Australia will soon have a new free-to-air television network thanks to a deal between local outfit the Seven Network and international giant NBCUniversal.
The resulting station, 7Bravo, is billed as the “destination for reality and true crime”, and will launch on Jan. 15 next year.
Both 7Bravo and streaming and catch-up service 7Plus will be the free-to-air home of NBCUniveral’s portfolio of reality content, including unscripted TV franchises from Bravo and E!. It will also be the first broadcast home in Australia for reality and true crime content produced for Peacock, NBCUniversal’s streaming service.
Key programs on 7Bravo in 2023 will include the new local offering of “Below Deck Down Under”, as well as “Below Deck Adventure”, “The Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip” (Season 1), “The Real Housewives of Dubai”, “The Real Housewives of Miami”, “Love Without Borders”, “Southern Hospitality” and “Real Girlfriends in Paris”.
It will also host talk shows including “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “The Kelly Clarkson Show”, as well as “Judge Jerry” and red carpet content from key awards shows courtesy of E!.
7Bravo will also feature true crime content from Oxygen True Crime, including “Snapped”, “911 Crisis Center”, “Buried in the Backyard”, “Exhumed”, “Black Widow Murders”, “Accident”, “Suicide or Murder” and “The First Mindhunter”.
James Warburton, Seven West Media’s managing director and chief executive officer, said the new station would have “strong female appeal”.
“We are honoured and excited to join NBCUniversal International Networks and Direct-to-Consumer in creating 7Bravo,” he said.
“NBCUniversal is a global content powerhouse and the creator of some of the best-known and most-loved entertainment brands in the world, and we look forward to being the broadcast home to the next generation of the best new reality and true crime series to come.”
Chris Taylor, managing director of NBCUniversal International Networks and Direct-to-Consumer and Distribution for ANZ and executive chairman of Bravo New Zealand, added: “We are delighted to partner with Seven, to bring Bravo, the ultimate reality and entertainment destination, to Australian audiences for the first time.
“7Bravo will be the free-to-air home of binge-worthy and award-winning shows, the best Bravo franchises, E!’s iconic awards show coverage and compelling true crime from Oxygen.
“Bravo is a powerhouse channel in the U.S. and a successful FTA network in New Zealand; we know Australians are going to love being able to access the biggest and best entertainment brands all in one place – live and free, on 7Bravo.”
7Bravo joins Channel 7, 7Mate, 7Two and 7Flix as part of the Seven Network’s free-to-air offering.