediaWorks era included the introduction of high-definition broadcasting in 2008, further schedule repositioning and later financial restructuring. The channel adopted the name Three on 9 February 2017. The rebrand introduced a stylised '+HR=E' wordmark and a new on-air identity intended to present the channel as a unified content brand rather than merely a distribution outlet. The design received substantial criticism from some viewers, but the name Three became the channel's continuing identity. A second sister service, ThreeLife, launched in 2018 and was later withdrawn in 2020. MediaWorks put Three up for sale in 2019, and Discovery, Inc. acquired the television assets in a transaction completed on 1 December 2020. Following Discovery's 2022 combination with WarnerMedia, Three became part of Warner Bros. Discovery's New Zealand operations. The company's Newshub news service was discontinued in July 2024 after the owner cited declining advertising revenue. Stuff subsequently agreed to produce the channel's 6pm bulletin under the ThreeNews name. According to the supplied reference material, Sky Network Television acquired ownership of Three on 1 August 2025. The channel continues as a national digital free-to-air service, distributed terrestrially and by satellite through Kordia, with regional advertising targeted at four markets. Its wider offer includes entertainment, factual programming, local productions, acquired series and news-related content, with streaming availability associated with ThreeNow.
History
Three's origins lie in the New Zealand government's decision to authorize a third national television network. Applications for regional warrants opened in early 1985, and hearings followed later that year. In 1987 the Broadcasting Tribunal awarded all four regional warrants to the Tele-Vid Three group. The proposed service was initially designed around regional stations in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch, supported by shared national news, current affairs and advertising operations. The launch plan was delayed by legal challenges and by the financial consequences of the October 1987 share-market crash. Capital constraints forced the promoters to reduce the regional ambitions and concentrate the network around Auckland, while retaining smaller facilities in other major centres. TV3 finally began transmission on 26 November 1989, with Governor-General Paul Reeves formally launching the station. Regular programming began the next morning. Its arrival ended TVNZ's effective monopoly in national free-to-air television and introduced a more commercially aggressive competitor. The new network immediately faced substantial financial and competitive pressure. It struggled to attract the expected advertising share, and disappointing ratings led to the cancellation of some current-affairs and sports programmes, layoffs and reductions to parts of the schedule. NBC International was an early financial backer, but its shareholding was affected by New Zealand's foreign-ownership limits. TV3 entered receivership on 2 May 1990, continued broadcasting with Westpac support and was removed from the New Zealand Stock Exchange later that year because it could not meet listing requirements. Regulatory changes subsequently allowed greater overseas ownership. Canwest acquired a 20 percent stake in December 1991 and obtained management control. It later purchased Westpac's holding and then the remaining shares, becoming the controlling owner by the late 1990s. Canwest imposed closer budget discipline, sharpened the target audience and invested in transmission expansion. TV3's national reach grew substantially, with assistance from New Zealand On Air, and approached near-universal population coverage by 1998. The company also launched TV4 in 1997, creating a younger-oriented sister network. The Canwest years brought stronger commercial performance and an expanding programming slate. TV3 carried local drama, entertainment and factual shows alongside imported series, and it developed relationships with Sky Television, particularly around sports. In 2004 the television operation became part of Canwest MediaWorks (NZ), which listed a minority portion of the New Zealand assets. Ironbridge Capital acquired control in 2007. Under MediaWorks, TV3 became New Zealand's first television network to introduce high-definition broadcasting, beginning in April 2008. The schedule and brand continued to change as the competitive environment evolved. In 2010, the channel adjusted its intended audience from adults aged 18 to 49 toward the 25-to-54 demographic and moved some programmes to the newly planned Four service. In June 2013 MediaWorks entered receivership after taking on unsustainable debt. TV3 remained on air and staff retained their employment, while the business was restructured and its ownership gradually moved to Oaktree Capital Management. On 9 February 2017, TV3 was renamed Three. The rebrand used the distinctive '+HR=E' wordmark and sought to make the channel's identity reflect the breadth of its programming. Viewer response to the logo and imaging was mixed and often critical. ThreeLife launched in April 2018, but it and its timeshift service closed in March 2020. The closure was followed by the return of The Edge TV and the launch of Breeze TV on the relevant multiplex. MediaWorks announced the sale of its television assets in 2020, and Discovery completed the acquisition on 1 December of that year. The 2022 merger of Discovery and WarnerMedia placed Three within Warner Bros. Discovery. In 2024 the group decided to end Newshub, the news operation associated with Three, after citing deteriorating advertising economics. Stuff agreed to produce the replacement ThreeNews evening bulletin. The supplied reference material states that Sky Network Television became Three's owner on 1 August 2025. The channel now operates as a national digital free-to-air service, with terrestrial and satellite distribution through Kordia, regional advertising and an associated digital offering through ThreeNow.
