New to TVNZ+: February 22-28

Bypassing pay-TV and subscription streaming windows to premiere on TVNZ+ is the audaciously dark satirical thriller The Substance (February 27).

It stars Demi Moore in an Oscar-nominated turn as a fading Hollywood star who uses a mysterious black market drug to transform her aging body and revive her career – with shocking results.

The Substance also has been nominated for four other Academy Awards, including best picture.

This movie coup isn’t the first time TVNZ+ has scooped the higher-profile competition: it also was first to stream The Whale and Anatomy of a Fall in this market.

But true-crime series Unsolved: The Murders of Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. (February 27) previously streamed on Netflix six years ago.

It  recounts the dual police investigations of Detective Greg Kading and Detective Russell Poole into the infamous murders of Tupac Shakur and Christopher Wallace, aka The Notorious B.I.G.

Live sport includes World Triathlon Cup Napier (11.05am, February 23) and FIBA Asia Cup 2025 Qualifiers – New Zealand v Philippines (2pm, February 23) while streaming live from 8am, February 25-March 1, is traditional Māori performing arts showcase Te Matatini o Te Kāhui Maunga 2025.

Also new is a raft of linear debuts.