When it comes to TV blocks and Dragon Ball most people will think of Toonami, but when we look at the history of the Dragon Ball anime on TV around the world we learn that there are many different blocks that the show, and indeed its various sequels were broadcast on.
Even within the context of English-speaking countries we had blocks other than Toonami where Dragon Ball became popular.
Fans that watched Dragon Ball down under may remember it from Network Ten’s Cheez TV block, but what about even further south?
The Daily Post TV schedule from the day Dragon Ball Z premiered on TV3 in New Zealand
In New Zealand Dragon Ball Z originally featured as part of TV3’s main lineup, but a lot of fans may remember the show and its sequel Dragon Ball GT from a popular local children’s block named Sticky TV.
Sticky TV was announced in late 2001 as a new program funded by NZ On Air and launched sometime in 2002 with Dragon Ball Z featuring as part of its lineup.
Sticky TV was described to me as a “skit show type program”. Segments showcased children giving advice to other kids, mud fights, and contests of everything from singing to cooking, fashion and survival.
The target audience was preschoolers to 12-year olds and it introduced emerging presenters like TV weatherman Sam Wallace, Kanoa Llloyd (The Project) and Erin Simpson (The Erin Simpson Show).
Sticky TV was produced by Mary Phillips on a budget of $964,150 200, made by Pickled Possum Productions and aired on Sticky TV except for four years from February 7, 2011 to July 4, 2016 when it aired on Four before the channel’s closure.
Sticky TV lasted until Christmas Day 2017 but Dragon Ball Z and its sequel Dragon Ball GT were only shown individually (never together) during the first few years of the block’s existence.
Not many fans I’ve spoken to remember Dragon Ball GT airing on Sticky TV or TV3 in general, but having enquired with the National Library of New Zealand and a fan who watched the show at the time I can confirm it did.
On July 5, 2004 Dragon Ball GT was first listed in The TV Guide as a featured programme on Sticky TV, although the block didn’t always advertise all of its programming so the show may have premiered earlier.
July 3-9, 2004 issue of The TV Guide page 63
As for how the New Zealand broadcasts of Dragon Ball Z and Dragon Ball GT differed from the English airings in countries like Australia and the USA? Well that’s a story for another day (Hint: There was further censorship on top of the existing edits).
References
Online Articles
Ensor, Blair. “Talent gets chance to shine.” Stuff, 23 Jan. 2011. www.stuff.co.nz/marlborough-express/news/4574001/Talent-gets-chance-to-shine. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.
“Local Content Report 2016.” The Hub, 20 Apr. 2017. www.thehub.sia.govt.nz/resources/local-content-report-2016. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.
NZ On Air. “Kids Take Over Television.” Scoop, 6 Dec. 2001. www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU0112/S00012/kids-take-over-television.htm. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.
“Sticky TV.” NZOnScreen, www.nzonscreen.com/all-series/sticky-tv/. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.
Newspapers & Magazines
“Monday 5 July.” The TV Guide, July 2004, pp. 62-63
“Post Entertainment.” The Daily Post, April 2000, pp. 6-7
Social Media Posts
NZ On Air. NZ On Air announces Sticky TV moving back to TV3 after closure of Four. Facebook, 1 Jul. 2016, 12:16 a.m., www.facebook.com/nzonair/photos/from-monday-sticky-tv-will-be-on-tv3-following-the-closure-of-four-and-the-launc/1126570890719473/. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.
Usher, Debbie P. “Sticky TV 2002.” Youtube, 7 Aug. 2021. www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=vIrrxNM-OWQ. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.
