KEY POINTS:
TVNZ7 has is now on air, beginning transmission with a two-hour debate involving leaders of the minor political parties.
The channel is free-to-watch on Freeview, which offers a bouquet of channels broadcast via satellite in digital format to spearhead New Zealand's move away from analogue television.
Other channels on Freeview include TV One, TV2, TV3, C4, Maori Television, Te Reo, Stratos, Cue and Parliament TV.
There are indications over 80,000 households already have Freeview decoders.
Media commentator and Associate Professor Jim Tully of Canterbury University says the new channel will finally reflect the goals and objectives of TVNZ's charter.
He says TVNZ7 will be able to broadcast special interest programmes at more sociable hours. Mr Tully says the network will be happy if it gets five per cent of the total viewing audience.
Mr Tully says TVNZ7 should be able to fulfil the state broadcaster's charter requirements, without commercial imperatives getting in the way.
- NEWSTALK ZB
