Spark Sport
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TVNZ and Spark have won the broadcasting rights for the RWC. Yes, it’ll be free to air but I’m not looking forward to the execution. Any organisation that thinks Toni Street is a news anchor is deluded I’m afraid.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12033269
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https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/103126229/TVNZ-and-Spark-win-Rugby-World-Cup-rights
I hope it's better than the shambles of the CG! However they've promised no adverts during the games, seven matches free to air (including first and the final) and the rest streamed for money. They better have the streamed matches available in HD, I cancelled my Rugby Channel sub because the SD is so all in my new TV, and the 720 ( I guess) from the Sky Go app is also crap on any big screen.
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Not many people seem that chuffed about this, considering TVNZ's coverage of the Comms Games. Why didn't Sky TV and Vodafone make a similar bid?
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Reading a bit closer only 7 matches will be free to air, some will be delayed and the rest will be streamed by Spark at additional cost.
Honestly though, I’m really not looking forward to what TVNZ thinks the public wants from a sports show. I can’t believe they thought Streety and Sam the Weatherman were the first choices for anchoring the Comm games. Well actually I can, because they also believe their own bullshit about Hillary Barry being the mother of the nation. They seem to value style over substance more often than not, so look for lots of “colour” and stories about feelings.
On the other hand they are practically guaranteed to cast a female anchor because diversity so @Mokey dust off your CV.
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I really think that is a leap too far for most.
My guess is the aside from one or two there games most kiwis will only watch the FTA stuff.
Will be interesting to see what happens at venues like bars and pubs. Most aren't set up to cast streams onto their TVs.
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@jc said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
On the other hand they are practically guaranteed to cast a female anchor because diversity so @Mokey dust off your CV.
Do it @Mokey, for the love of God play the gender card and anchor this for the good of the game and the NZ public. Toni Street and Sam the Weatherman hosting the CGs is one thing, but rugby is sacred, that would be too much to take.
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They couldn't afford me.
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@crucial I had assumed Spark would use their Lightbox app which is available for most smart TVs now. I'm not aware of any pay per view or variable package selection capability in it though.
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Next year's World Cup isn't the only global tournament secured by the TVNZ-Spark partnership, with the 2021 Women's World Cup, 2018 Sevens World Cup, and 2018 and 2019 U20 tournaments also to be free to air.Kenrick also said that the televised live coverage would differ from that of this year's Commonwealth Games. "The Comm Games has been brilliant - we've had a great opportunity to learn by getting back into live sport in a big way." "One of the lessons for us is about the placement of ads. I can tell you there will not be ads during live games of the Rugby World Cup.TVNZ and Spark aiming to give consumers 'choice' and 'control' as 2019 Rugby World Cup comes live with some games free to air
:quality(70)/cloudfront-ap-southeast-2.images.arcpublishing.com/tvnz/TF7MDQP2MROI5NUVBBO4ZCSM4Y.jpg)
New Zealanders will be able to watch the All Blacks' attempt for three straight trophies.
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@sneakdefreak said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
Not many people seem that chuffed about this, considering TVNZ's coverage of the Comms Games. Why didn't Sky TV and Vodafone make a similar bid?
Sky is basically haemorrhaging money and subscribers. Because there has to be those 7 free to air games, same as last time, it wasn't worth them doing it. If they were allowed to put the entire RWC on Sky/paid only, then they would have bid and won IMO. But they're not allowed to, the final has to be free to air, waste of time for a struggling paid TV service
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Looking forward to the RWC final with Toni Street referring to Kieran Read as Richie McCaw and asking how Daniel Carter’s preparation being ( while showing a shot of Beauden Barrett warming up)
Then doing a live cross to Sam Wallace walking around Toyko interviewing the locals -
I am pretty disgusted by this decision - that covers other tournaments too. Sky coverage has been excellent for past tournaments and I enjoy watching non-NZ matches. I expect a lot of kiwis will want to watch the Pacific Island matches too.
But, I can't be bothered with live-streaming to my laptop. Is it all about forcing kiwis to explore this option? -
My internet connection is slow and I don't have unlimited broadband. There's a higher price tag for many people than just paying for the package that Spark is going to offer.
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Unless you're referring to pre-game and post-game 'shows', then SKY was never going to do the coverage of the 2019 RWC. The host broadcaster* provides a feed of the matches to the various right-holding broadcasters around the globe who beam it into your living room.
With TVNZ only showing seven games live, they're hardly going to throw the presenters at it that they did for the Comm Games, where they had 11 days of non-stop coverage over four feeds that they needed to package.
The real concern is how will Spark present their coverage given they have absolutely no history in broadcasting and production. They will have every All Black game, and every playoff game. Who will anchor their coverage? Which former Internationals will be their studio experts? Will SKY allow their contracted former ABs jump ship for six weeks?
