'Nadia's Farm'. Courtesy of Discovery, Inc.
Discovery, Inc. has revealed the first of its ambitious 2022 plans for New Zealand audiences, with a 70 per cent increase in local content, the launch of two new channels and the further expansion of its news offering and ThreeNow.
Glen Kyne, Senior Vice President and General Manager ANZ, says, “The transition to Discovery ANZ is complete and the network’s success in 2021 has paved the way for this new chapter in New Zealand television. We’ve never been better placed to grow our market position and give viewers a huge amount of content they love.”
“We’re growing our audience reach with NZ’s largest and most diverse mix of free-to-air and pay TV channels and building a more compelling ThreeNow and advertisers will reap the rewards of our first-class local content, growing viewership and powerful brands including the new Gusto and Rush.”
“Content remains at the heart of what we do and it’s exciting to be part of a global creator that itself is growing exponentially around the world. In 2022, viewers can expect our most compelling local production slate ever along with more of Discovery’s great international formats and talent.”
Three’s most exciting programming slate ever
2022 will deliver the most ambitious programming slate in flagship channel Three’s history. Discovery’s investment in local productions will deliver a 70 per cent increase.
Viewers can look forward to brand-new programmes including much-loved foodie Nadia Lim taking audiences inside her rural life in the all-new Nadia’s Farm, a deserving New Zealand town gets a new look in My Town Makeover and Kiwi lives will be transformed when they undergo an extreme home decluttering journey in Sort Your Life Out. Brand-new NZ original format Tracked will see teams of two from around the world race through epic and harsh NZ landscapes to reach the evacuation zone and the helicopter out, before they are caught by a group of elite trackers.
In 2022, Three brings back the much-loved Masterchef NZ for the first time in six years. Audiences will also see returning series, including ratings winner The Masked Singer NZ and the long-anticipated Dancing With The Stars NZ, along with smash-hit Match Fit, the compelling Patrick Gower: On series, David Lomas Investigates and an all-new 7 Days. New Zealand’s favourite DIY show will also return for its 10th season and the biggest battle yet when audience favourites from past seasons return for a second chance in The Block: Redemption. Patrick Gower: On, David Lomas Investigates and 7 Days are made with the help of New Zealand On Air. Match Fit is made with the help of New Zealand On Air and Te Māngai Pāho.
New free-to-air channel Gusto
Gusto will launch as New Zealand’s fourth primary free-to-air channel in March 2022, transforming the former Choice TV, to offer Kiwis ‘A Better Everyday’ with both local and international entertainment content and the latest news from Newshub. Launch titles include Changing Rooms UK, Big Family Farm and Finding Alice. The world premiere of NZ production Great Southern Truckers will also be the first of a number of planned local programmes. Gusto will appeal to viewers with an enthusiasm for life and offers more content they love – lifestyle and factual TV, the best of British drama, documentaries and real life stories, world renowned game shows and powerful films.
New free-to-air channel Rush
In March 2022, Discovery will also launch a second new free-to-air TV channel Rush. A perfect partner to Bravo, Rush will offer viewers unapologetically high-energy shows across the popular survival and adventure genres – including motoring, and off-the-grid living. Launch titles include Wheeler Dealers, Man vs. Wild, Street Outlaws and Treehouse Masters, which will feed the growing appetite for big, bold entertainment full of action and adventure.
Newshub and AM
Next year, Discovery’s award-winning news and current affairs expands its ambitious news footprint by introducing Newshub Live at 8pm on Gusto. The tightly-curated 30 minute bulletin will focus on the big stories of the day, including interviews with newsmakers on the day’s hot topics. Newshub Late on Three will be reshaped with its own identity and Kiwis can expect to see more prime time news specials. And as announced earlier today, Melissa Chan-Green will join Ryan Bridge as co-host of the all-new AM, which will be reshaped as a best-in-class television morning news programme. The new AM Early will satisfy the 5:30am audience by serving up local and international news, with a focus on business issues. On weekends, the newly appointed Laura Tupou will join Tom McRae in presenting the Newshub Live at 6pm bulletin.
ThreeNow
Discovery also announced further expansion plans to transform ThreeNow into a standalone video entertainment destination, offering enhanced capability, a better user experience and more content than ever before.
Commissioned exclusively for ThreeNow is a brand new season of the NZ-developed reality hit Heartbreak Island. The series, which has been a hit for Discovery audiences globally, begins filming at an island location early in 2022.
ThreeNow will also be the On-Demand home for shows from our five free-to-air channels Three, Gusto, Rush, Bravo and HGTV.
