October 22, 2024 • 22 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for Tuesday 22 October 2024 - sports broadcasting consultant Colin Smith talks about what the new Sky Televison/NZR deal could look like, and what it means for the consumer?
D'Arcy delivers an opinion piece on the sad reality of the Commonwealth Games.
Plus, Newstalk ZB Sports News Editor Clay Wilson joins the panel to discuss Kane Williamson's admission from the Black Caps side.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks at BE
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks it BE.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Welcome on into Sports Figs, your weekday home of all
the latest sports news you need to know. My name's
Darcy water Grow. Thanks very much for joining us. Coming
up on the twenty second of October twenty twenty four,
we have this in store for you. Colin Smith Joiner
shortly sports broadcasting consultant as we look at the gap
(00:42):
between Sky TV and NZR when it comes to signing
the new contract. Who pulls the strings in this relationship?
Who has the whip hand? Where does this end? Colin
Smith Joiner shortly to discuss that the coming off games
is on its knees. To be fair, It's been there
for quite some time, with more sports to be axed
(01:04):
ahead of the show piece event if you can still
call it that in Glasgow and twenty twenty six. I've
got some thoughts on that. And then Clay Wilson, the
sports news editor for News Talk ZB joins us as
we throw around some of the big topics of the day.
That is our plan for this wonderful Tuesday, the twenty
second of October. Really looking forward to bringing you the fix.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
In other news from the mouths of the newsmakers, we
have porsch out Woodman Wickliffe, one of rugby's great She's
returning to the game she recently left at the international level.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
The blistering barnstorming winger is suiting up for the Blues
and next year's opicky comp but a full international return
doesn't check her to do list.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
I want to play with freedom. I can't play other opportunities.
I want to play social network and play social touch like.
Those are the things that I'm really looking forward to,
and if I step into another area of performance that
I'm just going to be sticking with Super Rugby Club FBC.
I'm not really looking forward to Black Juessey. I've done that.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
The Constellations Cup could be decided with extra time. The
tie breaking gold differential of times gone by has well
gone by two seven minute hals will now decide that
the series ends up a to or draw. Maybe Gordon
thinks they'll all be breathing razor blades by that stage.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
I think that's going to be hard like obviously, after
a six minute performance.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
We are shattered, so it's just managing.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
How we're going to go with that and how we
can kind of keep bodies.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
Fresh so that we can last the extra fourteen minutes
at the end.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And Chris Wood has scored again. The All Whites skipper
and epl scoring machine has taken his fifth goal of
the season is sixty fifth minutes strike from the twenty
two yards Nottingham Forest, a one mil win over Crystal Palace.
Speaker 6 (02:57):
Just trying to hit the target and the anything can happen.
Speaker 7 (02:59):
I had a couple of chants in the first half
which didn't go my way and things like that, but
you got to keep you and keep trying and thankfully winning.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Leading a VIX We've got just the tea. It's Sportsfix
how by NEWSTALKSV.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
We join now on The Fix Spy Sports broadcast and
consultant Colin Smith as we take a look at at
the upcoming deal between Sky TV and New Zealand that rugby.
Colin has always welcome to the program. The deal has
been worked on for quite some time now. Who's got
the whip hand? Which way is it going to go?
What's going to happen?
Speaker 6 (03:34):
Colin all very well indeed and great to chat to you.
It's a really interesting question. You look at New Zealand,
Rugby is and has been the most popular sport by
a long long way. Frankly, it's close to being a
one sport country. I'm not taking away the Olympics or cricket,
but it is the key driver. The challenge is what
(03:57):
they are paying is a very significant amount of money
and probably in hindsight Sky would probably regret what they
offered and what New Zealand Rugby accepted, So it's close
to being a standoff. So Sky definitely would want to
continue with rugby. I note that they've done the deal
(04:20):
with World Rugby for the next two World Cups and
including women's rugby as well and rugby seven's, so they've
got a stable of rugby. But the question is what
about the coverage of the Rugby Championship and Super Rugby.
The other challenge is the viewership numbers of those are
not strong as they used to be.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Who needs who more? Do you think when you look.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
At this, you would argue that both need each other
because there is not an alternative in New Zealand unless
a streaming an international streaming service like a the Zone
or an Amazon or an Apple came in, you wouldn't
expect a tvn Z or somebody else to come in
(05:06):
and bid for those rights. So they need each other.
But the problem is the numbers are not a lot
weaker than they were when they did this deal. And
it's mutual, but at what price is at mutual? And
we're seeing this same challenge elsewhere in the world. This
is not just peculiar to New Zealand. It's an issue
(05:28):
in France and it's there and it has been an
issue in England as well.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
If INSI Are went to somewhere like Amazon or Dezone
or something similar, would that be a success for them,
because I feel Colum, the issue here is comfort in
the consumers and the platform they use. This would be
an abrupt change for a lot of the people who
spend the money on Sky. Would they click to it?
