TVNZ’s online revamp a nod to Netflix effect

Television New Zealand will begin livestreaming channels 1 and 2 on Monday, so viewers can watch the channels from anywhere in New Zealand over the internet.

The state-owned broadcaster is also rehoming its online services at a single website, tvnz.co.nz.

As well as providing access to the live streams of channels 1, 2 and Duke in the HD 720p format, the website will be the new home for ‘‘catch-up’’ service TVNZ OnDemand.

TVNZ has already begun offering more of its programmes in a ‘‘box-set’’ format on the website.

‘‘We have to acknowledge there is an influence like Netflix in the market,’’ general manager of technology Greg Montgomery said.

He said that next month TVNZ would add Chromecast support for its live steams and ondemand programming. That feature should provide a cheap and easy way for viewers to watch on-demand programmes without having to plug a computer into their TV.

Montgomery said TVNZ was making the changes because more people wanted to watch TV wherever they were in their homes or away from home on their mobiles.

‘‘The restriction of having to be around a TV in the lounge is something people are increasingly questioning.’’

There were also opportunities for TVNZ to better understand what individual viewers consumed, which was useful for marketing purposes, he said.

The broadcaster had no plans to axe or cut back on satellite or terrestrial television transmission, he said.

‘‘If demand drops we could adjust how we invest in that infrastructure. But even if you have only a small percentage of the population requiring them you still need to have reasonably substantial investment,’’ he said.

If people’s internet connections were not good enough to support 720p streams, they would automatically drop back to a lower definition, he said.