Not to brag, but we like to think we are the best free-to-air platform in New Zealand. All the channels and features we provide aren’t locked behind any subscription fees. Just whip out that remote, turn the TV on and bam, you have access to high calibre content, carefully curated by some of the best broadcasters around the country.

Over a million Kiwi homes already use Freeview to watch their favourite shows on Live TV.

Freeview is built into TVs, set-top boxes and recorders created by leading brands, all tested and approved by us, so you have the power to choose from a wide range of products to suit how you want to enjoy TV.

Who can get Freeview?

Everybody in New Zealand can get Freeview! If you live in NZ and own a TV, then your halfway there already.

Take a look at this link to find out what option best suits you.

Will there be ongoing charges?

No way, we are a free service and always will be. Once you’ve set your TV up, your good to go.

You can find out what kind of setup suits you best here

Why does Freeview exist?

To help ensure that all New Zealanders get a quality free-to-air TV and radio experience, free forever. Therefore, we provide a range of platforms to ensure everyone in NZ can get Freeview, be it by an UHF aerial Satellite dish or using the internet. 

We don’t make, sell, or install any TV or AV equipment, we do work with the manufacturers, retailers and installers who do.

Our collab across the industry include testing and certifying TV and set-top boxes before they hit the stores. 

We also like to collaborate with the leading manufacturers of TVs, recorders, and Set Top Boxes to test and certify the devices they make to ensure they work with NZ’s broadcasting specifications.

We also make sure finding information on what Freeview experience you want is easy, as well as pointing you in the right direction for technical issues.

Freeview is accessible to everyone in New Zealand, and you have options to tailor your Freeview experience to your preferences.

Choosing the Right Product: The product you need depends on your preferences:

• You can select from Live TV, Streaming TV, and Record options, or a combination of these, depending on the product you choose.
• You'll also need to consider your TV antenna: either a UHF aerial or a satellite dish, depending on your location and coverage. Unless you are only Streaming, then you will only need the internet and a compatible device.

Product Compatibility: Most products available in stores are compatible with either a UHF aerial or a satellite dish. There are also dual tuner TVs for flexibility in case you're unsure about your antenna type. Use this link to find approved products.

Installing a TV Antenna: If you don't already have a TV antenna, you can get one installed. Use the installer directory to obtain a quote from installers in your area.

Product Setup: After selecting your product, follow the setup instructions provided in the manual or setup guide that comes with your TV, set-top box, or recorder.

Getting Help: If you need assistance with setup, you can:

•  Contact an installer in your area for professional assistance (note that installers charge for their services).
• Contact the manufacturer of your device.

Getting Freeview is accessible and customizable, ensuring you can enjoy your favorite TV content for free.

Absolutely, all you need is a Freeview recorder, this will allow you to record and save any Live TV content, for free.

It doesn’t stop there, here some other features that these recorders offer.

• Record two channels at once or record one while you watch another.  All Freeview Recorders come with two tuners so can tune and record two channels at the same time.
• Record entire series in one click with Series Link:  You can record a single episode or the entire series when you book a recording with any Freeview Recorder.
• Pause Live TV
• Store hundreds of hours of TV: All Freeview Recorders have a hefty hard drive built-in, which will store about 500 hours of TV and movies, ready for you whenever it suits you.

Find trusted retailers here for Freeview approved products.

With a Freeview Recorder, you can record two programmes at the same time. While the two programmes are being recorded, you can watch any recordings in your playlist or recordings library.

Recording from the guide (or EPG) uses something called "alternate instance" which always chooses to record the original / first screening of the selected programme. 

The recorder would see the same programme on the Plus 1 channel as being identical to the one on the original channel and would always opt to record the show on the original channel and skip the one on the Plus 1 channel (unless there is a prior conflict in your booked recordings).

The advantage of recording off the original channel is that broadcast quality is often better, leading to better quality recordings. For example, most prime time shows on TVNZ 1, TVNZ 1 and Three are broadcast in HD via UHF; while the same shows on the Plus 1 channels would be broadcast in SD.

However, if you do wish to record from the Plus 1 channel, you can do so by manually setting the timer. Please refer to your device manual for instructions on how to do this.