Sky boss dismisses idea net will hurt broadcaster

My dream is to be involved in streaming and you can buy packs for about $1500 to send the signal. Photo / APN

There are broadcasters both great and small, and the great are even thinking smaller.

Sky boss John Fellet envisages major broadcasting changes, including on-demand replacing scheduled programming. Sky is also gearing up to cover lower level sport in Auckland by building a small outside broadcast van.

Sky's four giant OB trucks cost $30,000 each to start up. Covering cricket costs around $100,000 a day and golf a whopping $200,000 - which is why golf coverage has been zapped. Sky may also buy its own portable floodlights so it can delve into more of sport's nooks and crannies.

"When we cover a small event like hockey, we've still got a $20m van turning up," says Fellet.

He dismisses any idea that Sky will be troubled by increased awareness of the internet possibilities. New Sky boxes will soon enable the corporation to deliver via the net because its satellite capabilities are stretched.

"There's an opportunity to see what the future looks like in the United States where 90 per cent of people have the fast-rate internet and it hasn't changed how sport is delivered," he says.

"I remember when we were a three channel UHF outfit and people said satellites would destroy our business. Why would it destroy my business? Why wouldn't I utilise it? We'll go the easiest way to get to your house."

At the other end of the scale, the Herald found the ultimate small-fry broadcasting schemer, a bloke named Tony Robb from Pukekohe. Along with his mate Billy White, Robb runs Combat TV, a nickle-and-dime outfit that sold videotapes of combat sports to the combatants. Digital just about ruined that, because the copying quality is perfect unlike tapes.

"We have approached mainstream TV - Sky and Maori TV - and given them things to look at but you never hear back," says the 60-year-old Robb, a former jockey who became a harness racing trainer until suffering horrific injuries in a track accident.

"TV3 did show some of our stuff but we're outside the mainstream and it is a closed shop unless you have a lot of money or know someone. But you can actually stream on YouTube and New Zealand has been slow in picking up on the possibilities.

"My dream is to be involved in streaming and you can buy packs for about $1500 to send the signal. We've looked at it but the quality is not good until fast broadband arrives. Viewing mindsets must also change because people think there is only Sky. I'm sure we can become our own TV station."

White is not optimistic however.

"Live streaming of lower level events will take punters away from the venue which is not what the promoters want," said White, who operates a lighting and ring hire business.

"The only people watching will be diehard fans. The only way to promote sport is through a barrage of coverage across all the media and we can't do that."