24 Oct 2014

New deal for NZ rugby

3:50 pm on 24 October 2014

Sky Television's been forced to announce it's signed a new conditional agreement for the rights to air New Zealand and SANZAR rugby for five years, from 2016.

Sky Television CEO John Fellett

Sky Television CEO John Fellett Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The current deal expires at the end of next year and Sky had to notify the market as a publicly listed company, because it's a significant development.

Neither Sky nor NZ Rugby would comment much about the deal or how much the rugby cost, though the broadcaster's CEO John Fellett did say that "good content is always expensive", while the national rugby boss Steve Tew says they're very happy with the new deal.

Tew also adds that there's room in the agreement for NZ Rugby to have their own "platforms" - which presumably means internet-based streaming of games.

Meanwhile the All Blacks Test against the USA next week in Chicago has sold out, with 63-thousand fans set to pack out Soldier Field - home of NFL side the Bears.