Jennie Wyllie: Netball NZ CEO on the broadcast deal with TVNZ

Netball New Zealand will dip into its own pocket to keep the ANZ Premiership afloat in 2026. 

A one-year broadcast deal with TVNZ has been confirmed, with the competition to remain in the current two-round format. 

Chief executive Jennie Wyllie has not revealed how much the deal is worth or whether players will take a pay cut. 

She told Mike Hosking there is a change in economics, but they feel it’s the new deal is aligned with the vision they have for the game – that Kiwis can see it with ease. 

Wyllie says the broadcast is different and there’s more risk in the market, but they’re willing to step into it as they know the game has a future.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
We finally got there with the netball. So TV and
Z are going to wear thirty games across twenty three
weeks one year deal. They'll need some support. Potential partners
are still being tapped up for a bit of dough.
Jenny Wiley's the boss of Netball New Zealand And is
with us.

Speaker 2 (00:13):
Good morning, good morning.

Speaker 1 (00:14):
Is this a fix or a plaster?

Speaker 2 (00:18):
Well? I think what we're what we're doing with our
move to TVNZ is bringing netbell home and so actually
it's a return to what we've always known where Kiwis
can access it on a really broader platform and it's
available across the country.

Speaker 1 (00:34):
There is no doubt that free to wear does work
in the numbers terms. Is there any money there?

Speaker 2 (00:39):
We won't discuss commercial deals, but there is a change
in economics and Netball New Zealand is investing in this.
But we actually feel it's right in the direction we're heading,
the vision that we have that Kiwis can see our game.

Speaker 1 (00:53):
Yeah, bit of people, everyone wants to know is everyone
going to get a pay rise? Is the concern that
we're seeing around the game. Is that dressed or do
you still have work to do?

Speaker 2 (01:03):
We still have work to do. Netborn New Zealand is
investing in this and it's a changing market. The broadcast
market is different traditional media, and you know, rights fees
have moved and there is more risk in the market.
But we're willing to step into that because we know
and we believe that the game has a future and yeah,

(01:25):
we're looking forward to how we can move into a
new and different revenue model.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
Can you explain And this is not a criticism, I'm
just genuinely interested in knowing what's happened to netball that
you've got yourself in the situation. It's still an exciting game,
you still get the crowds, we're still seemingly interested, but
something's not working.

Speaker 2 (01:43):
What is it? Well, I think I think it's really
key to know. You know, the participation in netball is growing.
The Ferns have beaten Australia more often than any other
team on the world stage, and I think it's just
symptomatic of a changing media market. The very big sports
are going to get bigger and there will be less

(02:04):
for everyone else. And you know, we're sitting here as
a female sport. We can't be cross subsidized by a
men's broadcast. Deal. We don't have a really rich India
or fiafer in the background for us, so our reality
is while we can keep getting told the message to
cut our cloth, this is about Kiwi's. If they want

(02:26):
to see women's sport and the athleticism that these athletes bring,
they're going to need to contribute in a different way.

Speaker 1 (02:33):
I appreciate your time, Jenny Wiley out of the Network.

Speaker 2 (02:35):
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