(05:54):
Would it work for ins in Are.
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Well see that the challenge for a Dezone or even
for that matter, an Amazon is because Sky has been
quite smart and done. The deal with World Rugby means
all the World Cups, rugby sevens, women's rugby are going
to be on Sky, So it means you need both services.
(06:17):
That makes it more challenging for New Zealand Rugby to
maximize its rights value, and I'm certain at the table
Sky would be wanting to do a very significant reduction,
where I'm certain that the New Zealand Rugby commercial would
wanting to grow at northwards, which I don't think is
(06:38):
likely even with a alternate partner.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
When it comes to just the rugby itself that I
mentioned the word whip hand before the All Blacks playing tests.
That is it everything else around, which is what ends
at our Plus have been attempting to do around complimentary product.
It kind of pails, doesn't it. It's not what the
punters after.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
Well, and the other problem is you're exactly right, But
the other problem is Super Rugby is not.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
What it to be.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
It's significantly less. And interesting statistic for your listeners is
that if a live game of NRL the New Zealand
Warriors playing in New Zealand against another team outrates a
Super Rugby game played also in New Zealand. Now I
(07:29):
would never have expected that, but that's real today, So
that Super Rugby is not as good as it used
to be. Australia is a poor performer and then also
the All Blacks aren't the powerhouse they were, so South
Africa and Ireland are the dominant countries, its viewership is
(07:51):
not as strong and therefore going to market when you're
not as strong and your feeder competition and including provincial
rugby is challenged, makes it very difficult for them to
be able to justify the prices they're getting all the
rights they're paying. The Sky's paying to New Zealand rugby.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Joined by Colin Smith, a sports broadcasting consultant SkyTV. Would
SkyTV go under if they lost the rugby if ends
In Are and silver Lake started playing hardball and took it,
what a fit that have on Sky as a company.
Could they last?
Speaker 6 (08:29):
It would be challenging for them, but they could double
down with trying to get the extra NRL team who
played in christ Church to have a second team so
they have a game every week. The challenge is also
if the deal's not done, this is financially very challenging
(08:49):
for New Zealand rugby as well. If they don't, if
they can't get near the price, what is it remored
to be about ninety eight million New Zealand dollars? That
will be a real challenge for their commercial entity and
their partners in silver Lake, so it's a problem for both.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Actually I'm really interested Colin. As always, thanks for your
time and expertise about the ease of uptake for an
alternative platform. We've had problems here before when Spark turned up.
People were slow to the technology. The technology probably wasn't
embedded by then. It's been a few years since. Is
(09:29):
it a lot easier now for people to climb on board?
Is it becoming more second nature? Because there is resistance,
especially from the older generation. They want it on their skybox,
they want to how to turn it on and run
it and ease is king? Is that changing and time?
Speaker 6 (09:44):
Do you believe for young people it is changing back
For older generation and I'm saying though fifty plus they
are far more reticent to be getting another subscription for
another service and so therefore that can also be poor
for New Zealand Rugby because they don't get the same audience.
(10:06):
So there's a double whammy block for them if they
do this. And I think SkyTV New Zealand has been
very smart in doing the deal with World Rugby beforehand,
so they've secured what is the real mass watch in
New Zealand being the World Cups, which means that people
(10:28):
are not going to switch off from Sky anytime soon.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Wow, the Power Game is fascinating, is it not? And
on that will let you get on with business Sports
broadcast and consultant Colin Smith. Always a pleasure, Thanks very
much for your time.
Speaker 6 (10:44):
Great to chat to you and your listeners.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
This is Sports Fix, your daily does of sports news
by News Talks.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But is it really still the Commonwealth Games? Only teen
sports are going to be represented in Glasgow from Thursday,
July twenty third through to Sunday August the second, twenty
twenty six. It's a very slimmed program. There's no diving,
(11:16):
there's no beach volleyball, Rhythmic gymnastics has been given that
don't come Monday, badminton, hockey, rugby sevens, road cycling, mountain,
bike and cricket, table tennis, squash, power table, tennis, triathlon,
power triathlon, wrestling. They are all at Birmingham in twenty
(11:37):
twenty two. They are no longer sport non grata into
this celebration of sport in and around the Commonwealth. So
what are we left with in twenty twenty six? This
is what's on offer? Swimming, athletics, para athletics, para swimming,
artistic gymnastics, track cycling, para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and
(12:01):
para weightlifting, boxing, judo, lawn bowls and para bowls, three
x three basketball and three three wheelchair basketball? And that
is it? Is that really a true representation of Commonwealth sport?