*The Host Broadcaster is Japan and given they don't have a sophisticated rugby broadcasting pedigree they are no doubt going to dip into experts broadcasters and producers from England, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand... therefore some of the SKY crew. But that would be the case whether SKY, TVNZ, Three or Trackside won the rights.
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@stargazer said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
My internet connection is slow and I don't have unlimited broadband. There's a higher price tag for many people than just paying for the package that Spark is going to offer.
Yup. For those of us without a landline and outside main centres, live streaming isn't exactly a great option.
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Wondering how my 90yo Mum is going to cope.
She's got Sky and can deal with that. But what is this new fangled interweb ... ?
She ain't got a hope of working that out.
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Don't forget TV3 won the 2007 world cup (that's from memory) -- we got to see Mehrts as a colour commentator in the studio, and it was quality
As someone said, Sky would just be rebroadcasting with their own commentary. All the pictures will be from the local broadcaster. That said, they are the best in the world at rugby pictures I reckon, so could have a line on supporting the local broadcaster with tech and people on the ground ...
Edit: https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tv3-wins-broadcast-rights-rugby-world-cup
article from 2005 -
2007 TV3 had Hamish MacKay as the lead commentator. Is he around somewhere else these days? As nzzp notes, they had Merts, as well as people like John Hart - there's no real shortage of ex-Rugby players who can provide colour commentary from the studio - lots of guys who turn up on "The Breakdown" etc occasionally, who can only be under casual/freelance type contracts with Sky.
More concerned with who they'll have actually calling the match. I fear they'll go with the "experience" of John McBeth and we'll get something from the 1980s.
Biggest concern though is quite what the streaming experience will be out in the sticks.
On the plus side, I imagine the games will be played to cater for the big NH audiences so probably not kicking off till around midnight NZ time, so I'm unlikely to watch too much live. If we assume the ABs games will play live on TVNZ (and others will be delayed) that side of things might be OK.
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A combo of John McBeth and Keith Quinn
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@nzzp said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
Don't forget TV3 won the 2007 world cup (that's from memory) -- we got to see Mehrts as a colour commentator in the studio, and it was quality
As someone said, Sky would just be rebroadcasting with their own commentary. All the pictures will be from the local broadcaster. That said, they are the best in the world at rugby pictures I reckon, so could have a line on supporting the local broadcaster with tech and people on the ground ...
Edit: https://www.nbr.co.nz/article/tv3-wins-broadcast-rights-rugby-world-cup
article from 2005TV3 in 2007 did already broadcast the FTA rugby under the then deal. They had some expertise at taking a sky feed and doing something with it.
Modern TVNZ is a hollow shell.
I suppose they've had had America Cup, that's the only stuff I can think of that they've done during the last 25 years. They have no expertise anymore.
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I wonder if the FTA stuff will be broadcast in HD again?
TV1 & TV3 broadcast their FTA stuff in 2007 FTA, but unless you had the HD ticket, none of the Sky stuff was, so you were better off watching the matches aired on FTA on 1 or 3 (3 had Merhts IIRC, so that one)
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@chris-b said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
2007 TV3 had Hamish MacKay as the lead commentator. Is he around somewhere else these days? As nzzp notes, they had Merts, as well as people like John Hart - there's no real shortage of ex-Rugby players who can provide colour commentary from the studio - lots of guys who turn up on "The Breakdown" etc occasionally, who can only be under casual/freelance type contracts with Sky.
More concerned with who they'll have actually calling the match. I fear they'll go with the "experience" of John McBeth and we'll get something from the 1980s.
Biggest concern though is quite what the streaming experience will be out in the sticks.
On the plus side, I imagine the games will be played to cater for the big NH audiences so probably not kicking off till around midnight NZ time, so I'm unlikely to watch too much live. If we assume the ABs games will play live on TVNZ (and others will be delayed) that side of things might be OK.
If Nisbo etc is tied down by an exclusive contract.
I'd be happy with a Tom Conroy? Used to do TV gig down in Southland on local tv? Sometimes on Grassroots rugby. Assume he had a radio background. Him plus an ex-player or coach comments man.
Variety is good.
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@rapido said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
@chris-b said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
If Nisbo etc is tied down by an exclusive contract.
I suspect the main Sky guys are - they didn't feature in 2007.
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@stockcar86 said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
A combo of John McBeth and Keith Quinn
Too many old white men. Diversity will trump rugby knowledge so they'll have Anika Moa and Golriz Ghahraman calling the game. John Campbell and Hillary Barry in the studio.
It could happen and you know it.
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@jc cnut...
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The last time we lost the RWC was when Labour were the govt and TVNZ had the broadcasting rights. Just saying.
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@akan004 said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
The last time we lost the RWC was when Labour were the govt and TVNZ had the broadcasting rights. Just saying.
