Free-to-air rugby tests a no-go
Labour has ruled no-deal on the possibility of free-to-air All Blacks’ tests, or other major national sporting events.
NZ First leader Winston Peters earlier in the year said a lawchange to provide free-to-air rugby would be the price of NZ First’s support in forming a government, though it’s one National is believed to have also refused to bend on.
Labour has moved to scotch any anticipation the policy might be written into the final agreement, following comments from NZ First sports and recreation spokesperson Clayton Mitchell that it was ‘‘still on the table’’.
A spokesman for Prime Minister-elect Jacinda Ardern has confirmed it was not in the agreement.
NZ First hierarchy had spoken to Mitchell about the interview he gave to Newstalk ZB’s Tony Veitch. However, most of the onair discussion actually centred on a private member’s bill Mitchell had drawn in the last Parliamentary term.
Both National and Labour voted against his Broadcasting Amendment Bill which would have ensured international rugby, league, netball and Olympic games can be watched by all New Zealanders.
Mitchell said in the interview on Saturday it was discussed in coalition talks, and the prospect of Kiwis getting free-to-air access to significant sporting games was still on the table.
A spokeswoman for NZ First said the party would be making no further comment on policies until the coalition agreement had been released. That was expected to be tomorrow.
Sky TV has seen its annual profits drop by a fifth and the loss of almost 34,000 satellite subscribers, as the popularity of paid online subscriptions to sites like Netflix and Lightbox continues to soar.
In May this year, Sky stripped the options for daily or weekly passes for specific sporting events under its Fan Pass service. Fan Pass had become a tempting option for occasional sports fans.
And this month, Sky and Rugby NZ announced a deal to livestream some of the All Blacks’ matches on their northern hemisphere end of year tour.
Prior to the campaign trail, NZ First leader Winston Peters has described free-to-air sport as a ‘‘Kiwi birthright’’, but 1.1 million New Zealand homes did not have Sky and greater access would encourage more physical activity and participation in sport at the grassroots.