Spark Sport possibly to be sold

Forums › Online streaming services › Spark Sport possibly to be sold

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#3010612 16-Dec-2022 09:19

cokemaster:
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/free-cricket-is-back-spark-exits-sport-tranfers-content-to-tvnz/3CHKBFY7EFB5JMJ2EPCUXKDPAM/ :

The Herald understands that TVNZ will take over the production of domestic cricket, but that Spark will continue to pay NZ Cricket the rights fee over the remaining three years of its contract.

I guess TVNZ got the remains of Spark sports with fire sale pricing.

Spark having to pay out the contract for NZ Cricket for the next 3 years must hurt. I believe its in the vicinity of $36 million per year.

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

Pluralsight

Learn cloud, mobile, security, data and web technologies with Pluralsight (affiliate link).

c0ld

234 posts

Master Geek

#3010614 16-Dec-2022 09:29

JPNZ:
c0ld:

Not a fan of having to wait 2 days to watch a replay on F1TV (even Pro subscription - so watch live or wait 2 days) rather than instant on-demand SS offers now.

Not sure how that works? I have F1TV Pro and you can watch the full replay anytime

That's great news - on their website it mentions 2 day delay so happy if that's not the case.

dougierydal

274 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3010616 16-Dec-2022 09:32

afe66: Bugger.
That's annoying. I have little faith in tvnz or sky offering on on demand streaming sport service.

I'll be paying for f1pro most likely.

Does this mean commentary might return to radio?

I'm not interested in F1, but I share your concerns about TVNZ offering a top notch sport streaming service

tdgeek

28589 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3010619 16-Dec-2022 09:36

c0ld:

That's great news - on their website it mentions 2 day delay so happy if that's not the case.

Now where to find MotoGP

JPNZ

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#3010621 16-Dec-2022 09:42

c0ld:

That's great news - on their website it mentions 2 day delay so happy if that's not the case.

Thats for the non pro version.

FWIW In March this year F1TV Pro was on sale for $79.99 NZD for 12 months. Then $99.99 NZD a year.

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

Geekeneer

100 posts

Master Geek

ID Verified

#3010623 16-Dec-2022 09:43

JPNZ:

c0ld:

Not a fan of having to wait 2 days to watch a replay on F1TV (even Pro subscription - so watch live or wait 2 days) rather than instant on-demand SS offers now.

Not sure how that works? I have F1TV Pro and you can watch the full replay anytime

I literally came here to find that answer too regarding replays being available immediately. Can you confirm if replays are available shortly after a session/race?

I also saw on the F1TV website mention of 2 days for replays to be available which would have sucked.

SS was my go to for a Monday night after work to watch the entire race replay.

F1 was literally the only reason I sub'd to SS. I even cancelled my sub till the season begins again.

Now looking at F1TV Pro sub prices, it actually would've been cheaper to sub to that instead, although it does come with limitations in terms of accessibility from TV.

I'll fire up the old android TV box and see if I could get the app there.

Also noting on Spark's FB post "Spark Sport will no longer be the home of F1 from 31 December 2022"

tdgeek

28589 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3010636 16-Dec-2022 10:06

Spark said it's in discussions about the other sporting rights it holds - which includes Formula 1, some NBA and NFL games and the UEFA Champions league - and will make more announcements in the new year.

Seems to me TVNZ isn't interested so perhaps SS subscribers will have the option to opt for the F1TV Pro sub?

Unless they are talking to Sky who might buy it back?

frankv

5581 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#3010639 16-Dec-2022 10:09

dougierydal:

Wonder what that will look like? Free to air obviously but I wonder what cuts etc will be made. To be shown on a combination of TVNZ 1, Duke and live streamed on TVNZ+

Why would you think it would be free to air?

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
76331 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3010640 16-Dec-2022 10:13

The press release:

Spark today announced that it has concluded content partnering discussions and TVNZ will become the home of the majority of Spark Sport content, subject to rights holder agreement, from 1 July 2023. Agreement has already been reached with New Zealand Cricket, meaning TVNZ will show and produce all BLACKCAPS, WHITE FERNS, and Super Smash matches, which are run by New Zealand Cricket, for three years from the start of the 2023/24 cricket season until the end of the 2025/26 season.

