HGTV opens in New Zealand

Fixer Upper centres on design and remodelling professionals Chip and Joanna Gaines

Scripps Networks Interactive-owned US cablenet HGTV is set to launch as a free-to-air channel in New Zealand.

HGTV, which airs home-improvement, DIY, design, real-estate and gardening television content, will launch on Freeview channel 17 on June 27.

The channel is rolling out in collaboration with Canada-based Blue Ant Media and Scripps. It will operate under the management of Blue Ant’s broadcast channel, Choice TV, which is headquartered in Auckland.

The schedule will largely comprise content that has aired on HGTV in the US, including ratings hit Fixer Upper as well as series such as Tiny House Big Living, Five Day Flip and House Hunters International – all of which will air in New Zealand for the first time.

Internationally, the channel has rolled out in Canada, the Caribbean and, most recently, across Asia and Australia.

All programmes in New Zealand will also be available online on catch-up service HGTV On Demand.