TVNZ to launch youth-focused channel

TVNZ 6 will cease to exist from March 2011, to be replaced by a commercially-funded youth-focused channel, the broadcaster has announced.

The new channel will focus on "social television" for 15- to 24-year-olds.

"There's a group of young New Zealanders not being served by traditional free to air television and we believe a well conceived youth channel will be able to connect with them," says TVNZ Head of Digital Channels, Eric Kearley.

"MTV has closed its New Zealand operations and C4 is changing to an older-skewed channel so there is an audience and advertisers who want to talk with them."

TVNZ 6 and 7 are funded by $79 million of Government money over five years, which is due to expire in March 2012.

TVNZ 7 will inherit some of TVNZ 6's programming, including the two-hour preschool children's block, hourly news updates, News At 8, Media7, Back Benches and will also have a commitment to arts and cultural programming.

More details on the new channel, including its name, will be made early in the new year.

NEW TVNZ CHANNEL

* Targets 15- to 24-year-olds
* Funded from commercial revenue, with ads
* Broadcasting between midday and midnight
* Launch in March 2011

TVNZ 7

* Commercial free till at least mid-2012
* Back Benches and Media 7 to continue
* Commitment to arts and cultural programming
* Hourly news updates and one-hour News At 8 to remain
* Inherits some of TVNZ 6's children's programming