Steph Bond: Netball Players Association Executive Manager on the broadcasting deal with TVNZ

The short-term future of the ANZ Premiership is confirmed. 

Netball New Zealand has signed an exclusive broadcast deal with TVNZ for next year, with the competition to remain in its current two-round format. 

Governing body boss Jennie Wyllie's refused to confirm whether players will take a pay cut, but admits they'll likely use cash reserves to make ends meet. 

Netball Players Association Executive Manager Steph Bond told Ryan Bridge that a free to air platform will increase the eyes on the sport. 

Especially, she says, for a sport like netball where most people are playing at a community level. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Netball players and fans alike can breathe a sigh of relief.
This morning, the an Z Premiership is found a home
for the next few next year's season, this time it's
going to be free to air TV and Z. Steph
Bond is executive manager of the Netball Players Association, joining
us this morning. Steph, good morning, Good morning. You must
be relieved that there is a deal.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Yeah. I think we are excited that it's going to
be on TV next year and a free to your
platform is exciting for the sport.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Do you get more people watching on free to air
than on Sky?

Speaker 2 (00:36):
Absolutely? I think especially for a sport like netball, when
where there's a huge amount of people playing it at
a community level, to have all those all those people
over to watch it on free to air will definitely
increase the ills on the game.

Speaker 1 (00:50):
Does it mean that they have settled for a lower
paying option with in terms of a broadcast.

Speaker 2 (00:57):
Partner, Yeah, obviously answer that you'll have to ask net
when you're zaland that question that it is just great.
I think that we have a deeal for next year
in terms of what it looks like.

Speaker 1 (01:10):
Now, do you know any details yet about what it
might mean for players.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Yeah, we're working through that at the moment, so we're
embargaining with net when you're done at the moment. So
that will now form part of the piece of what
it may look like next year in terms of payments
for players.

Speaker 1 (01:25):
What is the worry that players have? Is it that
you go with TV ands and you get less money.
There's less you know, salary or less pay for netball players.

Speaker 2 (01:36):
Yeah, we are obviously having to look at that right
now in terms of how it does fall in terms
of player payments. Over the last couple of weeks. Players
to have a fairly good idea now of the picture
for next year. So it is really sitting down for
each individual player and looking at that and actually working
out with a playing netwill is the right option for
their next year.

Speaker 1 (01:57):
So it could come down to can I survive doing
this or do I actually need to get another job?

Speaker 2 (02:04):
Yeah, that is right. I think players will have to
look at it a little bit differently, especially for some players.
All of our players do already work at the same time,
so it may just been packing up a few extra hours.
But I think it will be a little bit different
in terms of potentially what it may look like next year,
but I think it will still work for the majority

(02:25):
of players.

Speaker 1 (02:25):
All right, Steff, appreciate your trying this morning. STEFH. Bond,
executive manager at New Zealand Network Players Association. For more
from earlier edition with Ryan Bridge, listen live to news
talks it be from five am weekdays, or follow the
podcast on iHeartRadio.