Is this watered down version of a games that we
grew to love so much and it's pomp and its
(12:24):
heyday really worth even opening an eye for for the athletes? Yes,
it will be, but it's such a limited diet. I
can't see people climbing over themselves televisually globally as far
as the markets go around the world to watch this.
I expect for the fine folk of Glasgow it'll do well.
(12:44):
People will turn up and they'll celebrate the joy of
having a major, a former major competition in their backyard.
It's sad what's happened to the Commonwealth Games, but it
is inevitable. This is progress, This is how things roll.
Tradition counts for nothing. There is no space for this.
(13:07):
This is a dying petition flopping around without oxygen on
the deck, waiting for somebody to euthanaze it. Who wants
to lock, who wants to load, who wants to shoot?
Because letting it live on is cruel.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
In a chamber with Clay Wilson. He's a News Talks
there be sports news director has always Clay welcome, looking
forward to your opinions. Are you ready to go?
Speaker 8 (13:38):
Oh? As really as I ever be, Darcy, Let's get
into it.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
SkyTV Z are the new deal. This is going to
take quite some time. I don't think there's much urgency
here because there's no real competition. Who's got the whip
hand he who has the power?
Speaker 7 (13:53):
It's such an interesting question, and I think evidence by
how much we've been able to just discuss this and
not come to any real conclusions out in the office
here right Like, there's so many layers to this because
of where we sit with a house bord as people
watchboard these days, where rugby is as a game, where
and where these two respective organizations are, where Sky is
(14:15):
and where New Zealand Rugby is at. I think there's
going to be or there probably already has been a
lot of back and forth over the negotiation table in
terms of trying to hash something out if something is
going to be worked out, because you know, if your Sky,
you're looking to the future of you preps, don't want
a long term deal. You want to of course, you
want to pay as as little as possible, you know,
(14:38):
and you want to You might want only certain chunks
of what Insida has to offer.
Speaker 8 (14:44):
But if your ends it are you.
Speaker 7 (14:45):
Want a long term deal, you want as much money
as you can get, and you want all your your
content broadcast out on one platform if you can, and
those things perhaps don't marry up.
Speaker 8 (14:54):
In terms of the interests of these two organizations.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
He is a good way of putting it. Who stands
to lose the most if they don't get it. We
talk about it work hand, and maybe we shouldn't be
talking about it wip hand. They've got to come in
there as even and say, listen, this is good for
both of us. But he'd really stag it. He'd take
the body bottle if they didn't get it.
Speaker 8 (15:13):
Yeah, that's so interesting.
Speaker 7 (15:14):
I mean, I guess they're both companies that have to
make money to survive. But perhaps Sky as a you know,
as a commercial business, really outright as the company that
has to say, well, you know, and Rugby for Sky
has been it's life flood and to me, while that
is changing, perhaps it still really is. And Sky can
(15:36):
they afford to not have have Rugby on their menu?
Probably not, So Sky might have to, you know, come
towards ends that are a bit more maybe, But I mean,
who knows. Like I said, it's such a it's such
a there's so many layers to this, to this situation
that it's I mean, it would be great to be
a fly on a wall, fly on the wall for
(15:56):
these discussions, wouldn't it to know exactly what they're discussing
and how they're trying to trying to hash it out,
and what that's going to mean for us as fans
and the punters out there in terms of how you
watch your Rugby, how much you pay for it, how
easy it is to do all those things.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Well, we talk about Sky, we talk about the inns
are but the most important thing here is us. It's
all about us. It's us the consumer. I don't care
what they do, how much they lose or win, it
doesn't matter. But those two units, those two companies come
in together. No one can afford to to say I
have the whip hand. They've both got to come both
(16:31):
on a bended knee going hey, what can we do
to make this work. It's got to be a partnership.
It can't be a competition.
Speaker 8 (16:37):
Yeah, I think you're right.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
For now, it still remains that situation where they need
they need each other, don't they, And that as as
much as Inded are relies on Sky to broadcast the
content still form our Sky relies on Inded for having
rugby as its main product. So that you think there's
going to have to be a bit of compromise. I
mean it is a negotiation that there always is, but
(17:01):
you know, just just wondering how much that's changing and
how much you know, Sky offers a lot of different
sports and me personally, yes, I'm a sports fanatic. I'll
watch a lot of things, but to me, rugby is
just an added bonus on Sky. I watch a lot
of other things. But I think probably still where we
sit today that for a lot of people the main
(17:22):
reason they have Sky is to watch the All Blacks,
to watch Super Rugby, watch a bit of NPC. That
is the biggest carrot for them. And if Sky were
to say no, thanks, we don't want it, or they
pushed the boat too far in terms of how much
they're willing to pay, then they're going to lose too
much custom and that's not going to be good for
their business. But I think there's a time in the
future where that where that does change as well.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Ray Wilson joined a sports news story before news talk
zre B came. Williamson ruled out of the second Test.
