New Zealand public-service broadcaster TVNZ has today (Thursday) regained rights to the America’s Cup as Emirates Team New Zealand prepares to defend its title in the 36th edition of the sailing showpiece.
TVNZ has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for New Zealand to the 36th America’s Cup in a deal that includes the preliminary World Series events, the Christmas Race in 2020, followed by the Prada Cup in early 2021 and the finale to the event in March 2021. The latter three events will all be staged in Auckland.
TVNZ had previously said it would return to contend the rights to the next edition of the America’s Cup after having been outbid for the 35th edition by pay-television broadcaster Sky. The 35th America’s Cup concluded in June 2017 as Team New Zealand returned the trophy to the country by clinching victory over Oracle Team USA.
Having held the rights for the past 25 years, last year’s event in Bermuda marked the first that was held solely by a pay-television broadcaster in New Zealand. As the host of the next America’s Cup, Team New Zealand holds the broadcasting rights and the ability to determine the commercial terms and make-up of its 36th edition alongside Italian syndicate Luna Rossa, the challenger of record.
The TVNZ deal is the first broadcast agreement to be sealed for the 36th America’s Cup and the Stuff.co.nz website said it held off strong competition from commercial broadcaster TV3 for the contract.
Stuff added that TVNZ’s deal could be worth close to NZ$3m (€1.74m/$2.08m). It reported that the agreement includes a strong element of Team New Zealand’s sponsors being given on-air time under contra arrangements.
The event’s return to TVNZ will give New Zealanders access to all races broadcast live, while live streaming will also be available across TVNZ’s platforms. The deal resumes TVNZ’s association with the event, which goes back to 1987 when it was part of the original family of five sponsors of Emirates Team New Zealand.
TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick said: “From the first boats hitting the water to the final Cup race, we’re committed to bringing New Zealanders every moment of the America’s Cup. Every regatta and every race will be screened live and free across a range of platforms and devices. We know sports fans don’t want to miss a moment, so we won’t break to ads during live racing.”
Grant Dalton, chief executive of Emirates Team New Zealand, added: “It has been a fundamental principle of Emirates Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record that the America’s Cup be accessible to as many Kiwis as possible since we won the trophy back almost one year ago.
“TVNZ have committed to provide coverage of this America’s Cup like no other, so we are delighted that the America’s Cup Match Presented by Prada and all preceding events will be broadcast live and free to air for all New Zealanders to watch and be part of.”