Freeview is set to launch Freeview NextGen, a new service expanding its ability to deliver New Zealanders’ favourite TV channels in an increasingly streaming-led world.
Built on the global DVB-I standard, Freeview NextGen is on track to be the world’s first nationwide free-to-air TV platform powered by this solution. This innovative new service delivers television channels seamlessly over the internet while maintaining the familiar experience of watching live TV.
Freeview NextGen allows viewers to tune in to Freeview channels via WIFI or broadband, without the need for a dedicated app, a satellite dish or aerial connection.
While Freeview remains a staple in New Zealand households, Kiwis increasingly rely on broadband connectivity for their home entertainment. The introduction of Freeview NextGen will ensure free-to-air channels remain easy to find and universally available as TV designs and setups evolve, all the while preserving the simple, comforting, quintessentially local TV experience audiences value.
The new service is also designed to work in harmony with traditional TV setups. For viewers who choose to connect both an antenna and broadband, Freeview NextGen will intelligently combine both signals into a single, clutter-free TV Guide. This hybrid approach automatically removes duplicate channels and provides access to the widest possible range of content all in one place, giving Kiwis the ultimate flexibility in how they watch.
Freeview, alongside launch partners Hisense and TCL, expect to debut Freeview NextGen in Q3 of 2026, placing New Zealand ahead of other markets where the DVB-I standard is being trialled.
Leon Mead, General Manager, Freeview, says meeting consumer expectations for free-to-air access is at the heart of Freeview NextGen, with its development driven by diversifying viewer habits and TV interface designs as well as enhancements in technology.
“Freeview NextGen represents momentum in futureproofing free-to-air television for all
New Zealanders. There is no doubt we love streaming live TV, and Freeview NextGen makes this simpler than ever. While the trusty aerial and satellite will be around for a while, this is the future for TV”, says Mead.
Watching TV channels over WIFI with Freeview NextGen will not require downloading any apps as it will be integrated as part of the native TV interface and setup process. At launch, this will only be available on TCL and Hisense TVs, but we expect to see it become widely available as more brands adopt the standard.
Freeview NextGen marks a leap forward for free-to-air TV. Its arrival will simplify live TV streaming and setup into a single, intuitive step, making it easier than ever for New Zealanders to connect with the local content and channels they love.
