WBD Renews Bravo Deal

Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer enhance renewed partnership for Bravo New Zealand 

Multi-year partnership includes launch of Bravo FAST channel

Thursday, 5 December – Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) and NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer (NBCUIN & DTC) have announced an enhanced, renewed partnership to bring even more beloved Bravo content to New Zealand audiences.

Bravo is the free-to-air home of some of New Zealand’s best-loved reality content, including the Below Deck and The Real Housewives franchises, as well as other fan-favourites such as Botched, Vanderpump Rules, Snapped, 24 Hours in Emergency and much more.

The new, multi-year commercial partnership will also see the launch of a Bravo-branded free ad-supported streaming television (FAST) channel entitled Below Deck Vault (launching January 2025); Bravo content made more discoverable on ThreeNow; and branded Bravo content blocks on Three (live from 2 December 2024).

“Bravo, in its ninth year, is on an extraordinary run being the only free-to-air network to deliver growth in 2024, and is New Zealand’s number one challenger network [1],” said Chris Taylor, MD, NBCUniversal International Networks & Direct-to-Consumer and Distribution, ANZ and Executive Chairman of Bravo New Zealand.

“With an incredible content slate coming up in the next six months – including Made in Bondi, Paris & Nicole: The Encore, Denise Richards & The Wild Things – and fresh seasons from world-renowned franchises Below Deck and The Real Housewives, our enhanced, renewed partnership with WBD means we can continue to deliver even more top reality content to audiences and advertisers in Aotearoa.”

In the 2024 YTD to October, the Bravo free-to-air channel has enjoyed a 16% year-over-year growth in the peak 25-54 audience share [2].

On ThreeNow, Bravo content enjoyed video on demand (VOD) streams in the multi-millions, with favourites including the Below Deck and The Real Housewives franchises, along with Vanderpump Rules [3].

“Bravo’s growth in the free-to-air space, combined with ThreeNow’s growth in the streaming space (with weekly reach up 34% YoY [4]), makes this ongoing partnership a big win for both companies and for New Zealand audiences,” says WBD VP Head of Networks ANZ Juliet Peterson.

“Our FAST channels make up 15% of all ThreeNow viewing, with a staggering 155,000 hours of content viewed each week [5].  We are very confident that the Below Deck Vault FAST channel will prove to be a favourite with viewers.”

Bravo New Zealand first launched in 2016, with the free-to-air channel sitting in position four on the Freeview EPG.  The Bravo FAST channel on ThreeNow will go live in early 2025.