So Will youngsgate? Yes, Is that right?
Speaker 7 (17:52):
Well, I guess so, But I mean givedens by the
first tests. I guess it's proven that they.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I mean, are you shrugging your shoulders in the studio
about the contribution of Caine Williamson? You are, I can
see it in your face.
Speaker 7 (18:04):
Well, I mean it's it's I guess cricket can be
a We've seen this over the weekend with the black
Caps winning that first Test, and then what the White
fans did is that it's it's sport, and especially a
sport like cricket. Cambrey unpredictable. Will Young performed pretty well
then that Test, and you know, we know Will Young
(18:25):
is a good player, a quality player who can score
runs against any team. Of course, if Kane Williamsons fit
and available. You take him every day of the week,
twice on Sunday. But you know, much less worrying than
going going into a test saying well he's not available
than it was perhaps before the first Test when we
found out this news, thinking well they were already up
(18:46):
against it and now they haven't. We haven't got our best,
our best better. Sounds like he's in the max probably
for the third Test, and who knows, that might be
very crucial. Definitely expecting an Indian bounce back in the
second Test. If we go in one to one and
you get Came Williamson back, that's got to be a
be a boost. And you know with someone like Kim,
(19:07):
you want to take your time, don't you, especially when
you've won the first Test.
Speaker 8 (19:10):
No need to rushing back in right.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Your position. The luxury of the black as at the moment.
Speaker 7 (19:16):
Yeah, yeah, you've got your noses in front. So if
you can give them a bit more time to get right,
then why not do it?
Speaker 3 (19:22):
In the Commonwealth Games which has slowly a bit surely
drifting away, it's actrifying, it's dying on its feet. Now
there are going to be ten sports hockey's gone, rugby
seven's gone dim, so many sports are axed. What does
this do to the calm game? Should it just be
put out of its misery?
Speaker 8 (19:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
I think a lot of people think that, and I
mean I guess a lot of the signs point to
that's where it might be heading, that it just ceases
to exist as an event.
Speaker 8 (19:49):
But I actually quite like the idea.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
And I mean even before they spoke about Glasgow stepping
in as a late replacement for Melbourne and for Victoria
and that's trimmed down sports program, I was thinking, maybe
you just pre back of it. You just you've got
to make it more cost effective depending on when.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
You cam fart. Do you go back when suddenly you
don't have a product that you can sell people want
to want you.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
And we're going to find that out in Glasgow. Right,
we've got ten events. It's it's really trimmed back, much
more cost effective for the organization. But you're right, there's
a tipping point where it becomes not important or interesting
enough that it's viable versus something that can just be
sustainable and carry on in a different form.
Speaker 8 (20:37):
So you know, to me, I think the Commonwealth Games is.
Speaker 7 (20:43):
As Kiwi's is great for us because you know the
Olympics we have success, but nowhere near as much and
it gives a lot of athletes a stepping stone towards
world championships, towards Olympic Games. And if you don't have
that then you lose it. But yes, it has to
be viable. It has to be. It has to It
can't just be something that cities, countries lose money on
(21:07):
because then no one's going to be interested and it
falls over.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
And on that. Clay will let you off, Glena out
of the chamber. Clay Wilson, sports news director for News
Talk ZB as always thanks for your time to Reesa.
Speaker 8 (21:17):
Darcy, thank you dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
And that's it for the Fixed twenty second of October
twenty twenty four and Darcy Walter Grave thanks for joining me.
Don't forget subscribe to the podcast. It will drop into
your inbox Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. If it's more
sport you want on the Wiles between the seven and
eight Monday to Friday. That's myself for Jason pine with
(21:48):
Sports Talk and if weekend sports your bag, Piney's got
that in hand. Between midday and three Saturday and Sunday,
have a wonderful rest of your day and we'll catch
you tomorrow here on the Sports Fix.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
For more from News Talks, EDB, listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
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You're listening to a podcast from News Talks at BE
follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
This is Sportsfix Howard by News Talks it BE.
Speaker 3 (00:21):
Welcome on into Sports Figs, your weekday home of all
the latest sports news you need to know. My name's
Darcy water Grow. Thanks very much for joining us. Coming
up on the twenty second of October twenty twenty four,
we have this in store for you. Colin Smith Joiner
shortly sports broadcasting consultant as we look at the gap
(00:42):
between Sky TV and NZR when it comes to signing
the new contract. Who pulls the strings in this relationship?
