TVNZ makes major play for sports and events television

The America's Cup is just one of the major live events coming to TVNZ soon. Photo / TVNZ

TVNZ has pulled off a massive coup with its 2019 lineup, nabbing some of the biggest sporting and entertainment events in the world.

The network announced its 2019 lineup at a showcase event this evening, revealing the international and local content Kiwis can expect to see on their screens in the new year.

One of the major takeaways was its live event coverage, which will see TVNZ play home to the Rugby World Cup in 2019, the Tokyo Paralympics in 2020 and the America's Cup in 2021.

"We're all about sharing those big moments that matter to New Zealand and sport is a big part of New Zealand's culture - especially rugby," says TVNZ's content director Cate Slater.

"And the America's Cup is such a big part of our heritage. Most Kiwis will remember Peter Montgomery saying 'the America's Cup is now New Zealand's cup' - it's one of the most famous lines in television broadcast history.

"You just see how viewers flock to see those events on air and that's what's really important to us; bringing people in live."

TVNZ has broadcast all of the America's Cup races up until last year when it moved to Sky. The Rugby World cup however, is back on the network for the first time since 2011.

It will share RWC rights with Spark, which is set to launch its own sports streaming service early next year.

TVNZ also scored a big win in getting the Oscars back from Sky for the first time in more than a decade - it was last aired on TVNZ in 2007 - and has also secured the Grammy Awards for another year.

"Getting the Oscars back is massive. We want to be the home of big events, so we've now got the two biggest awards ceremonies; the Oscars and the Grammys, and we're really excited to bring those back to free-to-air," says Slater.

It's all part of the plan to get big audiences tuning into "must-watch-now" television, whether that be news, sport, events or even reality TV, she says.

"It's those big water-cooler moments that you need to be tuning into on the night to be part of the conversation."

To that end, TVNZ has also announced the new seasons of Project Runway NZ, The Great Kiwi Bake Off and Heartbreak Island, as well as the return of hit reality series Celebrity Treasure Island.

The popular series originated in New Zealand in 2001 and ran for nine seasons, featuring a host of well-known Kiwis including Dominic Bowden, Lana Coc-Kroft, Jason Gunn, Hayley Holt and Clarke Gayford.