2015 Rugby World Cup: Sky TV to screen every All Blacks game free-to-air on Prime
Mix of live and delayed coverage; other networks squeezed out.
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Sky TV says it will show every All Blacks game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup free-to-air on Prime.
The broadcaster says Prime’s coverage will include:
- Live coverage of the opening ceremony Sept 18 and the first game (England vs Fiji)
- Delayed coverage of All Blacks’ pool matches
- Match day highlights of all other games
- Live coverage of two quarter finals (including the All Blacks' quarter final, should they make it that far), and delayed coverage of the other two quarter finals.
- Live coverage of one semi-final (including the All Blacks semi-final, should they make it that far) and delayed coverage of the other semi.
- Live coverage of the bronze final
- Live coverage of the final Oct 31 at Twickenham
It was not immediately clear if Sky's move was made out of patriotism, contract terms, a desire to avoid political heat or all of the above.
In 2011, NZ free-to-air broadcast rights were awarded to a consortium formed between Maori TV, TVNZ and TV3, aided by $3.2 million pitched in by the government (a contribution that came after controversy over Maori TV using its taxpayer funding in a bid for an exclusive contract.
The trio showed 16 key matches, covering the same selection of games Prime will screen this time around. All 48 games screened live on Sky.
This year, no other networks will have coverage, Sky TV comms boss Kirsty Way tells NBR.
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2015 Rugby World Cup: Sky TV to screen every All Blacks game free-to-air on Prime
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