Senior exec had ushered in international coproductions including The Ridge with the BBC
Sky New Zealand’s head of originals Thomas Robins is to step down, Broadcast International has learned.
Robins initially joined as senior commissioner of scripted in 2021, before stepping up to head of Sky originals in 2023.
Working with Nick Ward, head of non-scripted, Robins oversaw the entire Sky NZ originals slate, as well as leading on scripted commissions.
During his tenure, Robins commissioned locally-focused programmes such as Not Even, the series following a group of twenty-somethings grappling with life and their Māori identities in Wellington, and Spinal Destination, which was inspired by the writer’s own experience of suddenly losing the use of her legs.
Robins also expanded the broadcaster’s international partnerships through co-productions with BBC Scotland, Germany’s ZDF and US-based broadcaster BYUtv.
His commissions included thriller series The Ridge, which was released in October 2025 as part of a collaboration with BBC Scotland. The series was written and produced by a combination of Scottish and New Zealand creatives.
Upcoming commissions from Robins’ slate include ZDF co-production Bust Up, a buddy-cop crime series about two former lovers forced to work together in rural New Zealand, and Small Town Scandal, an adaptation of writer Tom Sainsbury’s true crime parody podcast of the same name.
The past year has seen a period of change for the New Zealand broadcaster, which purchased linear channel Three, New Zealand’s second most popular channel, and its streamer ThreeNow from Warner Bros Discovery in July 2025.
Sky NZ also purchased a 50% stake in Bravo, sharing ownership with NBC Universal.
Prior to his work as a commissioner, Robins started his career as an actor, featuring in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy as Déagol. He then spent over two decades writing, producing and directing programmes, including over eight years as co-owner of the production company KHF Media.
It is understood that Robins is returning to his freelance work, while Ward is currently acting as head of originals at Sky NZ.
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