Herald NOW (FAST channel) launches at 7am on Monday, according to Media Insider.
Ryan Bridge will continue to host Newstalk ZB’s 5am-6am Early Edition radio show each morning before moving into a specially built new studio in the NZ Herald newsroom to front the streaming show.
My understanding is it’s a different studio to the one used during yesterday’s Budget livestream.
Didn’t know where to post (man these forums are dead now) Ryan Bridge’s new morning show is great. Glad to have said goodbye to TVNZ Breakfast. I suspect they will see how well it will go before investing in the studio and show overall, but hopefully it becomes competitive with Breakfast.
Agreed, slick and professional 1st show. 
Times better than TVNZ Breakfast. It will grow into something big I think, maybe more Live and Breaking news coverage. Certainly ready for Election 2026. Who knows might get Three / Sky News contract in future too.
I didn’t see the views on YouTube above 650 when I was watching
I thought this channel would be live from 7am until midday with content played outside of those hours. I guess it was a soft launch. You can’t really call it a FAST Channel when it’s not 24/7 imho.
It’s not really a channel. It’s a live show
Since all the cuts at One and Three/Newshub, there not much coming out of NZ to talk about. An there has been little happening in the industry in general in Australia to talk about as well.
If it does well, they’d be smart to try and get this on broadcast and widen the distribution - obviously Three probably not really an option given WBD’s contract with Stuff, but maybe Sky or even a streamer?
For anyone interested, the full broadcast is available here including in Australia
Maybe Sky Open will take the feed and relaunch the News at 5.30.
The initial press release did state this would be a FAST Channel but it appears those plans have been dropped.
They need original video or acquired content to launch a FAST Channel, of which they don’t have much of either.
Maybe the hope is that they can build this into a FAST channel in time, or perhaps the person writing the press release etc didn’t realise what one was lol.
Give it’s day 1, not a bad start for a traditional news org.
Got to say it’s a commendable effort. Not going to shake the world with the format but it gets the job done.
Just really needs to be on Television to get more eyes.
Sky Open would be a great candidate even if it is just the first hour and then send people to the Herald if they want to continue watching. Since they are only airing informercials till 8am. Gets more eyes on free to air but still pushing them to the digital platform.
Agreed - Sky Open would be the best candidate or as has been alluded to a FAST channel, which could go on Samsung or other TV OSs rtc
Definitely giving early GB News vibes (in terms of not feeling like a well-oiled television product). Definitely has a lot of potential - and NZME have said they plan on expanding the programming eventually.
If news is just putting a camera on Niva Retimanu in the ZB news studio, it did make me think would it not have made sense to just put these resources into ZB Breakfast from 7-9. Give it a radio with pictures/Checkpoint RNZ/ AM show vibe. play their ads during ZB’s ads. Find an audience with those Hosk listeners who only tune in in the car and can then watch at home.
No?
Wasn’t Ryan Bridge quite polarising on AM before it’s axing? I remember seeing comments on Facebook that some people liked him, others hated him.
I believe the bulletin they’re using is one recorded for a ZB podcast - and not updated through the show. Might be wrong. It appeared to be the same bulletin this morning on each occasion.
But yes that would make a lot of sense.
Pretty much anyone who does an interview or current affairs show is polarising.
Technical issues with the stream this morning. The show was 10 minutes late to go to air.