Telecom says it will ditch the name of its soon-to-launch internet television service, ShowmeTV, after two companies with similar brand names raised concerns.

Telecom believes a problem affecting a small part of its North Island broadband network has been resolved.

So Telecom is to become Spark, launch ShowMeTV and become "the Netflix of New Zealand", writes Chris Barton. What a confusing confluence.

The NZX will run out of steam unless companies, particularly the larger ones, can take advantage of the stronger economy, writes Brian Gaynor.

Telecom has unveiled a partnership with Spotify and will offer some mobile customers free accounts with the online music giant.

Telecom's ShowMeTV should cut another chink in Sky Television's armour built up over 25 years of being a pay television monopoly, writes John Drinnan.

Chorus says it isn't relying on High Court action or an appeal to the Commerce Commission to reduce the changes it has to make to its business.

Two NZ companies with similar names to Telecom's internet TV venture, ShowmeTV, say resulting consumer confusion will have "massive implications" on their businesses.

Telecom has revealed its plan to become the Netflix of New Zealand by providing movies and TV shows to subscribers over the internet.

If Telecom harbours the spark of innovation its new name suggests, its internet TV venture could finally crack Sky TV's monopoly on premium content.

Telecom chief executive Simon Moutter says his company's name change is a "marker", showing that its future is very different from its past.

Private companies should change their names only after much consideration.

Telecom "hanging up"on its old name and brand threatens to eclipse the really big news for consumers this morning, Hamish Fletcher writes

Telecom intends to change its name later this year to Spark and will launch its own internet TV service called ShowmeTV.

Sky Network Television, New Zealand's dominant pay television operator, will no longer resell its service through Telecom, the nation's largest phone company.

NZ shares were mixed yesterday as investors cast forward to next month's earnings season, and as regional markets mulled this week's Federal Reserve meeting.

New Zealand shares fell yesterday as the market joined a region-wide decline, and was paced by retailers after the Warehouse Group joined Hallenstein Glassons in issuing a profit warning.

NZ shares rose to a two-month high, paced by Chorus, Kathmandu and Sky Network Television as the prospects of strong economic growth drew retail investors to the equity market.