Spurious correlations gives me this:
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@akan004 said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
The last time we lost the RWC was when Labour were the govt and TVNZ had the broadcasting rights. Just saying.
I thought TV3 had it?
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@rapido You may be right...
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@nzzp said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
@akan004 said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
The last time we lost the RWC was when Labour were the govt and TVNZ had the broadcasting rights. Just saying.
Spurious correlations gives me this:
Potentially, a lot of those drownings could be intentional - after watching movies.
Some Nicholas Cage films I've seen it wouldn't surprise me!
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@chris-b Yep, quite the spike after Captain Corelli's Mandolin.
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@jc only good thing about that movie is that I have been to many of the set locations on Kefalonia, by all accounts, Cage was not well received by locals, buying a house and building big f-off walls around it to stop anyone looking at him....
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@nzzp I blame Leaving Las Vegas.
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Quinn said he felt TVNZ was well placed to handle the commentary aspects of World Cup coverage. TVNZ would have no problems "as they will send their own people for significant New Zealand matches," he said Quinn had no insights into who "those people" might be, nor would he comment on his own availability for the tournament. On Sunday, Andrew Saville and veteran John McBeth did the commentaries for the men's and women's sevens finals at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Both would likely be firmly in the mix for Japan. Saville is an experienced match caller, while McBeth was New Zealand's leading radio rugby commentator for 10 years, before taking the leading rugby role at TVNZ. Scheduling means TVNZ could not cover every game, so it was likely the World Commentary Team (WTC) feed would be taken for non-New Zealand games, Quinn said. Sky TV used the WTC in the past to bolster core commentators Grant Nisbett, Tony Johnson and Justin Marshall at the 2015 Cup. Those three and others - such as the high-profile Scotty Stevenson - contracted to Sky would seem to be not an option for TVNZ. Nor would TVNZ want to use them, as they would be intent on stamping their own brand on the Cup coverage. Contracts dependent, it is possible sevens specialist Karl Te Nana, experienced Radio Sport caller Nigel Yalden and Willie Lose, who has played rugby in Japan, might be available to TVNZ.Former Chiefs and All Blacks No 8 Steven Bates is another media-experienced former player who has played rugby in Japan, so has a valuable understanding of the local culture, and local rugby culture. WTC commentators are contracted by World Rugby to ensure all games have quality commentators. They operate under guidelines which mean they must make games sound exciting, without exhibiting a national bias. Quinn, Johnson and Te Nana have all called games for the WTC Quinn also commentated to a worldwide audience at the Rio Olympics two years ago, when he called the sevens for the Olympic Broadcasting Service - essentially the Olympic Games version of the WTC. He expected New Zealanders to be happy with the WTC callers, which featured the likes of Australian Gordon Bray, Welshman Eddie Butler, and Englishmen Miles Harrison and Ben Gollings. "There will be a lot of familiar voices for New Zealand viewers," Quinn said. "Some of the South African callers, and some of the British names like Miles Harrison and Eddie Butler, will be known." WTC will fly commentators to Japan, pay their accommodation, and give them a fee. In exchange WTC controls what they are able to say. No WTC broadcaster would criticise aspects of the way the tournament was run, or its infrastructure. -
Yealden is a great radio commentator, but not sure his 'style' would go down well on TV comms...?
Is Merhts contracted to anyone, I thought Kronfeld was decent in 2011 as well, wonder if they would try to get someone like Wayne SMith to do it, assume they will look at McCaw too?
Being analytical and knowledgable is one thing, but being able to commentate is another completely.
@Steven-Harris send them your CV bro
edit - wonder if Glen Osbourne or Eric Rush would be keen
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Reiko! oh! oh!
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Oh god. Not Quinn and McBeth. Please.
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@taniwharugby said in And the winner of the RWC broadcasting rights is...:
Yealden is a great radio commentator, but not sure his 'style' would go down well on TV comms...?
Yeah, not my bag at all. Listening to him in the car at the weekend, and find his enthusiasm grating. Still, some people like him (excluding me and Mrs NZZP, who described him as a muppet)
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Isn't this what the fern has been asking for? Breaking Sky's stronghold in sports broadcasting? This thread seems a bit complainy considering.
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Just watched a few Simon Moutter soundbites on TV3 News.
"At the end of the day there's a lot more Kiwis have a good broadband connection than a Sky dish".
Yeah - but, everyone can choose to have a Sky dish, Simon - and I'd guess a decent majority of ardent rugby fans have one. We're reliant on the fucking telecommunications industry to deliver us decent Broadband.
He came across as a smug piston wristed gibbon IMO!Let's hope Quinn's thoughts on commentators aren't on the money - 1980s broadcasters targeting millennials ambivalent about rugby - how could it possibly fail!
