The NZ First MP pushing for major sport to be shown live on free-to-air television says he had accepted two tickets to Saturday night's boxing title fight from Sky TV.
Joseph Parker (left) and Andy Ruiz fight it out for the WBO world heavyweight title. Photo: Photosport
Clayton Mitchell's member's bill - which was drawn from parliament's ballot last week - would require "games of national significance" to be broadcast live free-to-air.
Mr Mitchell said he was all set to go to Saturday's event last week, but returned the tickets when his bill on the topic was drawn in a Parliamentary ballot on Thursday.
The bill would harm the exclusive live broadcast rights held by Sky Television, but Mr Mitchell said if it had not been drawn, he would have seen no reason not to accept their hospitality.
"The fact that we had sat down with Sky to discuss my bill in the past, and obviously can be quite irrelevant until the bill was actually pulled out of the ballot. And it was one of those situations where knowing I have an interest in boxing - and sky having seats available - they offered me the tickets, which were great."
