ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

NOW THAT WE'RE ON a new satellite.

The satellite that carried New Zealand free-to-air TV transmissions is retiring in May. To keep providing free satellite TV, we've moved to a replacement satellite. At the same time, our satellite TV network has been upgraded to be more robust and ready for future enhancements.

This won't matter to you if you use a UHF aerial or the Freeview Streaming TV app to watch TV. And this update is expected to be seamless for most who tune in through a satellite dish.

However, as we've recommended over the previous months, older satellite boxes should be replaced to keep watching free satellite TV.

If you're tuned in through a satellite dish and experience any unexpected issues, follow the simple steps below to help put things right.

What To Do

While most TVs and satellite boxes would've picked up this satellite TV update automatically, follow the steps below if yours appear to be misbehaving.

Are you tuned in through a satellite dish?

It can be a bit confusing to know how you're actually getting Live TV - it's the last thing we think about when we're enjoying our shows. But it's important to know how you're tuned in, so you can find the right tips for resolving any problems.

Check here to see if you're tuned in through a satellite dish.

If you're using a UHF aerial or the Freeview Streaming TV app and looking for support, head here. Please ignore the rest of this page because the satellite TV update has no effect on your TV viewing experience whatsoever.

If you are using a satellite dish, read on.

Do you need a new box?

If you've lost ALL channels, check if you need to upgrade your satellite box.

Most TVs and satellite boxes will continue working after this update; however, some satellite boxes have lasted many years and run on outdated technology which won't work with the transmission from the new satellite. There aren't many of these older boxes left - if you have one, it's time to upgrade.

Check Your Box

See Upgrade Options

Channel surf

If your TV or satellite box has lost a couple of channels, move through your entire channels list from TVNZ 1 to TVNZ 2, to Three..., all the way to the very last channel then back to TVNZ 1. Just as if you're channel surfing.

This can refresh the channels list on your TV or box and help pick up any channels dropped accidentally.

Retune or Rescan Your TV or Satellite Box

Still having trouble? Give your TV or satellite box a cold retune.

If your TV is connected to a satellite box, make sure to retune the box.

A cold retune will help most TVs or satellite boxes correctly pick up the latest satellite TV service or any updates it had previously missed. But it won't help if you have an older satellite box, check to see if it's time for an upgrade.

How to Cold Retune

Satellite TV reception playing up?

The new satellite should mean clearer, more reliable reception for most viewers. But if your satellite dish is not in good working order or you're in one of a few remote areas, you might notice issues. Learn more here.

Reception issues typically appear as pixelated or scrambled video, or you may get no signal on some channels or all channels (Lost all channels? Check if you need a new box). In some cases, reception may be worse on rainy days or at certain times of the day.

If this is what you're experiencing and you've tried steps 1-4 to no avail, please let us know.

Report Reception Issue

Common Questions

Why is this satellite transition taking place?

The satellite that carried New Zealand TV transmissions must retire in May. We need to transition to a replacement satellite before that in order to ensure free satellite TV continues to be available for New Zealanders.

When are we moving to the new satellite?

The move is scheduled for the week commencing 14 April. And before you ask, we can't share an exact date because some of the work depend on the weather and other organisations.

Am I tuned in through satellite?

Here's a super easy way to tell how you're getting Freeview: check your channels!

If you're tuned in through a satellite dish, you should have George FM on channel 70.
If you're tuned in through a UHF aerial, you should have CH200 on channel 200.
And if you stream live TV using the Freeview Streaming TV app, you would have Juice TV on channel 38.

The satellite transition does affect you if you're tuned in through a UHF aerial or streaming live TV. If you're using a UHF aerial or streaming Live TV and looking for support, find it here.

If you're tuned in through satellite and experience any problems, find out what you can do here.

What do I need to do if I'm tuned in through satellite?

For most who tune in with a satellite dish, this change would be seamless and there's nothing you need to do. Your TV or satellite box would've updated automatically.

If you experience any unexpected issues, please see here for a few simple steps on what to do.

Here's a quick summary of those steps.

1. Check if you're actually tuned in with a satellite dish here.

2. See if you need to upgrade your old satellite box. Check here & see upgrade options here.

3. If you're missing a few channels, power cycle your TV (turn off at the wall, wait 10 seconds before turning back on), then move through all channels like you might do when you channel surf.

4. Cold retune or reset your TV/box if issues persist. Cold retune/reset your satellite box if you have one.

5. If your satellite TV reception is still playing up, let us know here for advice on what you can try next.

If you get Freeview through a UHF aerial or our Freeview Streaming TV app: this change doesn't affect those Freeview services, find support here if you're having any issues.

Upgrade options to replace an older satellite box

The simplest upgrade is to get a new satellite box, such as one of the following:

Dish TV Sat1 box - for your standard Live TV
SmartVU+ A7080 box - Live TV plus apps like TVNZ+, ThreeNow, Māori+ etc.
Dish TV S7070PVR or Panasonic DMR-HST270 - to record Live TV.

See here for where to buy a new box.

Maybe you'd prefer to do away with the box altogether and plug directly into a new TV. Just make sure it's a dual-tuner TV.

Ready to just use apps? If you have good internet access, you can stream Live TV using the Freeview Streaming TV app - it's free and available to download on Smart TVs. And if your TV isn't smart, you can "make it smart" by adding a SmartVU dongle.

Why do I need to upgrade my box?

Some satellite boxes last a long time! There are still a few older satellite boxes in use today that run on outdated legacy technology.

Moving to the new satellite requires all channels to be transmitted using newer technical standards and methods (specifically DVB-S2).

Unfortunately, older satellite boxes don't support these new standards or the new satellite transmission, and would lose access to all channels. While we don't make or sell any set top boxes or TVs, based on market data most of those older boxes have been in use for more than 7 years. They've lasted longer than your average smartphone, and are due for an upgrade.

Freeview-approved satellite boxes sold since 2017 are expected to be compatible, as are Freeview-approved dual tuner TVs.

Will I need to repoint or adjust my satellite dish?

The new satellite is in the same position as the one it's replacing. This means most viewers won't need to adjust their satellite dish so long as it's in good working order.

However, if your reception is very poor, you may need to make adjustments & here's why:

The dish may be misaligned or in poor condition (applies to cabling, LNB and other components too).
You may be on the margin of optimal coverage and may need a larger dish. This applies if you're in the Far North (includes Bay of Islands), top of East Cape or bottom of Southland.

Tips for great satellite TV reception

When we're on the new satellite, most viewers on mainland New Zealand will experience superior signal and better TV reception automatically, no need to do a thing!

However, it being a different satellite, the signal we're getting will be different.

If you're in the far north (including Bay of Islands), top of East Cape and bottom of Southland and experience poor satellite TV reception on rainy days or in the afternoons/evening, you may need a larger satellite dish (75cm or larger). Contact your local TV installer to check if you do. Or if you have good internet access you can use the Freeview Streaming TV app to watch TV - it's free and available on most Smart TVs.

If you're elsewhere in New Zealand and your satellite TV reception is glitching, your dish setup may not be in good working order and it's best to reach out to your local installer to check and fix your satellite dish setup.

What if I get both Freeview and Sky through the same dish?

You can continue to watch Freeview just like before.

Just check any satellite box you're using for Freeview to see if it needs to be upgraded.

Need to know more?

Let us know if you have a question we've yet to cover and we'll do our best to hunt down an answer for you.

Ask us