Kiwis can look forward to a whole new slate of free entertainment when Discovery’s new free-to-air channels eden and Rush launch on Monday, 21 March in New Zealand. Alongside Three, ThreeNow, HGTV and Bravo, Kiwis will be spoiled with more free content than ever before. 

Glen Kyne, Senior Vice President and General Manager ANZ said, “We’re delighted to launch two new free-to-air channels in New Zealand, delivering on our promise to bring more great entertainment to Kiwi audiences. eden and Rush combine the best of Discovery’s global library with carefully selected shows to build a stellar line-up of content. Whether viewers watch live or stream on ThreeNow, we know they’re going to love it.” 

eden delivers viewers A Better Everyday as New Zealand’s new fourth mass-market general-entertainment channel. eden will offer an escape from life’s routine, offering content that entertains, informs, and provokes new thinking and interests for viewers. 

Critically-acclaimed Australian drama series The Newsreader will premiere on eden on Thursday 24 March at 8:30 p.m., establishing Thursdays as the destination for premium international drama. New British drama series Finding Alice follows in the timeslot in May.

Changing Rooms UK and hit reality design series Ellen’s Next Great Designer will launch eden’s home renovation and lifestyle offering. British TV juggernauts Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Catchphrase will keep audiences entertained and the Kiwi obsession with The Chase will be answered with the NZ premiere of The Chase USA. The Great Gatsby and Silver Linings Playbook will launch eden’s Saturday night movies.

Keeping New Zealanders across the news of the day, Rebecca Wright joins Discovery to present the all-new weekday Newshub Live at 8pm on eden from Monday 21 March.

A selection of eden’s best content will also be available to stream on ThreeNow. Every episode of The Newsreader and Ellen’s Next Great Designer will be available to stream following the TV broadcast of episode one.

eden will launch on Freeview 8 and Sky 13. eden+1 will launch on Freeview 18 and Sky 505.

Rush will launch with a bang as New Zealand’s home of high adventure, high octane and high adrenaline reality. As the global leader in real-life entertainment, no company can match Discovery’s ability to curate theme nights every day of the week where audiences will Experience More of what they love, guilt-free!

From 21 March, Survival Mondaysbrings Discovery’s world-best survival and adventure content to audiences for free for the first time, launching with Manhunt with Joel Lambert, Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls and The Wheel.

Rolling out in launch week will be Tough Job Tuesdays featuring Abalone Wars and Deadliest Catch; Extreme Build Wednesdays including Treehouse Masters and Homestead Rescue; Motorhead Thursdays featuring Kindig Customs and Street Outlaws: No Prep Kings; Unexplained Fridays including Expedition Unknown and Strike It Rich Saturdays featuring Bering Sea Gold. Sundays will be huge on Rush with the launch of Restoration Sundays on 27 March offering exclusive premiere programs and free-to-air firsts including Goblin Works Garage, Iron Resurrection and Texas Metal.

A selection of Rush’s best content will be available to stream on ThreeNow.

Rush will launch on Freeview 14 and Sky 24.

Also from March 21, Discovery channels HGTV and Three+1 will move Freeview EPG positions. HGTV will move to Freeview 19 and Sky 21. Three+1 will move to Freeview 13 and Sky 503.