Who has the whip hand? Where does this end? Colin
Smith Joiner shortly to discuss that the coming off games
is on its knees. To be fair, It's been there
for quite some time, with more sports to be axed
(01:04):
ahead of the show piece event if you can still
call it that in Glasgow and twenty twenty six. I've
got some thoughts on that. And then Clay Wilson, the
sports news editor for News Talk ZB joins us as
we throw around some of the big topics of the day.
That is our plan for this wonderful Tuesday, the twenty
second of October. Really looking forward to bringing you the fix.
Speaker 4 (01:28):
In other news from the mouths of the newsmakers, we
have porsch out Woodman Wickliffe, one of rugby's great She's
returning to the game she recently left at the international level.
Speaker 3 (01:42):
The blistering barnstorming winger is suiting up for the Blues
and next year's opicky comp but a full international return
doesn't check her to do list.
Speaker 5 (01:52):
I want to play with freedom. I can't play other opportunities.
I want to play social network and play social touch like.
Those are the things that I'm really looking forward to,
and if I step into another area of performance that
I'm just going to be sticking with Super Rugby Club FBC.
I'm not really looking forward to Black Juessey. I've done that.
Speaker 3 (02:07):
The Constellations Cup could be decided with extra time. The
tie breaking gold differential of times gone by has well
gone by two seven minute hals will now decide that
the series ends up a to or draw. Maybe Gordon
thinks they'll all be breathing razor blades by that stage.
Speaker 5 (02:28):
I think that's going to be hard like obviously, after
a six minute performance.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
We are shattered, so it's just managing.
Speaker 5 (02:34):
How we're going to go with that and how we
can kind of keep bodies.
Speaker 6 (02:37):
Fresh so that we can last the extra fourteen minutes
at the end.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
And Chris Wood has scored again. The All Whites skipper
and epl scoring machine has taken his fifth goal of
the season is sixty fifth minutes strike from the twenty
two yards Nottingham Forest, a one mil win over Crystal Palace.
Speaker 6 (02:57):
Just trying to hit the target and the anything can happen.
Speaker 7 (02:59):
I had a couple of chants in the first half
which didn't go my way and things like that, but
you got to keep you and keep trying and thankfully winning.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Leading a VIX We've got just the tea. It's Sportsfix
how by NEWSTALKSV.
Speaker 3 (03:13):
We join now on The Fix Spy Sports broadcast and
consultant Colin Smith as we take a look at at
the upcoming deal between Sky TV and New Zealand that rugby.
Colin has always welcome to the program. The deal has
been worked on for quite some time now. Who's got
the whip hand? Which way is it going to go?
What's going to happen?
Speaker 6 (03:34):
Colin all very well indeed and great to chat to you.
It's a really interesting question. You look at New Zealand,
Rugby is and has been the most popular sport by
a long long way. Frankly, it's close to being a
one sport country. I'm not taking away the Olympics or cricket,
but it is the key driver. The challenge is what
(03:57):
they are paying is a very significant amount of money
and probably in hindsight Sky would probably regret what they
offered and what New Zealand Rugby accepted, So it's close
to being a standoff. So Sky definitely would want to
continue with rugby. I note that they've done the deal
(04:20):
with World Rugby for the next two World Cups and
including women's rugby as well and rugby seven's, so they've
got a stable of rugby. But the question is what
about the coverage of the Rugby Championship and Super Rugby.
The other challenge is the viewership numbers of those are
not strong as they used to be.
Speaker 3 (04:42):
Who needs who more? Do you think when you look.
Speaker 6 (04:45):
At this, you would argue that both need each other
because there is not an alternative in New Zealand unless
a streaming an international streaming service like a the Zone
or an Amazon or an Apple came in, you wouldn't
expect a tvn Z or somebody else to come in
(05:06):
and bid for those rights. So they need each other.
But the problem is the numbers are not a lot
weaker than they were when they did this deal. And
it's mutual, but at what price is at mutual? And
we're seeing this same challenge elsewhere in the world. This
is not just peculiar to New Zealand. It's an issue
(05:28):
in France and it's there and it has been an
issue in England as well.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
If INSI Are went to somewhere like Amazon or Dezone
or something similar, would that be a success for them,
because I feel Colum, the issue here is comfort in
the consumers and the platform they use. This would be
an abrupt change for a lot of the people who
spend the money on Sky. Would they click to it?
(05:54):
Would it work for ins in Are.
Speaker 6 (05:56):
Well see that the challenge for a Dezone or even
for that matter, an Amazon is because Sky has been
quite smart and done. The deal with World Rugby means
all the World Cups, rugby sevens, women's rugby are going
to be on Sky, So it means you need both services.
