The Government has announced it is extending the existing Freeview|HD® (high definition) service to more regions throughout the country including Whangarei, New Plymouth, Rotorua, Taupo, Gisborne, Masterton, Wanganui, Nelson, Timaru and Invercargill making Freeview|HD® available to an extra 160,000 homes nationwide. Viewers can check whether they are in coverage by going to the Freeview website and using the Coverage checker www.freeviewnz.tv

As of March 1st there have been some changes made to the Freeview channel line up.

* TVNZ 6 no longer broadcasts on Freeview channel 6. It will be replaced by TVNZ U from Sunday 13th March.
* Triangle Stratos is now available on the Freeview|HD platform on channel 21.
* Freeview channel 100 (Freeview demo channel) has been removed as capacity is now required for new services like Triangle Stratos which launched on Freeview|HD March 1st

As an open access broadcast platform, Freeview does not control the channels or content broadcast. It is up to the individual broadcasters to make programming decisions on their channels. If you have specific queries about these changes please contact the individual broadcasters.

New TVNZ channel – U TV

TVNZ will launch their new channel – U TV on Freeview channel 6 from 4pm Sunday March 13th.

U is a brand new youth channel, featuring a mix of reality and factual based shows. Viewers use Facebook to interact with the presenters and the broadcast of U live, a daily entertainment music show.

What about Kidzone?

Kidzone features on the new TVNZ 7 for 2 hours in the morning, from 6am to 8am.

Why have TVNZ only kept 2 hours of Kidzone when everybody loves it so much?

With one public service channel TVNZ say they have to balance the schedule to reflect the interests of all viewers.

What has happened to TVNZ 6?

The most popular elements of the existing TVNZ 6 schedule have been incorporated into the schedule for the new TVNZ 7. A new commercial channel (U TV) will be launch on the frequency currently occupied by TVNZ 6 from Sunday 13th March. U TV targets 18-24 year old viewers.

For more information about these changes please contact TVNZ on (09) 916 7000.

There is children’s programming available on several Freeview channels including TV2, TV3, FOUR and Maori Television. For programme details please visit http://www.freeviewnz.tv/tv_channels_and_listings/ or press the EPG or GUIDE button on your TV remote.

Freeview Sales - December was the biggest ever month for sales of Freeview receivers across New Zealand! This is good news for all consumers because the faster the takeup the more likely it is for new broadcasters to see the Freeview platform as a viable way to broadcast their channels in a digital format to New Zealanders. Naturally uptake will continue to grow in 2011 once the Government starts educating the public about the dates they are planning to turn off the analogue network. We expect this education campaign to begin sometime in Q2.

Rugby World Cup – Just a remnder that ALL Rugby World Cup games will be on Freeview with some games being LIVE and in HD and the others delayed - naturally all games are broadcast free. A detailed schedule will be available on Freeviews website in the near future.

Freeview|HD demo channel going off air – The HD demo channel will be going off air at the end of February. The good news is that this means that the capacity will be used for new channels on Freeview|HD. The first of those will be Stratos which will be launching some time after that bringing the Freeview|HD offering to 14 -15 channels depending on where you live.

Freeview|HD (DTT) extension to 87% – We understand that there will soon be an announcement regarding the extension of the Freeview|HD platform to 87% of the population. This will add Freeview|HD coverage to all major provincial towns not currently in transmission coverage. Once detils are confirmed you will be able to use the updated Freeview coverage tool on Freeviews website to see where the coverage will extend to.

Changes to TVNZ and TVWorks channel offerings – Both TVNZ and TVworks are making changes to their channel offerings on Freeview over the next month. Keep checking back here for more information.

The government has launched its campaign to promote the national switch to digital television, or digital switch over.

Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman unveiled details of the "Going Digital" campaign, which includes a website (goingdigital.co.nz) and a freephone helpline (0800 838 800) so people can get the advice they need about switching to digital TV.

The government announced in September that New Zealand will make the switch, region by region, to digital television by November 2013, beginning with Hawke's Bay and the West Coast in September 2012.

"Over the coming months, 'Going Digital' will be working with local communities to ensure viewers know where to turn for advice," Coleman said.

Coleman said 71% of New Zealand households are already watching digital television through either Freeview, Sky or TelstraClear.

Households that have Freeview, Sky or TelstraClear are already set for digital switchover. Other viewers do not need to buy a new television to make the switch, but may need to buy a set-top box and possibly a new aerial or satellite dish depending on what equipment they currently have and where they live.

''In just under three years New Zealand will have completed the transition to digital television and today's launch is the start of high profile campaign to ensure that transition goes as smoothly as possible," Coleman said.

Source http://tvnz.co.nz/technology-news/digital-tv-switchover-campaign-underway-3931321

There has been no announcement yet on a television campaign, but we expect it to begin early 2011.

Today New Zealand Racing Board’s Trackside Channel will join the Freeview|HD® line up providing viewers with detailed, extensive coverage of New Zealand, Australian and international races, as well as a range of racing inspired programmes. The launch of Trackside increases the number of channels available to New Zealanders on Freeview|HD® to at least 13 TV and 3 radio channels.