TVNZ 1 will have daily coverage of Tokyo Olympics following surprise deal with Sky

Wednesday, 27 November 2019

Sky Television has selected TVNZ to be its free-to-air partner for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo in a surprise move that Sky boss Martin Stewart hopes will be the start of a 'broad partnership'.

Sky usually uses its own television channel, Prime, to show sports events that it needs or wants to offer free-to-air.

But it said TVNZ 1 would have 12 hours of free-to-air coverage throughout each afternoon and evening of the Olympics with just a one-hour break for 1 News at 6pm and Seven Sharp.

TVNZ 1 will show 12 hours of Olympics coverage, daily.

It is understood that TVNZ will pay Sky a confidential fee for the coverage but that Sky has also been swayed by the extra viewership and awareness of the Olympics that it believes the agreement with TVNZ will provide.

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Stewart said Sky had a strong record of delivering free-to-air sport via Prime and would continue to offer a range of other sport and entertainment experiences free on Prime.

Tokyo 2020 will see Sky and TVNZ join hands in an unprecedented partnership.

But he said he was pleased to bring TVNZ on board as its free-to-air partner for the Tokyo Olympics and did not rule out future collaborations over the 2024 Olympics in Paris and the 2022 and 2026 Commonwealth Games, to which Sky also has the rights.

'This partnership with TVNZ will enable us to draw on the promotional power of our collective platforms to encourage viewership of Tokyo 2020 by the widest range of New Zealanders,' Stewart said.

Sky TV ceo Martin Stewart says he had been looking for an opportunity to work with TVNZ since March, soon after he joined Sky.

Stewart said he met TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick about a month after he joined Sky in February and they shared many similar views on the media landscape and 'the challenges that we individually and collectively face'.

'We certainly had a desire at that point to find something that we could do to work together, and then this opportunity came along to establish what we hope will be a longer-term and more broadly based partnership between our two companies.

'We both come with an open-minded and a willingness to see if there is a way we can achieve outcomes that suit both of our companies and helps benefit consumers in New Zealand.'

Japanese satellite company ALE has meanwhile confirmed that it hopes to put on an artificial 'shooting star' show above Tokyo during the Olympics opening ceremony.

The ALE-2 satellite from the which artificial shooting stars would be dropped towards the atmosphere is on board a Rocket Lab Electron rocket that is to be launched from the Māhia Peninsula near Gisborne on Friday evening.

ALE spokesperson Mariko Yamasaki said it was still 'undecided' whether the show would take place at the event 'but, if our meteor showers are adopted for the Tokyo Olympic Games, we will be delighted and honoured'.

Its shows could be postponed on the day if skies were overcast, Yamasaki said.

TVNZ spokeswoman Kirsty Way confirmed the opening ceremony would be included within TVNZ's free-to-air coverage, which means the show would air on TVNZ 1 if it takes place.

Sports fans will need a Sky subscription to watch the bulk of the Olympics' 300 events.

Sky will stream and broadcast the Olympics across 12 Sky Sports channels and through its streaming platforms which include Sky Go and Sky Sports Now.

New Zealanders wanting a 'truly immersive experience' would be able to watch all the events on Sky but those wanting free coverage would be able to access an extensive range of sports on TVNZ 1 including many of the key events featuring New Zealand athletes, Stewart said.

TVNZ will also be able to stream its free coverage on TVNZ On Demand.

Kenrick said TVNZ was thrilled to be Sky's free-to-air partner.

'Major event sport continues to resonate with Kiwi audiences and we are committed to working together to ensure the greatest number of New Zealanders enjoy watching this iconic event across both TVNZ and Sky.'

Kenrick said in November that TVNZ would be spending about an additional $20m each year over the next three years, much of that on programming, to boost its audience share.

The Olympics will take place between July 24 and August 9.

More details of the specific coverage arrangements would be provided closer the event, Sky said.