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Home / Sport

Pay TV wars: Spark Sport nab cricket rights from Sky

NZ Herald
9 Oct, 2019 10:01 PM4 mins to read

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Spark Sport has chalked up another big win in the battle against Sky TV by securing broadcast rights to New Zealand Cricket.

Spark Sport has chalked up another big win in the battle against Sky TV by securing broadcast rights to New Zealand Cricket.

The rights period is for six years and includes all international and selected domestic cricket matches played in New Zealand under the umbrella of NZC, Spark has revealed.

The deal is another blow for Sky TV - the company's share price dropped by 18c (16.22 per cent) to as low as 92c - a new record low - on the NZX this morning. The pay TV operator had held the cricket rights since 1995.

Today is the first time Sky TV's shares have plunged below $1 in its 21 years as a listed company.

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Read more:
60,000 streamed RWC opener on Spark Sport: how that stacks up
Unhappy rugby fans threaten to sue Spark for $250 million
'Pretty disastrous': Marketing expert on the damage to the Spark brand

Sky is now valued at just $381 million - compared to the $2.7 billion market capitalisation at its peak in mid-2014

Spark Sport's deal, unveiled today, includes all Black Caps and White Ferns matches played in New Zealand, men's and women's Super Smash matches, the Ford Trophy final and the New Zealand Cricket Awards.

The 2020-21 season will include visits from the West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia men's team to New Zealand, in addition to the India and England women's teams.

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As the free-to-air partner for T20 Internationals and Super Smash, TVNZ will show a selection of matches on TVNZ. These include the first T20 International of each series live (Black Caps and White Ferns); two regular season men's Super Smash matches per week; and two regular season women's Super Smash matches per week.

Spark Chief Executive, Jolie Hodson said: "Cricket is an iconic sport that has continued to innovate. So we're excited to announce this new partnership with New Zealand Cricket, one that cements our place as a significant player in New Zealand's sports viewing landscape.

"This partnership with NZC is another major step towards Spark's strategy of building a profitable sports media business that offers viewers a range of premium domestic and international sporting events over Spark Sport at an affordable price and across an array of devices.

"At Spark, we believe that streaming is the future of sports viewing, so we are immensely proud to partner with NZC to stream world-class cricket across a range of series.
Spark Sport will give cricket fans access to a range of content including educational and coaching pieces, fan engagement content and review shows.

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05 Oct 03:00 AM
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06 Oct 02:21 AM
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"Plus, Spark Sport will make available a range of highlights programmes on a free-to-view and paid basis."

That means this summer will be the last of Sky holding the cricket rights.

Last month new Sky chief executive Martin Stewart made a strong statement when it came to holding key sports rights.

Spark and TVNZ won the rights to this year's Rugby World Cup in April, 2018, with industry sources saying Spark paid $13m (or roughly double what Sky paid in 2015), with $1m of the cost defrayed by TVNZ.

"We dropped the ball," Stewart said in a reference to his company's loss of various sports rights before his arrival including the Rugby World Cup to Spark.

"We're not going to drop it again."

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In July, Sky signed a six-year deal with Cricket Australia, which includes this year's Boxing Day test against the Black Caps.

Spark Sport's coverage of the Rugby World Cup has had its issues.

Spark have been inundated with complaints on social media, as rugby fans have seen their pictures cut out or buffer during games.

As of Wednesday, there had been over 186,000 Spark Sport subscriptions for the Rugby World Cup Tournament Pass.

Sky TV 'wishes Cricket NZ well'

Sky TV said it had been proud to be a partner with NZ Cricket since 1995.

"While we would have liked to retain the local NZ Cricket rights from next season, we will continue to offer some of the best cricket the world has to offer, including exciting international fixtures involving the Black Caps on tour," it said in a statement.

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Sky TV's partnership with Cricket Australia included coverage of the Black Caps' tours in 2019/20 and 2020/21, along with all men's and women's internationals played in Australia, BCCI (India) "which includes Black Caps tours in 2021/22 and 2022/23, and the popular Indian Premier League".

"Cricket NZ has chosen a different path from 2020 and we wish them well," Sky said.

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