Three (New Zealand TV channel)

Three is a New Zealand nationwide television channel. Launched on 26 November 1989 as TV3, it was New Zealand's first privately-owned television channel. The channel currently broadcasts nationally (with regional advertising targeting four markets) in digital free-to-air form via the state-owned Kordia on terrestrial and satellite. Vodafone also carries the channel for their cable subscribers in Wellington and Christchurch. It previously broadcast nationally on analogue television until that was switched off on 1 December 2013. Three is a general entertainment channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery New Zealand.

TV3's original slogan and theme song "Come home to the feeling" was a reference to NBC's slogan at the time, "Come home to the best." In its early days, the network had The Early Bird Show which housed programmes such as Garfield, Duck Tales and Dennis the Menace. It also served as the premiere source for shows such as The Mickey Mouse Club, The Real Ghostbusters, Voltron, Police Academy, He-Man and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and would go on to become a staple network for Disney animated series.

TV3 aired Thomas & Friends on a weekday afternoon slot from 16th April 1990 to 7th February 1991. A couple of months later, reruns of the show resumed from 7th May until 27th September 1991. The show was then relocated to Channel 2 the following year, where Shining Time Station aired.

The show returned to TV3 on 6th January 1997 and remained a weekday afternoon staple on the network up to as late as 2010 until it was relocated to Four. The third series (as a stand alone) and the fourth through thirteenth series made their New Zealand debut on this channel.