TVNZ to launch paid on demand service

Stuff reports:

TVNZ has confirmed it intends to launch a paid, ad-free on-demand television service, possibly as early as later this year.

Broadcasting Minister Kris Faafoi declined to say whether he saw any obstacles.

The state-owned broadcaster has discussed launching a paid subscription service since 2014, but the company went further on Monday in indicating that was a firm plan.

Chief executive Kevin Kenrick made clear in 2018 that a paid service would be in addition to its advertising-funded OnDemand service, rather than a replacement for it.

This is the future, so it is good to see TVNZ go down this route. However you need some really good content to get people to pay.

I currently have three on demand subs and would be highly resistant to paying for a fourth. My three are:

• Netflix – for Star Trek Discovery, The Last Kingdom, Shameless and countless Netflix originals plus kids content
• Disney Plus – for Star Wars (esp Mandalorian), Marvel and movie catalog
• Neon – Outlander, Dark Materials, Game of Thrones (repeats)

If anything I’d be cutting it back to two, not expanding to four.