New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) and Sky have today announced a strategic partnership that will see the weekday online news show hosted by Ryan Bridge become available on ThreeNow from 26 January and on Three in the second half of the year. The name of the show will also change from Herald NOW to Ryan Bridge TODAY.
Hosted by the award-winning broadcaster, Ryan Bridge TODAY streams live from 7am to 9am weekdays on the Herald NOW video channel on nzherald.co.nz, covering breaking news, exclusive interviews, investigative journalism and comprehensive coverage across entertainment, business and politics. In addition to Ryan Bridge TODAY, a new half-hour business show called Herald NOW Business with Garth Bray will air at 6.30am weekdays, launching in the first quarter of 2026.
The new partnership between NZME and Sky marks a significant milestone for the Herald NOW video channel, which launched in May 2025 and already attracts 1 million unique monthly viewers1 across the NZ Herald app, website and YouTube, and a growing listener base via its podcast on iHeartRadio. The partnership with Sky will significantly grow the show’s reach and reinforces both companies' commitment to delivering quality journalism wherever New Zealanders choose to consume it.
Murray Kirkness, NZME Chief Content Officer, says: "We’ve had overwhelmingly positive feedback since launching Herald NOW and we’re thrilled to partner with Sky to expand the show’s reach. By making the show available on ThreeNow and then on Three, we're taking our multi-platform approach to the next level, ensuring as many people as possible can access trusted, premium journalism in the format and location that suits them best. With significant viewership happening via connected TVs, we can see audiences also want the flexibility to watch news content on the big screen at home and the talented team, led by Sarah Bristow, is delivering a world-class offering we know people love.”
Juliet Peterson, Sky Chief Business Officer, says: “We’re thrilled to expand our news offering on ThreeNow this year with the addition of Ryan Bridge TODAY to our weekday lineup. This partnership brings together two of New Zealand’s most trusted media brands, to deliver compelling, high-quality news content to audiences nationwide – offering a fresh alternative for morning news. With the growing reach of ThreeNow, and as viewing habits continue to evolve, partnerships like this ensure we’re providing New Zealanders with diverse, high-quality news content across our platforms.”
Host Ryan Bridge says: “I’m so proud of what the team has delivered since we launched last year and how the show has resonated with audiences. We’ve built a loyal and growing audience and having the opportunity to reach even more New Zealanders through ThreeNow and Three is fantastic. It's a testament to the hard work of our newsroom and proof that there's a real appetite for quality news content delivered in a fresh way that’s easy to watch or listen, no matter where you are.”
Herald NOW with Ryan Bridge celebrated strong audience engagement in 2025, with more than 13 million video views on NZ Herald and YouTube and its monthly unique audience surpassing 1 million people. Herald NOW clips are also achieving millions of views across TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.
Ryan Bridge TODAY, and later in 2026 Herald NOW Business with Garth Bray, will continue to be available via the NZ Herald homepage on desktop and mobile devices, the NZ Herald app and on YouTube, ensuring people can access premium video news content on their preferred platform.
ENDS
Source: 1Brightcove and YouTube Analytics Jun-Sept 2025.