The channel was announced by Mediaworks on 2 May 2016. The goal of the channel was to increase the amount of reality shows available on free-to-air television in New Zealand, as well as boosting production of such formats in the country, as New Zealand had "very low" airtime for reality formats, as well as filling in a gap for female audiences, in a market where subscription television was decreasing, favouring Freeview. The channel scheduled its first original production, The Real Housewives of Auckland, for August 2016.[2]
Bravo launched on 3 July 2016. Following the closure of Four, a one and a half minute promotion aired, previewing the content to be expected on Bravo. The first show to be broadcast on Bravo was Top Chef, at 5:10am.
On 1 May 2017, Bravo adopted a new black logo to match its U.S counterpart, which had rebranded to that same logo three months earlier.
In early September 2020, MediaWorks confirmed that it would be selling its television media assets, which include Bravo, to the US mass media multinational company Discovery, Inc.[3][4][5]
On 1 December 2020, Discovery, Inc completed the acquisition of MediaWorks TV Limited. This acquisition also includes sister channels The Edge TV, The Breeze TV and Three, as well as news service Newshub.
On 3 July 2016, coinciding with the launch of Bravo, MediaWorks launched a standard hour delayed timeshift channel of the broadcast to replace Four Plus 1.[6]
