Free-to-air sports channel scrapped

Aussie Rules fans will miss out now Sommet is off the air.

Fans of lower-profile sports were dealt a blow yesterday when Sommet Sports was scrapped after less than 17 months on air.

New Zealand's only free-to-air sports channel, Sommet, ceased broadcasting after funding never materialised.

Sommet showcased some of the more niche sports, including Aussie Rules, snooker and volleyball, while its football coverage provided fans a chance to watch competitions normally not seen on New Zealand screens.

But the channel's vision proved unsustainable as the company was left with an "acute funding shortage" while struggling to gain a foothold with advertising agencies.

"Sommet was born from a dream to deliver free sports to all Kiwis," Sommet director Andrew Reeves said in a statement. "I am totally gutted at not being able to sustain something that we have long held a fervent desire to deliver."

Sommet was launched in July last year, offering an alternative to Sky's monopoly on sporting coverage.

Sky has no immediate plans to take up any available rights.

"Everything will be under contract to them currently, so it'll take a bit of consideration and discussion with the owners to see if there's something that might run on the Sky Sport platform," said spokesperson Kirsty Way.

One potentially valuable commodity was the rights to screen Liverpool TV but Sky's hands were tied, having already committed to the official club channels of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City.

"We're only allowed to have four clubs," Ms Way said.

"So I guess we'd evaluate if we've got the right four or if one of theirs could be more popular."