(06:17):
That makes it more challenging for New Zealand Rugby to
maximize its rights value, and I'm certain at the table
Sky would be wanting to do a very significant reduction,
where I'm certain that the New Zealand Rugby commercial would
wanting to grow at northwards, which I don't think is
(06:38):
likely even with a alternate partner.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
When it comes to just the rugby itself that I
mentioned the word whip hand before the All Blacks playing tests.
That is it everything else around, which is what ends
at our Plus have been attempting to do around complimentary product.
It kind of pails, doesn't it. It's not what the
punters after.
Speaker 6 (07:01):
Well, and the other problem is you're exactly right, But
the other problem is Super Rugby is not.
Speaker 5 (07:07):
What it to be.
Speaker 6 (07:09):
It's significantly less. And interesting statistic for your listeners is
that if a live game of NRL the New Zealand
Warriors playing in New Zealand against another team outrates a
Super Rugby game played also in New Zealand. Now I
(07:29):
would never have expected that, but that's real today, So
that Super Rugby is not as good as it used
to be. Australia is a poor performer and then also
the All Blacks aren't the powerhouse they were, so South
Africa and Ireland are the dominant countries, its viewership is
(07:51):
not as strong and therefore going to market when you're
not as strong and your feeder competition and including provincial
rugby is challenged, makes it very difficult for them to
be able to justify the prices they're getting all the
rights they're paying. The Sky's paying to New Zealand rugby.
Speaker 3 (08:10):
Joined by Colin Smith, a sports broadcasting consultant SkyTV. Would
SkyTV go under if they lost the rugby if ends
In Are and silver Lake started playing hardball and took it,
what a fit that have on Sky as a company.
Could they last?
Speaker 6 (08:29):
It would be challenging for them, but they could double
down with trying to get the extra NRL team who
played in christ Church to have a second team so
they have a game every week. The challenge is also
if the deal's not done, this is financially very challenging
(08:49):
for New Zealand rugby as well. If they don't, if
they can't get near the price, what is it remored
to be about ninety eight million New Zealand dollars? That
will be a real challenge for their commercial entity and
their partners in silver Lake, so it's a problem for both.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
Actually I'm really interested Colin. As always, thanks for your
time and expertise about the ease of uptake for an
alternative platform. We've had problems here before when Spark turned up.
People were slow to the technology. The technology probably wasn't
embedded by then. It's been a few years since. Is
(09:29):
it a lot easier now for people to climb on board?
Is it becoming more second nature? Because there is resistance,
especially from the older generation. They want it on their skybox,
they want to how to turn it on and run
it and ease is king? Is that changing and time?
Speaker 6 (09:44):
Do you believe for young people it is changing back
For older generation and I'm saying though fifty plus they
are far more reticent to be getting another subscription for
another service and so therefore that can also be poor
for New Zealand Rugby because they don't get the same audience.
(10:06):
So there's a double whammy block for them if they
do this. And I think SkyTV New Zealand has been
very smart in doing the deal with World Rugby beforehand,
so they've secured what is the real mass watch in
New Zealand being the World Cups, which means that people
(10:28):
are not going to switch off from Sky anytime soon.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Wow, the Power Game is fascinating, is it not? And
on that will let you get on with business Sports
broadcast and consultant Colin Smith. Always a pleasure, Thanks very
much for your time.
Speaker 6 (10:44):
Great to chat to you and your listeners.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
This is Sports Fix, your daily does of sports news
by News Talks.
Speaker 3 (10:54):
But is it really still the Commonwealth Games? Only teen
sports are going to be represented in Glasgow from Thursday,
July twenty third through to Sunday August the second, twenty
twenty six. It's a very slimmed program. There's no diving,
(11:16):
there's no beach volleyball, Rhythmic gymnastics has been given that
don't come Monday, badminton, hockey, rugby sevens, road cycling, mountain,
bike and cricket, table tennis, squash, power table, tennis, triathlon,
power triathlon, wrestling. They are all at Birmingham in twenty
(11:37):
twenty two. They are no longer sport non grata into
this celebration of sport in and around the Commonwealth. So
what are we left with in twenty twenty six? This
is what's on offer? Swimming, athletics, para athletics, para swimming,
artistic gymnastics, track cycling, para track cycling, netball, weightlifting and
(12:01):
para weightlifting, boxing, judo, lawn bowls and para bowls, three
x three basketball and three three wheelchair basketball? And that
is it? Is that really a true representation of Commonwealth sport?
