The satellite that currently carries New Zealand TV transmissions is retiring soon, so we need to transition to a replacement satellite by April in order to ensure Freeview continues to be available via satellite.

If you tune into Freeview through a satellite dish: 

1. Check to see if you can get Al Jazeera on channel 20. If you can't, you will need to replace your box.
2. Check if you're getting Sky and Freeview from a single satellite dish.
3. Then sign up to receive updates. When key details are finalised, we'll let you know if you need to do anything.

Note: you won't need to adjust your satellite dish if it's used solely to access Freeview.

If you get Freeview through a UHF aerial or our Freeview Streaming TV app: you won't need to do anything at all.

If you can't watch Al Jazeera on channel 20, your satellite box is too old and needs to be replaced.

You can choose from a range of replacement options.

• Where there’s good internet: stream Live TV channels with the Freeview Streaming TV app, it's free to download on most Smart TVs and preloaded onto SmartVU dongles. 
• If you prefer a ‘like for like’ setup, you can get a new satellite box.
• If you’d like to go ‘box-free’, get a dual-tuner TV. Available across the Samsung, Panasonic and LG range, and on select Veon and JVC models.

Pick up your new satellite box, SmartVU dongle or dual-tuner TV from trusted electronics retailers nationwide.

Some satellite boxes last a long time! There are still a small number of older satellite boxes in use today are limited to an outdated form of TV transmission.

As part of the satellite transition, Freeview's satellite TV service need to be updated. Sky Open, eden+1, Bravo+1 and Al Jazeera will be updated on 22 January, with further network updates required ahead of the satellite replacement in April.

Unfortunately, older satellite boxes can't pickup the updated channels and need to be replaced. Unless replaced, older satellite boxes will lose all channels when further network updates are made.

If you're using your satellite dish just for Freeview, you most likely wouldn't need to adjust it to keep watching Live TV after the satellite transition. 

The only exception is if your satellite dish is severely misaligned or damaged, it's a good idea to contact an installer to correct your satellite setup and ensure your dish is accurately aligned if you experience ongoing reception issues after the satellite transition.

This satellite change is only relevant to you if you're tuned into Freeview through a satellite dish.

It's not always easy to tell how you might be tuning in. Here's a super easy way: 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 using the Freeview Streaming TV App, you would have Juice TV on channel 38.

Depending on the final form of the satellite solution (to be confirmed in early 2025), you may need to make some changes to your setup. As we get more details, we'll share advice on what you may need to do to keep watching Freeview, if anything at all.

The best thing to do is to sign up for updates and select 'I have both Freeview and Sky' so we can keep you informed.

We're subscription-free, which means you don't need an account to watch Freeview. That makes it super easy to enjoy your favourite channels and shows. But it also means we don't have any contact details for you and can't reach out to keep you informed about this satellite update.

So, if you're tuned in to Freeview through a satellite dish, the best thing to do is to signup for updates, so we can keep you in the loop when we have full details about the final satellite solution.