- 2025
Sky Network Television ownership
[1]The supplied reference states that Sky Network Television acquired Three on 1 August 2025.
- 2024
Newshub closes and ThreeNews begins
[1]Newshub ended on 5 July, after which Stuff began producing Three's 6pm bulletin under the ThreeNews name.
- 2020
Discovery completes purchase
[1]Discovery completed its acquisition of MediaWorks' television assets, including Three.
- 2017
TV3 becomes Three
[1]The channel adopted the Three name and a substantially redesigned visual identity.
- 2008
High-definition broadcasting begins
[1]TV3 introduced high-definition broadcasting in April, coinciding with the launch of Freeview HD and MySky HDi.
- 1997
TV4 launches
[1]The associated TV4 network launched as a younger-skewing free-to-air channel.
- 1991
Canwest takes a strategic stake
[1]Canwest acquired a 20 percent holding and obtained management control of TV3.
- 1990
TV3 enters receivership
[1]Financial and competitive pressures placed the young network into receivership on 2 May.
- 1989
TV3 begins broadcasting
[1]TV3 launched on 26 November, with regular broadcasts commencing the following day.
- 1987
Tele-Vid Three receives national warrants
[1]The Broadcasting Tribunal awarded the Tele-Vid Three group all four regional warrants for New Zealand's proposed third national television network.
Products and positioning
A commercial, general-entertainment New Zealand television channel combining local productions, international programming, news-related content and digital viewing options.
Free-to-air television channel · 1989
Three
The core national television service, offering general entertainment, local productions, factual programmes, acquired international series and news-related programming. It is distributed digitally through terrestrial and satellite platforms, with regional advertising targeted to four New Zealand markets.
Television news bulletin · 2024
ThreeNews
Three's evening news service introduced after the closure of Newshub. From July 2024, the 6pm bulletin was produced by Stuff under an agreement with the channel.
Streaming and catch-up service
ThreeNow
The channel's associated digital platform, providing online access to Three programming and other broadcaster content. The supplied reference identifies ThreeNow as part of the Three brand system.
Former brand identity · 1989
TV3
The original name of the channel from its 1989 launch until the 2017 rebrand. TV3 established the service as New Zealand's first privately owned national television channel.
Controversies
1999
Broadcasting standards findings over 20/20 report
The Broadcasting Standards Authority upheld complaints concerning TV3's 1998 20/20 report 'Sex, Lies and Videotape'. The findings covered privacy, treatment of controversial issues, accuracy, fairness and responsible programming. The authority ordered TV3 to pay costs, broadcast statements and observe a temporary advertising restriction during a specified evening period.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Three rebrand
New Zealand
TV3 was renamed Three and given a new logo and on-air package intended to unify the channel's programming under one contemporary identity.
Outcome. The rebrand established the Three name, although the stylised logo and imaging attracted substantial viewer criticism.
- 1997TV4 launch
New Zealand
The TV3 group introduced TV4 as a younger-skewing free-to-air network, using a separate channel to extend its audience reach.
Outcome. The launch was described in the supplied reference as successful, with strong recognition and ratings compared with its cited competitor.
- 1989Come Home to the Feeling
New Zealand
TV3 launched with the slogan 'Come Home to the Feeling', positioning the new network as a warm, accessible alternative to the established broadcaster.
Outcome. The slogan formed part of the channel's launch identity.