Is this watered down version of a games that we
grew to love so much and it's pomp and its
(12:24):
heyday really worth even opening an eye for for the athletes? Yes,
it will be, but it's such a limited diet. I
can't see people climbing over themselves televisually globally as far
as the markets go around the world to watch this.
I expect for the fine folk of Glasgow it'll do well.
(12:44):
People will turn up and they'll celebrate the joy of
having a major, a former major competition in their backyard.
It's sad what's happened to the Commonwealth Games, but it
is inevitable. This is progress, This is how things roll.
Tradition counts for nothing. There is no space for this.
(13:07):
This is a dying petition flopping around without oxygen on
the deck, waiting for somebody to euthanaze it. Who wants
to lock, who wants to load, who wants to shoot?
Because letting it live on is cruel.
Speaker 1 (13:22):
The chamber is now in session on Sportsfix.
Speaker 3 (13:28):
In a chamber with Clay Wilson. He's a News Talks
there be sports news director has always Clay welcome, looking
forward to your opinions. Are you ready to go?
Speaker 8 (13:38):
Oh? As really as I ever be, Darcy, Let's get
into it.
Speaker 3 (13:41):
SkyTV Z are the new deal. This is going to
take quite some time. I don't think there's much urgency
here because there's no real competition. Who's got the whip
hand he who has the power?
Speaker 7 (13:53):
It's such an interesting question, and I think evidence by
how much we've been able to just discuss this and
not come to any real conclusions out in the office
here right Like, there's so many layers to this because
of where we sit with a house bord as people
watchboard these days, where rugby is as a game, where
and where these two respective organizations are, where Sky is
(14:15):
and where New Zealand Rugby is at. I think there's
going to be or there probably already has been a
lot of back and forth over the negotiation table in
terms of trying to hash something out if something is
going to be worked out, because you know, if your Sky,
you're looking to the future of you preps, don't want
a long term deal. You want to of course, you
want to pay as as little as possible, you know,
(14:38):
and you want to You might want only certain chunks
of what Insida has to offer.
Speaker 8 (14:44):
But if your ends it are you.
Speaker 7 (14:45):
Want a long term deal, you want as much money
as you can get, and you want all your your
content broadcast out on one platform if you can, and
those things perhaps don't marry up.
Speaker 8 (14:54):
In terms of the interests of these two organizations.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
He is a good way of putting it. Who stands
to lose the most if they don't get it. We
talk about it work hand, and maybe we shouldn't be
talking about it wip hand. They've got to come in
there as even and say, listen, this is good for
both of us. But he'd really stag it. He'd take
the body bottle if they didn't get it.
Speaker 8 (15:13):
Yeah, that's so interesting.
Speaker 7 (15:14):
I mean, I guess they're both companies that have to
make money to survive. But perhaps Sky as a you know,
as a commercial business, really outright as the company that
has to say, well, you know, and Rugby for Sky
has been it's life flood and to me, while that
is changing, perhaps it still really is. And Sky can
(15:36):
they afford to not have have Rugby on their menu?
Probably not, So Sky might have to, you know, come
towards ends that are a bit more maybe, But I mean,
who knows. Like I said, it's such a it's such
a there's so many layers to this, to this situation
that it's I mean, it would be great to be
a fly on a wall, fly on the wall for
(15:56):
these discussions, wouldn't it to know exactly what they're discussing
and how they're trying to trying to hash it out,
and what that's going to mean for us as fans
and the punters out there in terms of how you
watch your Rugby, how much you pay for it, how
easy it is to do all those things.
Speaker 3 (16:10):
Well, we talk about Sky, we talk about the inns
are but the most important thing here is us. It's
all about us. It's us the consumer. I don't care
what they do, how much they lose or win, it
doesn't matter. But those two units, those two companies come
in together. No one can afford to to say I
have the whip hand. They've both got to come both
(16:31):
on a bended knee going hey, what can we do
to make this work. It's got to be a partnership.
It can't be a competition.
Speaker 8 (16:37):
Yeah, I think you're right.
Speaker 7 (16:38):
For now, it still remains that situation where they need
they need each other, don't they, And that as as
much as Inded are relies on Sky to broadcast the
content still form our Sky relies on Inded for having
rugby as its main product. So that you think there's
going to have to be a bit of compromise. I
mean it is a negotiation that there always is, but
(17:01):
you know, just just wondering how much that's changing and
how much you know, Sky offers a lot of different
sports and me personally, yes, I'm a sports fanatic. I'll
watch a lot of things, but to me, rugby is
just an added bonus on Sky. I watch a lot
of other things. But I think probably still where we
sit today that for a lot of people the main
(17:22):
reason they have Sky is to watch the All Blacks,
to watch Super Rugby, watch a bit of NPC. That
is the biggest carrot for them. And if Sky were
to say no, thanks, we don't want it, or they
pushed the boat too far in terms of how much
they're willing to pay, then they're going to lose too
much custom and that's not going to be good for
their business. But I think there's a time in the
future where that where that does change as well.
