Discovery has announced it will launch two new free-to-air channels, Gusto and Rush, as well as a new Newshub Live at 8pm bulletin and AM Early show in 2022.
The news was unveiled as part of programming plans that will see Discovery, which owns Newshub, increase its local content by 70 percent as well as expanding its news offerings and transforming its on demand service, ThreeNow.
New Zealand's fourth primary free-to-air channel Gusto will launch in March 2022, taking over from the former Choice TV. The channel will air local and international titles such as Changing Rooms UK and Kiwi production Great Southern Truckers, as well as the new Newshub Live at 8pm bulletin.
Discovery will also launch another free-to-air TV channel called Rush in the same month, described as the "perfect partner to Bravo". The channel will feature shows across the survival and adventure genres including Wheeler Dealers, Man vs Wild, Street Outlaws and Treehouse Masters.
The introduction of a new tightly-curated 30 minute news bulletin, Newshub Live at 8pm, will air on Gusto next year and focus on the big stories of the day, as well as feature interviews with newsmakers.
Three's pre-existing Newshub Late bulletin will be reshaped, while a new AM Early show at 5.30am will offer a news fix to early risers with a focus on business issues.
Earlier on Wednesday, it was revealed The AM Show would be relaunching as AM, with Melissa Chan-Green announced as Ryan Bridge's new co-host.
Discovery also announced plans to transform ThreeNow into a standalone video entertainment platform which includes an exclusive season of NZ-developed reality show Heartbreak Island.
The new programming slate features a range of other reality shows that will feature real Kiwis, including Masterchef NZ, Tracked and Sort Your Life Out. Three will also welcome the return of The Masked Singer NZ, Dancing With The Stars NZ, the Patrick Gower: On series, David Lomas Investigates, 7 Days and The Block: Redemption.
Discovery ANZ (Australia and New Zealand) also announced its commitment to being a carbon zero business within five years, by 2026. It has been Toitū carbonreduce certified by environmental certifications provider Toitū Envirocare, which recognises the company is taking action on climate change.
