Spark reveals charges for RWC access

AUCKLAND: Spark has revealed what it will cost to watch the 2019 Rugby World Cup through its Spark Sport app — plus a coveritsbets approach that will result in 12 games screening live or delayed on freetoair partner TVNZ.

Those who buy a ‘‘super early bird’’ pass in May will pay $59.99 to watch live every Rugby World Cup match.

From June to early September, the price will be $79.99.

Then in the ‘‘final few days’’ before the tournament starts in Japan, the cost will rise to $89.99.

Singlematch passes will also be available for $24.99 once the tournament is under way.

Spark has also confirmed it will take a conservative approach, meaning 12 games will also be screened on freetoair partner TVNZ, and there is a

fallback plan for other games to be transferred to TVNZ’s Duke channel ‘‘within a few minutes’’ in the event of technical glitches.

The free games will be a mix of live and one or twohour delay, following the model that Sky used with its Prime channel.

Spark has so far released web, iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android versions of its Spark Sport app.

Spark Sport was launched for the Melbourne Grand Prix in midMarch, priced at $19.99 a month. That price included all the sports in the Spark Sport stable except the Rugby World Cup.

You do not have to be a Spark customer to buy Spark Sport.

Spark says you would not have to buy its $19.99 plan if you want the World Cup; you can choose to buy a RWC pass only.

The insurgent sports streamer had a few technical wobbles with the second race of the Grand Prix with some ondemand footage freezing, but Spark said it was a process and human error issue rather than a technical problem and pledged to use the next few months to smooth everything out.

Last week, Samsung said it would be the first smart TV maker to support the Spark Sport app, which will be added to models going back to 2016.

Other TV makers are expected to announce their plans shortly, and Spark is expected to announce the availability of the Spark Sport app for more devices before RWC kickoff. — NZME