Brand decisions
2024
Replace Newshub with a Stuff-produced bulletinStrategyBackground
Warner Bros. Discovery cited declining advertising revenue when proposing the closure of Newshub.
Action taken
Newshub ended on 5 July 2024, and Stuff began producing Three's 6pm news bulletin from the following day under the ThreeNews banner.
Aftermath
The change ended the previous in-house news operation and shifted bulletin production to an external newspaper-company partner.
2020
Sell the television assets to DiscoveryM&ABackground
MediaWorks sought a buyer for its television media assets amid ownership and financial restructuring.
Action taken
Discovery acquired the television assets, with completion on 1 December 2020.
Aftermath
Three became part of Discovery's New Zealand operations and later Warner Bros. Discovery after the 2022 corporate merger.
2017
Rename TV3 as ThreeStrategyBackground
Management concluded that the TV3 identity no longer represented the breadth and strength of the channel's programming.
Action taken
The broadcaster changed the name to Three and introduced a new visual identity.
Aftermath
The new brand remained in use, while the unusual '+HR=E' logo received widespread criticism from viewers.
Recent events
- 2025
Sky Network Television acquires Three[1]
M&A
The supplied reference material states that Sky Network Television became the owner of Three on 1 August 2025.
- 2024
Warner Bros. Discovery proposes ending Newshub[1]
Leadership change · Other
Warner Bros. Discovery proposed closing Newshub, citing declining advertising revenue. The closure was later confirmed, with the final broadcast on 5 July 2024.
- 2024
Stuff takes over production of Three's 6pm news bulletin[1]
Product launch
Stuff reached an agreement to produce the channel's evening news bulletin, branded ThreeNews, from 6 July 2024 after Newshub ended.
- 2020
Discovery completes acquisition of Three's television assets[1]
M&A
Discovery, Inc. completed its purchase of MediaWorks' television media assets, including Three.
- 2020
Three Ireland launches 5G[2]
Product launch · Product generation
Three introduced commercial 5G services in Ireland in September 2020, beginning the next major stage of its mobile-network technology rollout.
- 2019
MediaWorks offers Three for sale[1]
M&A
MediaWorks announced that its television channel Three was available for sale.
- 2018
ThreeLife launches as a sister channel[1]
Product launch
MediaWorks launched ThreeLife as a second sister channel to Three.
- 2017
Three adopts a new identity and name[1]
Other · Campaign
TV3 was renamed Three and introduced a new logo and on-air presentation built around the stylised '+HR=E' wordmark.
- 2015
O2 Ireland operations are integrated into Three Ireland[2]
M&A
Following regulatory clearance, the O2 brand was withdrawn and the acquired operation was fully merged into Three Ireland on 2 March 2015.
- 2014
Three Ireland launches 4G service[2]
Product launch · Product generation
Three launched LTE service in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Wexford and Waterford, later extending coverage to additional towns and cities.
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Sources14 sources
- 1Three (TV channel)en.wikipedia.org
- 2Three爱尔兰承认夸大用户数量en.wikipedia.org
- 33澳大利亚和沃达丰澳大利亚宣布拟议合并en.wikipedia.org
- 4Boys + Girls Rolls Out New Global Sponsorship Platform for Chelsea FCadworld.ie
- 5Local Architecture Firm Three Rebrands and Re-Staffsdmagazine.com
- 6Sky Partners With Discovery Nz To Serve Wimbledonscoop.co.nz
- 7Three appoints new director of salesmobilenewscwp.co.uk
- 8Three CEO Dave Dyson steps downtechradar.com
- 9Three expands full-fibre connectivity partnership with CityFibre | Computer Weeklycomputerweekly.com
- 10Three Ireland launches 5G network | Newstalknewstalk.com
- 11Three launches Big Tech Giveaway as stores set to reopenmobilenewscwp.co.uk
- 12Three UK appoints new director of digitalmobilenewscwp.co.uk
- 13Three UK Expands Strategic Collaboration with Amdocs to Provide Consumers with Next-Generation Digital Experiences and 5G Servicesitbusinessnet.com
- 14Three UK Partners with TCS to accelerate 5G Network Rolloutequitybulls.com
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