TVNZ is set to become the new home of New Zealand Cricket in Aotearoa starting from the 2023/24 season to the end of 2025/26 season thanks to an arrangement announced with Spark.
As Spark Sport exits the sports streaming market, the partnership will see TVNZ take over the transmission for many of the sports currently available on the platform, including all BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS tests, T20 matches and one day internationals played in New Zealand, as well as all Super Smash matches.
“We are really excited to be the home of New Zealand Cricket for the coming years,” says TVNZ Director of Content Cate Slater.
“Te Reo Tātaki TVNZ has always been focused on bringing the moments that matter to New Zealanders, and we are looking forward to helping all Kiwis get behind our national cricket teams with live coverage across our channels and TVNZ+.”
Cricket remains one of New Zealand’s most popular sports, not only in terms of participation but also in terms of viewing. Over the course of the 2020/2021 season, the six New Zealand cricket matches screened on TVNZ reached 1.86m viewers.
TVNZ’s GM Sport and Events Melodie Robinson says: “Having free-to-access sport for a major New Zealand code like cricket – men’s and women’s – is a huge win for all New Zealanders. History shows us that the more our communities can access sports in a viewing capacity, the more likely they are to get out there and participate in sports themselves. As well as great TV viewing, we hope this partnership will inspire more people to pick up the bat in the coming years, too.”
“This is a very good outcome for the game of cricket in New Zealand,” says New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive David White. “Having cricket on TVNZ safeguards the professional game; it safeguards the community game, and it provides unprecedented access for Kiwi cricket fans.
“We’re delighted New Zealanders can look forward to this level of free-to-air coverage – it’s a game-changer for the sport in this country.”
As well as New Zealand cricket, TVNZ anticipates bringing the majority of sport currently available on the Spark Sport platform to TVNZ’s channels and TVNZ+, subject to the approval of the relevant rightsholders. Spark and TVNZ are progressing discussions with those rightsholders and expect to announce a definitive list early next year.
“TVNZ has enjoyed successful collaborations with Spark Sport in the past with Rugby World Cup 2019 and New Zealand Cricket events,” continues Robinson. “This new arrangement represents an even deeper partnership. Spark has provided a superb sports-viewing experience for cricket fans over the past few years, and we are excited to be working together with them to pick up that mantle and make one of our favourite national sports available for everyone.”
The partnership with Spark Sport will take effect from 1 July 2023.
Additionally, TVNZ and New Zealand Cricket will be holding a joint press conference today (Friday, 16 December 2022) at 10am at New Zealand Cricket’s Auckland offices, 8 Nugent Street, Grafton, fourth floor.
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