First look at Duke, TVNZ's channel for boys

TVNZ's new channel will target male viewers. Photo / iStock

TVNZ has unveiled the first taste of Duke, it's "male-skewed" channel launching in March.

Duke, a free-to-air channel livestreaming on on Freeview and on Sky from March 20, today unveiled a two minute trailer and a website.

TVNZ Director of Content Jeff Latch said content would range between comedies like Family Guy and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, dramas American Fringe and Gotham, as well as sport.

"Big budget movies will feature in the schedule too," he said.

Confirmed shows include American Fringe, Scam City, The Indestructibles, Gotham, Agent X, Jekyll & Hyde, Beowulf, Family Guy, Two and a Half Men, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, The Last Ship and Angie Tribeca.

Sporting coverage will include AFL, NFL, World Rally Championship, wrestling and football.

Movies include Killer Elite, The Last Stand, The Town, Next Three Days, Mud, Grudge Match, End Of Watch, 30 Minutes Or Less, Red Dawn and Dredd.

Duke will air scheduled shows between 6pm and midnight, with sports screening outside these hours.

Announced last month, Duke promised to livestream "an international slate of top drama, sport, comedy, factual titles and movies and be available to view across TV, desktop and mobile screens".

TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick said the channel was a direct response to market research that showed male TV viewers wanted "more distinctive content".

"There's been a resounding viewer response to the return of free-to-air sport and we think the time is right to up the ante, expand our content offering and take the channel from pop-up to permanent," he said.

"Viewers aren't hung up about whether they're watching on TV or mobile, at home or on the go. So we're making it available across a broad range of devices, screens and platforms simultaneously. This will take live streaming further than any other local channel," he says.

- nzherald.co.nz