Channels rejigged for TVNZ

By LOUISA CLEAVE, Television editor

Sky Television is reshuffling its channels to make way for TVNZ joining its digital platform.

The pay television operator yesterday announced changes to channels and programmes next month when TV One and TV2 take over the first two channels on the Sky remote.

New channel numbers should be issued next week.

Sky is also adding BBC World's 24-hour news channel to its digital service, although the deal is non-exclusive and will not affect TVNZ broadcasting the BBC World news feed between midnight and 6 am.

The Warriors rugby league games will get a permanent home next season.

A spokesman said there had been cases where Warriors games had clashed with other codes, such as the Super 12, and been bumped to a digital channel where Sky's 149,000 UHF subscribers could not view them.

The Warriors will be on Sky 1 from next season, although that channel will change, along with Sky Movies, to make way for TV One and TV2.

Sky has 439,000 subscribers, of whom 290,687 receive the digital service.