In making the decision to exit the sports streaming market, Spark noted escalating content rights costs and a broader range of investment opportunities across its business as the key drivers of the decision. The Spark Sport platform licenced from iStreamPlanet will also no longer be made available for third party use in the second half of 2023, requiring Spark to invest in a new platform and transition customers in order to continue operating the service.

Spark CEO Jolie Hodson said: “Since entering the sports streaming market in 2019, we have delivered a wide range of high-quality sporting content to our customers across Aotearoa, alongside our valued partners. With New Zealand Cricket we have successfully produced three seasons of world class cricket matches in New Zealand, which has grown cricket viewership, particularly among younger audiences, and increased the quality and quantity of women’s cricket coverage – and we are proud of those shared achievements.

“At the same time it has been challenging to reach the scale we aspired to across the Spark Sport platform, with Covid causing major disruption to sporting codes globally just a year after launch. That slower than expected start, coupled with the escalating costs of content rights globally, makes it difficult to justify the type of investment Spark Sport requires when we have a wider range of investment opportunities across our broader business.

“We have been working with TVNZ as our free-to-air partner on cricket since we won the rights, and this new partnership will deliver New Zealanders the largest volume of top tier free-to-air sports content in the last 20 years, while allowing us to share costs as we exit the sports streaming market.

“No new venture is without risk, and we recognise that this news will be disappointing for our valued customers and partners, and dedicated Spark Sport team.

“We are communicating to our Spark Sport customers today to thank them for their support, to explain the change, and to reassure them that they can continue to access Spark Sport as they normally do until 1 July 2023.

“As the Spark Sport platform winds down we will also be working with our people to look for redeployment opportunities across our broader business wherever possible. I would like to recognise the team for the role they have played in introducing sports streaming to Aotearoa, which is now globally recognised as the future of sports viewing, while making several codes more accessible to view in New Zealand than ever before.”

Spark and TVNZ are now in the process of discussing the agreement with individual rights holders and will confirm final details of the content that will transfer to TVNZ on 1 July 2023 in the new year.

Please support Geekzone by subscribing, or using one of our referral links: Dosh referral: 00001283 | Sharesies | Goodsync | Mighty Ape | Backblaze

freitasm on Keybase | My technology disclosure

Movieman

1473 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3010642 16-Dec-2022 10:14

As a SKY Sport subscriber, I'm hoping that SKY will pick up the rights to the UEFA Champions League. Not interested in the other sports.

MAN CAVE: 2019 Panasonic GZ1000 65" OLED TV - Panasonic DP-UB 820 4K Blu-ray Player - Yamaha Aventage RX-A1080 Receiver - Dolby Atmos / DTS:X 5.1.2 Surround Speaker System - Apple TV 4K 32gb (6th Gen) - LIVING ROOM: 2021 Sony 75” X95J LCD TV - Playstation 5 Console - Apple TV 4K 32gb (5th Gen) TECH: iPad Gen. 10 - iPhone 8 Plus - Apple Watch SE - Air Pods 2 - Airpods Max

allan

1892 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3010644 16-Dec-2022 10:15

frankv:

dougierydal:

Wonder what that will look like? Free to air obviously but I wonder what cuts etc will be made. To be shown on a combination of TVNZ 1, Duke and live streamed on TVNZ

Why would you think it would be free to air?

Because on Stuff: TVNZ sport manager Melodie Robinson said having a major sport such as cricket free-to-air was “a huge win for all New Zealanders”.

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
76331 posts

Uber Geek

Administrator

ID Verified

Trusted

Geekzone

Lifetime subscriber

#3010645 16-Dec-2022 10:18

From TVNZ:

TVNZ will be the new home of New Zealand Cricket in Aotearoa from the 2023/24 season through to the end of the 2025/26 season, under an arrangement announced with Spark this morning.

