Rapid TV News

Freeview NZ continues growth

Rose Major ©RapidTVNews | 13-07-2008

New Zealand’s free-to-air digital platform Freeview continues to grow, rising to 123,903 receivers sold by the end of June, up from the 100,000 mark in mid-April. 

Freeview said that 25,370 receivers were sold in the three months to the end of June.

With around 300,000 New Zealanders now having access to the platform, that means nearly eight per cent of the population have a Freeview receiver in their home after just 15 months. Freeview launched initially as a satellite-only service before the digital-terrestrial version, which includes a number of high-definition channels, launched in April.

However, there has been no huge rush to take advantage of the DTT offering, even with a Beijing Olympics 24-hour service. The DTT platform, called Freeview HD, contributed just 7,594 to the net additions figure.

Steve Browning, Freeview’s general manager, is keen to spruik the DTT offering. “With the recent launch of Sony BRAVIA V and W series digital TVs with Freeview HD built in we are seeing the different options available to access free digital TV growing,” he said.