Prime Television is expanding its coverage to homes in the East Coast Bays of Auckland, which have until now been unable to receive the regional operator's signal.
Prime says it has made a major breakthrough in negotiations with TVNZ for frequencies to give it access to the area.
Seventy-five per cent
of New Zealand is already covered by Prime, which says it is negotiating further frequencies to cover more of the country.
However, the Australian-owned company has announced that it will shut down its regional news service in Christchurch.
It will also cease production of its lifestyle show Prime Living in Christchurch and in Hamilton - with a total loss of about 16 jobs - to put the money into expanding its service.
The network cannot apply for New Zealand on Air funding until it covers 90 per cent of the country.
The New Zealand operation reported an operating loss of $6.6 million last year, compared with $6.03 million the previous year.
