1990 in New Zealand television

This is a list of New Zealand television events and premieres which occurred, or are scheduled to occur, in 1990, the 30th year of continuous operation of television in New Zealand.

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This is a list of New Zealand television-related events in 1990.

Events

• TV3 was placed in a receivership after 7 months on air.
• SKY TV is launched. Becoming New Zealand's first Pay Television company, the network starts off with only three channels Sky Sport, Sky Movies and CNN.
• The final edition of the New Zealand version of the children's educational series Play School airs on both TV One and Channel 2 but will continue to air in reruns for a few years later.
• First showing on New Zealand television of American drama Baywatch on Channel 2.

Debuts

Domestic

• April – Nightline (TV3) (1990–2013)
• September – New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos (Channel 2) (1990–1995)
• 60 Minutes (TV3) (1990–present)
• 10AM (1990)
• High Life (TV One) (1990–1995)
• All for One (1990)
• The New Adventures of Black Beauty (TV3) (also United Kingdom and Australia) (1990–1992)
• In Focus (TV3) (1990)
• The James Gang Rides Again (TV3) (1990)

International

• 30 October – Savage Indictment (TV One)
• // Wowser (Channel 2)
• Bouli (Channel 2)
• Free Spirit (Channel 2)
• Great Circuses of the World (Channel 2)
• Major Dad (Channel 2)
• Trial by Jury (TV3)
• The Young Riders (Channel 2)
• Hardball (Channel 2)
• Baywatch (Channel 2)
• Booker (Channel 2)
• One Foot in the Grave (TV One)
• Bangkok Hilton (Channel 2)
• Tanamera – Lion of Singapore (Channel 2)
• No Job for a Lady (TV One)
• The Great American Sex Scandal (TV3)
• May to December (TV One)
• Dragnet Today (Channel 2)

Changes to network affiliation

This is a list of programs which made their premiere on a New Zealand television network that had previously premiered on another New Zealand television network. The networks involved in the switch of allegiances are predominantly both free-to-air networks or both subscription television networks. Programs that have their free-to-air/subscription television premiere, after previously premiering on the opposite platform (free-to air to subscription/subscription to free-to air) are not included. In some cases, programs may still air on the original television network. This occurs predominantly with programs shared between subscription television networks.

International

Program	New network(s)	Previous network(s)	Date
Doctor Snuggles	TV One	Channel 2	1990

New channels

Cable

• Sky Sport
• Sky Movies
• CNN

Television shows

• Play School (1975–1990)
• What Now (1981–present)
• Gloss (1987–1990)
• Blind Date (1989–1991)
• The Early Bird Show (1989–1992)
• Shark in the Park (1989–1992)
• New Zealand's Funniest Home Videos (1990–1995)
• 60 Minutes (1990–present)

Ending this year

• Gloss (TVNZ) (1987–1990)
• Play School (TVNZ) (1975–1990)
• 14 Days on Trial (Channel 2) (1989–1990)
• 3:45 Live (Channel 2) (1989–1990)