Rural fans rue world cup’s reach
Rural folk who are without fibre internet say they will be relying on invitations to their urban friends’ homes to tune into Rugby World Cup matches.
While All Blacks games will be shown delayed on TV One, Spark will livestream all games when the competition kicks off on September 20 after it outbid Sky for broadcasting rights.
The move to online streaming has irked isolated communities, where satellite internet and copper networks don’t have the capability to provide uninterrupted coverage.
Richard Ramson lives just 10 kilometres outside of Palmerston North, but his internet speed is painfully slow.
He believes TVNZ should do more to ensure rural fans could watch key World Cup fixtures free-to-air.
‘‘Rural New Zealand is the home of grassroots footy, Richie Mccaw territory. Rural New Zealand will be missing out everywhere.’’
Spark told him he could catch the action on his phone, but Ramson said that would detract from the thrills and excitement of the big screen.
Linda Paton, who owns a bed and breakfast 10km from Feilding, has given up on the possibility of offering her guests coverage for the six-week tournament.
She is connected to rural wireless, but streaming of videos is inconsistent and she won’t risk buying Spark Sport.
She’s resigned to watching the All Blacks at friends’ places.
‘‘These are our games, our national games. I find it quite frustrating that Spark or Sky can have a monopoly like that.’’
Cheltenham Hotel owner Dave Scott ditched Sky from his rural Manawatu¯ pub two years ago when the satellite television provider raised its prices to $800 each month.
Scott, who is also a member of Hospitality New Zealand, said several rural and small-town pubs could no longer justify the cost of showing live sport.
Spark is offering businesses the same rate as households to stream the games – but whether all can access it is another question. Although Scott has purchased Spark’s package, he fears the pub’s ‘‘shaky’’ internet connection may hinder its coverage.
‘‘It was actually some of our locals who said get rid of [Sky],’’ Scott said.
‘‘People don’t know the cost to commercial hospitality providers, but Spark cost us about $100 so we’ll give it a go.’’
Whanganui teenager Alex Stewart is taking it on himself to help isolated communities in the Central North Island access faster internet.
When the 14-year-old visited the Rangitīkei village of Koitiata, he was appalled to learn that residents had snail-like speeds despite living just 9 kilometres from Chorus’ main fibre cable in Turakina.
Defying his parents’ wishes, Stewart left Wanganui Collegiate School last year to set up Wombat NET, which uses satellite dishes to beam high-speed wireless internet to isolated areas.
Stewart had hoped the service would be live before the tournament starts, but its official opening is still several weeks away.
‘‘Many of these companies had been given government grants to expand their service, but the residents we spoke to were told they would have to pay to get that fibre or 4G connection to their town,’’ Stewart said.
Spark spokesman Anaru Tuhi said Kiwis would need a minimum of 6 mbps download speed on a mobile or tablet or 15 mbps on a Smart TV.
Through its partnership with TVNZ, 12 games will be free-to-air as well as any knock-out match featuring the All Blacks.