As Spark Sport exits the sports streaming market, the partnership will see TVNZ take over the transmission for many of the sports currently available on the platform, including all BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS tests, T20 matches and one day internationals played in New Zealand, as well as all Super Smash matches.

“We are really excited to be the home of New Zealand Cricket for the coming years,” says TVNZ Director of Content Cate Slater. “Te Reo Tātaki TVNZ has always been focused on bringing the moments that matter to New Zealanders, and we are looking forward to helping all Kiwis get behind our national cricket teams with live coverage across our channels and TVNZ+.”

Cricket remains one of New Zealand’s most popular sports, not only in terms of participation but also in terms of viewing. Over the course of the 2020/2021 season, the six New Zealand cricket matches screened on TVNZ reached 1.86m viewers.

TVNZ’s GM Sport and Events Melodie Robinson says, “Having free-to-access sport for a major New Zealand code like cricket – men’s and women’s – is a huge win for all New Zealanders. History shows us that the more our communities can access sports in a viewing capacity, the more likely they are to get out there and participate in sports themselves. As well as great TV viewing, we hope this partnership will inspire more people to pick up the bat in the coming years, too.”

“This is a very good outcome for the game of cricket in New Zealand,” says New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive David White. “Having cricket on TVNZ safeguards the professional game; it safeguards the community game, and it provides unprecedented access for Kiwi cricket fans.

“We’re delighted New Zealanders can look forward to this level of free-to-air coverage – it’s a game-changer for the sport in this country.”

As well as New Zealand cricket, TVNZ anticipates bringing the majority of sport currently available on the Spark Sport platform to TVNZ’s channels and TVNZ+, subject to the approval of the relevant rightsholders. Spark and TVNZ are progressing discussions with those rightsholders and expect to announce a definitive list early next year.

“TVNZ has enjoyed successful collaborations with Spark Sport in the past with Rugby World Cup 2019 and New Zealand Cricket events,” continues Robinson.  “This new arrangement represents an even deeper partnership. Spark has provided a superb sports-viewing experience for cricket fans over the past few years, and we are excited to be working together with them to pick up that mantle and make one of our favourite national sports available for everyone.” 
 
The partnership with Spark Sport will take effect from 1 July 2023.

Please support Geekzone by subscribing, or using one of our referral links: Dosh referral: 00001283 | Sharesies | Goodsync | Mighty Ape | Backblaze

freitasm on Keybase | My technology disclosure

allan

1892 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Lifetime subscriber

#3010648 16-Dec-2022 10:22

Interesting that they would have had to replace their streaming platform. That would have to have had a major influence on their decision making, given how well it's actually worked after the initial teething problems. Would have been a major undertaking.

tdgeek

28589 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#3010650 16-Dec-2022 10:24

allan:

Because on Stuff: TVNZ sport manager Melodie Robinson said having a major sport such as cricket free-to-air was “a huge win for all New Zealanders”.

It does seem that TVMZ want NZ sports, Spark is talking to others re the PPV ones

JPNZ

1199 posts

Uber Geek

#3010653 16-Dec-2022 10:33

Geekeneer:

I literally came here to find that answer too regarding replays being available immediately. Can you confirm if replays are available shortly after a session/race?

I also saw on the F1TV website mention of 2 days for replays to be available which would have sucked.

SS was my go to for a Monday night after work to watch the entire race replay.

F1 was literally the only reason I sub'd to SS. I even cancelled my sub till the season begins again.

Now looking at F1TV Pro sub prices, it actually would've been cheaper to sub to that instead, although it does come with limitations in terms of accessibility from TV.

I'll fire up the old android TV box and see if I could get the app there.

Also noting on Spark's FB post "Spark Sport will no longer be the home of F1 from 31 December 2022"

I would wait till closer to the season start, now spark has moved on Sky may pick it up or F1TVpro becomes the only option. In the new year I expect things to become clearer.

Panasonic 65GZ1000, Onkyo RZ730, Atmos 5.1.2, AppleTV 4K, Nest Mini's, PS5, PS3, MacbookPro, iPad Pro, Apple watch SE2, iPhone 15+

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5