Sports fans will have to pay $99.99 to stream Sky TV sports channels for a month after its Fan Pass service is set to scrap its daily and weekly subscription options.
Sky TV is changing its digital subscription model, amid a 'challenging' online world. Photo: RNZ
Fan Pass charges $14.99 for one day or $19.99 for a week of streaming Sky Sport One, Two, Three and Four. It allows people who do not have a Sky box to access the channels on other devices, such as smart phones and computers.
But from 24 May there will only be a monthly subscription for $99.99 or a six-month subscription for $329.99.
Communications director Kirsty Way said the price of sports content was going through the roof with players being paid more than ever.
The online world was a "real challenging" one, she said.
"[Fan Pass] is a niche product and what we need to do is look at the big picture and try and monetise and try and break even on the huge sports expenses that we do have.
"Unfortunately it's a really challenging market at the moment. There's plenty of competitors, there's piracy going on... but at the end of the day we do need to try and break even and not lose money on these sports rights."
Ms Way said Sky TV was forced to try a new format with a minimum subscription of a month because Fan Pass was running at a loss.
The platform itself costs Sky TV for every channel it puts out, Ms Way said.
She said Fan Pass was first launched in 2015 to offer season passes for particular sports which was then rejigged to offer daily, weekly and monthly passes for its main sports channels.
The decision to change the subscription model has angered some sports fans, who have turned to social media to express their frustration.
Sky's fanpass price hike is absolutely nuts. It's as if they were worried digital natives might give them some money. $99 a month?!
— Giancarlo (@louderthoughts) May 5, 2017
@SKYNZ proven once again they're stuck in the 90s by canning #fanpass. Will actively seek alternatives that offer flexibility
— Kate Kennedy (@kiwikate82) May 5, 2017
Wow #skynz ... what a miserable commercial failure #fanpass has become... cancelling daily/weekly options!!! Monthly now up to $99... wtf!
— dave (@cormack_dave) May 5, 2017
