Cutbacks for Neighbours UPDATED

Since this was posted, Ten has reversed its decision and will continue to screen Neighbours four nights a week. TVNZ has yet to update media but it means local broadcasts will be unchanged, too. A big shout out to regular contributor Clint for the heads-up.

TVNZ 2 is cutting back its weekly screenings of Neighbours because of the soap’s scheduling in Australia.

The Ten network is cutting the number of broadcasts from four days to three, and TVNZ 2 has to follow suit.

As of this week, Neighbours screens 5.00 Tuesday-Thursday, with a double-episode of Friends screening 5.00-6.00 on Fridays.

Overnight repeats also will be reduced to Tuesday-Thursday.

TVNZ 2 says the reduction is only for a “short period” but TV Tonight reports it will be from October 14-December 18.

Neighbours, which traditionally screened 5 days a week, returned as 4 days a week when it returned in 2022 on 10 and Amazon Prime.

Other global soaps have also seen output changes with Shortland Street dropping from 5 to 3 episodes per week and Britain’s Hollyoaks to 3 episodes per week.

Home & Away remains at outlier at up to 6 episodes per week on Seven.