TV3 has secured the rights to some of Hollywood's biggest blockbusters, including Gladiator and Shakespeare In Love, in a deal announced yesterday.
TV3 and its Australian cousin, Network Ten, made the deal with Universal Studios in a significant step towards closer ties between the two CanWest-owned networks.
It gives TV3 the free-to-air rights to movies such as The Mummy, American Pie, Patch Adams, The Water Boy and the Roman epic starring Kiwi actor Russell Crowe.
Pay television operator Sky continues to have first dibs on major movies, with the free-to-air channels not being able to screen them for at least a year afterwards.
Gladiator is yet to screen on Sky.
Kristin Marlow, TV3's director of programming, said that under the deal the channel would also be able to secure ongoing rights to series such as Special Victims Unit and Law and Order.
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