New Zealand’s first multi-screen report recently released by Nielsen found Kiwi’s love affair with the TV set continues to beat strongly after 46 years on the market. As of this year, nearly 3.6million watch content on a TV set (92% of the population) with around 10% of homes having a hybrid or smart TV.

TVNZ Chief Executive Kevin Kenrick says FreeviewPlus responds to Kiwis desire to watch content on bigger screens. “FreeviewPlus is a smart, simple solution that seamlessly brings OnDemand onto the big screen. There is nothing technical required of the viewer beyond being able to turn on their TV and yet they will have the best of both worlds – free to air television and the freedom of our OnDemand service.”

MediaWorks Group CEO, Mark Weldon says FreeviewPlus is an important new development in the New Zealand media landscape.

“By enabling viewers to move between linear free-to-air TV and ondemand services in a frictionless manner, FreeviewPlus delivers clear benefits for audiences and customers. MediaWorks is delighted to be announcing FreeviewPlus alongside our JV partners."

Maori Television CEO Paora Maxwell says he’s excited to be a part of improving New Zealand audiences’ viewing experience. “Freeview Plus will allow easy access to the wealth of programmes we have available on our two traditional channels, combined with our extensive catalogue of on-demand content, now all available to them in one place, on their TV screen.”

FreeviewPlus features:

 

• Switch seamlessly between live and ondemand TV with a click of a button
• Scroll through an 8-day TV guide that displays multiple channels at the same time
• A catch up guide goes back a week so you can catch up with ease
• Search across live and ondemand TV content
• Featured sections showcase selected programmes
• Browse TV and movies libraries by genre
• Set reminders and favourites
• More than 600 ondemand shows and movies
• And of course viewers will continue to receive all the benefit of Freeview|HD with many of their favourite shows broadcast in high definition and surround sound free from subscriptions.

FreeviewPlus is planned for release on the Freeview|HD platform in mid-2015. LG, Samsung, Sony and Panasonic FreeviewPlus Smart TVs and Dish TV FreeviewPlus set top boxes will be available in all leading electronics retailers from April / May 2015.  Viewers who upgrade to these Smart TVs or boxes and connect them to their UHF aerial and home broadband, will automatically pick up the FreeviewPlus service on go live.