Industry

ITV Studios and Television New Zealand (TVNZ), New Zealand’s largest television network, have announced the renewal of the partners’ long-standing first-look output deal, gaining exclusive access to ITV Studios' upcoming programming across genres, including drama, entertainment, factual entertainment and documentaries.

In addition to the output deal, marquee brand Love Island and its three English language versions from the UK, Australia and the US, alongside selected international seasons from around the world, will return to TVNZ+ for a sizzling summer of fun in the sun. The UK’s companion series Love Island: Aftersun and the brand’s first-ever spin-off series, Love Island Games, which brings together former Islanders from around the world for a second chance at love as they compete in couple and team challenges, will also be available on TVNZ+ following its debut in the US on Peacock in June.

Record-breaking viewing figures saw the most recent season of Love Island UK become the most-watched series ever on ITV Hub, with more than 269 million streams last summer with content posted on the Love Island social accounts reaching almost 2 billion. Winter Love Island 2023 returned to South Africa, welcoming brand-new host Maya Jama and was the most-watched programme on ITVX, with over 57 million streaming hours. TVNZ will launch Love Island UK S10 in June.

Augustus Dulgaro, Executive Vice President, Global Partnerships, Asia Pacific at ITV Studios, said: “The quality, diversity, and commercial appeal of our global catalogue allows us to continue this incredible partnership with TVNZ. We’re delighted to keep offering New Zealand audiences with the very best of our new and returning series.”

TVNZ Director of Content, Cate Slater, added: “We’re thrilled to be continuing our long-standing partnership with ITV. This output deal ensures New Zealand viewers will continue to have access to some of their favourite shows, from The Chase to Coronation Street. They’ll also get to watch some of the very best UK scripted and non-scripted content, with programming from ITV Studios’ comprehensive slate appearing across our channels and platforms. Along with this deal, we’re excited to welcome Love Island back home to TVNZ+. The global juggernaut is a fan favourite for a reason, and we know Kiwis will love being able to stream it for free once again.”

As part of the multi-year deal, TVNZ will continue to show some of ITV Studios’ most popular series such as, Coronation Street, Emmerdale, The Chase, The Voice UK, The Voice USA and The Voice Australia and Hell’s Kitchen.

TVNZ has acquired more than 10,000 hours of scripted and non-scripted programming from ITV Studios in the Asia-Pacific region over the last decade. Most recent acquisitions include three new ITV/ITVX dramas: Malpractice, the new nail-biting medical thriller from World Productions, directed by BAFTA-nominated Philip Barantini (Boiling Point, The Responder) and written by former NHS doctor Grace Ofori-Attah; Nolly, the three-part drama starring Academy Award-nominated Helena Bonham-Carter from BAFTA-winning writer Russell T. Davies and Nicola Shindler’s Quay Street Productions; and Maternal, the six-part medical drama executive produced by BAFTA winner Patrick Spence (A Spy Among Friends, Litvinenko, Adult Material) and Kat Pugsley (The A Word, Ralph & Katie) for ITV Studios, alongside Jacqui Honess-Martin and James Griffiths, and produced by Betsan Morris Evans (Ridley Road, War of the Worlds).

The deal was brokered by VP Sales Camelia Mowbray and New Zealand Sales Executive Harry Seward.

Love Island is co-owned by ITV Studios and Motion Content Group Ltd and is distributed internationally by ITV Studios. The hit show has been commissioned in 26 territories ranging from the UK to the USA, Greece to Germany and many more. Love Island Games is produced by ITV Entertainment, an ITV America company.