AUCKLAND: New Zealand Rugby and Sky have agreed a pathbreaking new broadcast deal that will see Sky deepen its investment in all levels of the island-nation’s No. 1 sport and NZR become a 5% shareholder in Sky.
NZR and Sky Monday announced the new broadcast agreement which extends Sky’s existing SANZAAR broadcast rights to 2025.
While financial terms were not disclosed, reports in New Zealand valued it at around NZ$372m ($234m). Sky chief executive Martin Stewart declined to confirm other media reports that claimed the deal was worth NZ$400 million ($252m), saying people should “forget about numbers put out there in an unauthorised way”.
The five-year agreement includes:
The rights to broadcast rugby in New Zealand from 2021 to 2025
A record investment in New Zealand and SANZAAR rugby
New Zealand Rugby becoming a 5% shareholder in Sky
The broadcast rights include exclusive coverage of all Investec Rugby Championship, Steinlager Series, Investec Super Rugby, Mitre 10 Cup and all New Zealand’s other domestic competitions, including women’s competitions like the Farah Palmer Cup.
Tew said they were delighted with the new agreement which clearly signalled that Sky and NZR had a strong commitment to grow the game.
“This is a great result for NZR – we not only have a vastly experienced broadcast partner, but we have a partner prepared to work and invest with us in initiatives that will help grow the game over a prolonged period of time.
“For rugby in New Zealand, this is a hugely significant agreement that secures the long-term financial health of our game.
“I would like to thank (Sky CEO) Martin (Stewart) and his board for the confidence they have shown in NZR with this investment and we look forward to continuing to build our long standing and deep partnership as we both face the challenges and opportunities that a rapidly changing broadcast, entertainment and sporting world presents,” Tew said.
Stewart said Sky was thrilled with the new partnership and what it meant for Sky’s customers, investors, staff and other New Zealand sport partners.
“We are delighted to have secured this superb rugby content for our customers to the end of 2025. Our commitment is to deliver rugby to all New Zealanders in ways that work for them, including streaming, broadcast over our satellite and free-to-air on Prime.
“This partnership with NZR cements our shared commitment to nurture and grow the game across all aspects, from grassroots to high performance, and for women, men, boys’ and girls’ rugby.
“A special part of this deal is the 5% equity stake that NZR is taking in Sky. We have long known that there is mutual benefit when each of us succeeds, and we’re pleased that NZR is becoming an investor in Sky.
“Rugby is a core and significant part of our offer as the Home of Sport. We know it attracts customers to Sky, who then also discover and enjoy the deep range of local and global sport that we offer. Our renewed partnership with NZR brings value to all of our sport partners, and we’re delighted to have them continuing as part of the Sky family,” Stewart said.
Sky holds its AGM on Thursday, 17 October, where it will seek formal approval from shareholders to complete the NZR deal.