Speaker 3 (17:43):
Ray Wilson joined a sports news story before news talk
zre B came. Williamson ruled out of the second Test.
So Will youngsgate? Yes, Is that right?
Speaker 7 (17:52):
Well, I guess so, But I mean givedens by the
first tests. I guess it's proven that they.
Speaker 3 (17:57):
I mean, are you shrugging your shoulders in the studio
about the contribution of Caine Williamson? You are, I can
see it in your face.
Speaker 7 (18:04):
Well, I mean it's it's I guess cricket can be
a We've seen this over the weekend with the black
Caps winning that first Test, and then what the White
fans did is that it's it's sport, and especially a
sport like cricket. Cambrey unpredictable. Will Young performed pretty well
then that Test, and you know, we know Will Young
(18:25):
is a good player, a quality player who can score
runs against any team. Of course, if Kane Williamsons fit
and available. You take him every day of the week,
twice on Sunday. But you know, much less worrying than
going going into a test saying well he's not available
than it was perhaps before the first Test when we
found out this news, thinking well they were already up
(18:46):
against it and now they haven't. We haven't got our best,
our best better. Sounds like he's in the max probably
for the third Test, and who knows, that might be
very crucial. Definitely expecting an Indian bounce back in the
second Test. If we go in one to one and
you get Came Williamson back, that's got to be a
be a boost. And you know with someone like Kim,
(19:07):
you want to take your time, don't you, especially when
you've won the first Test.
Speaker 8 (19:10):
No need to rushing back in right.
Speaker 3 (19:13):
Your position. The luxury of the black as at the moment.
Speaker 7 (19:16):
Yeah, yeah, you've got your noses in front. So if
you can give them a bit more time to get right,
then why not do it?
Speaker 3 (19:22):
In the Commonwealth Games which has slowly a bit surely
drifting away, it's actrifying, it's dying on its feet. Now
there are going to be ten sports hockey's gone, rugby
seven's gone dim, so many sports are axed. What does
this do to the calm game? Should it just be
put out of its misery?
Speaker 8 (19:41):
I don't know.
Speaker 7 (19:41):
I think a lot of people think that, and I
mean I guess a lot of the signs point to
that's where it might be heading, that it just ceases
to exist as an event.
Speaker 8 (19:49):
But I actually quite like the idea.
Speaker 7 (19:51):
And I mean even before they spoke about Glasgow stepping
in as a late replacement for Melbourne and for Victoria
and that's trimmed down sports program, I was thinking, maybe
you just pre back of it. You just you've got
to make it more cost effective depending on when.
Speaker 3 (20:12):
You cam fart. Do you go back when suddenly you
don't have a product that you can sell people want
to want you.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
And we're going to find that out in Glasgow. Right,
we've got ten events. It's it's really trimmed back, much
more cost effective for the organization. But you're right, there's
a tipping point where it becomes not important or interesting
enough that it's viable versus something that can just be
sustainable and carry on in a different form.
Speaker 8 (20:37):
So you know, to me, I think the Commonwealth Games is.
Speaker 7 (20:43):
As Kiwi's is great for us because you know the
Olympics we have success, but nowhere near as much and
it gives a lot of athletes a stepping stone towards
world championships, towards Olympic Games. And if you don't have
that then you lose it. But yes, it has to
be viable. It has to be. It has to It
can't just be something that cities, countries lose money on
(21:07):
because then no one's going to be interested and it
falls over.
Speaker 3 (21:09):
And on that. Clay will let you off, Glena out
of the chamber. Clay Wilson, sports news director for News
Talk ZB as always thanks for your time to Reesa.
Speaker 8 (21:17):
Darcy, thank you dissecting the sporting agenda.
Speaker 2 (21:23):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Pine and Darcy Waldgrave.
Speaker 3 (21:27):
And that's it for the Fixed twenty second of October
twenty twenty four and Darcy Walter Grave thanks for joining me.
Don't forget subscribe to the podcast. It will drop into
your inbox Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. If it's more
sport you want on the Wiles between the seven and
eight Monday to Friday. That's myself for Jason pine with
(21:48):
Sports Talk and if weekend sports your bag, Piney's got
that in hand. Between midday and three Saturday and Sunday,
have a wonderful rest of your day and we'll catch
you tomorrow here on the Sports Fix.
Speaker 1 (22:01):
For more from News Talks, EDB, listen live on air
or online, and keep our shows with you wherever you
go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio.
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