Sky New Zealand has officially begun production on Muster Dogs NZ, the local adaptation of ABC Australia’s hugely successful factual series Muster Dogs, and producers are now searching for five passionate Kiwi farmers ready to take on the ultimate challenge—raising Aotearoa’s next Champion Muster Dog.

Produced by The Down Low Concept with the support of NZ On Air, Muster Dogs NZ will follow five contestants from across the country as they each receive a working dog pup from the same litter. Over the course of twelve months, viewers will witness the remarkable journey as each farmer nurtures, trains and develops their canine companion into an elite working dog, guided by some of New Zealand’s leading canine experts.

The series promises an inspiring blend of heartfelt storytelling, rural life and fierce competition, celebrating the extraordinary partnership between shepherd and dog while showcasing the grit, patience and dedication that life on the land demands.

Producers are encouraging applications from a diverse range of farmers and shepherds—from seasoned veterans to the next generation of rural talent—who are prepared to open both their farms and their lives to cameras throughout the year-long adventure.

Producer Nigel McCulloch of The Down Low Concept believes the series is looking for people who are ready to embrace an unforgettable experience.

“If you’re a passionate farmer up for the challenge, ready to raise and train a working dog pup over 12 months—and you wouldn’t mind a small TV crew following your journey—then we want to hear from you!” says McCulloch.

Success won’t simply come down to training ability. Contestants will need resilience, commitment and an unwavering connection to both the land and their animals as they work towards the coveted title of Champion Muster Dog.

Since premiering in Australia, Muster Dogs has become a runaway success, captivating audiences across four seasons with its unique combination of documentary filmmaking, reality competition and emotional storytelling. The format’s popularity continues to grow internationally, with a United States adaptation also currently in production.

Now it’s New Zealand’s turn to showcase the incredible skill of its farming community—and the remarkable intelligence and loyalty of its working dogs.

Muster Dogs NZ is produced by The Down Low Concept for Sky New Zealand with the support of NZ On Air, in association with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, the original format holder. The series is expected to premiere in 2027.

Applications are now open. Anyone interested in taking part can register their interest through the official Muster Dogs NZ Facebook page and could soon find themselves embarking on one of the most rewarding journeys of their farming career.

Image: SKY TV

The post Who Will Raise New Zealand’s Next Champion Muster Dog? Sky Opens Casting for Heartwarming New Series appeared first on SpicyPulp.

The expanded agreement delivers a hefty slate of exclusive, first-run scripted series alongside an extended movie output deal, meaning Sony’s biggest TV titles and films will land on Sky platforms following their theatrical and home entertainment windows. It’s a move that reinforces Sky’s position as the country’s premium home for bold, buzz-driven entertainment.

Leading the charge is The Lady, arriving on NEON and Sky On Demand from 24 February. The four-part drama charts the shocking rise and catastrophic fall of Jane Andrews, a former royal dresser who entered Buckingham Palace as Sarah Ferguson’s aide before becoming the centre of one of Britain’s most infamous murder cases. It’s true-crime-tinged prestige drama with serious edge — exactly the kind of appointment viewing Sky thrives on.

Later in 2026 comes American Hostage, a tense psychological thriller set in the 1970s and starring Jon Hamm as Indianapolis radio reporter Fred Heckman. Inspired by real events, the series plunges into a claustrophobic 63-hour hostage crisis that turns a broadcaster into the linchpin of a high-stakes standoff. It’s sweaty, pressure-cooker drama built for bingeing.

On the film front, Sky has also extended its long-running movie deal with Sony Pictures, significantly boosting the depth and range of titles available across Sky, NEON and Sky Open. Audiences can expect a stacked pipeline of recent hits, upcoming releases and fan-favourite library titles following their cinema and home entertainment runs — including Materialists, 28 Years Later, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, I Know What You Did Last Summer (the recent 2025 release), the Karate Kid franchise (including Karate Kid: Legends), Caught Stealing and Anaconda. It’s a genre-spanning mix designed to satisfy casual viewers and cinephiles alike.

Sky also remains the exclusive New Zealand home of the Outlander universe, one of its most-watched and most-loved franchises. The final season of Outlander arrives on 7 March, while prequel series Outlander: Blood of My Blood is set to return for a second season. For fans, the entire saga continues to live in one place, with the full catalogue available across Sky and NEON.

Beyond shiny new releases, the Sony partnership supercharges Sky’s library offering with hundreds of hours of must-watch television. That includes Community (exclusive to Sky), alongside heavy hitters like Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul (both exclusive to Sky and NEON), plus The Tudors, Dawson’s Creek and S.W.A.T., which lands on Sky for the first time.

Sky Head of Entertainment Fiona Murray says the expanded deal reflects a clear, data-driven commitment to delivering world-class storytelling. The partnership, she notes, brings scale, stability and a steady stream of premium drama and film to Sky customers — ensuring Sky and NEON remain the go-to platforms for the best international content.
From Sony’s side, Adam Herr, SVP Distribution Asia-Pacific, describes the agreement as a natural evolution of a long-standing collaboration, built on a shared ambition to deliver must-watch television and cinema to New Zealand audiences.

For viewers, the message is simple: more prestige drama, more blockbuster movies, and more reasons to stay glued to Sky and NEON.

Image: SKY TV

The post Sky New Zealand Locks in a Major Sony Pictures Television Power Play appeared first on SpicyPulp.