Sky New Zealand buys Italy v All Blacks

Pay-television broadcaster Sky New Zealand has acquired live rights to the New Zealand national rugby union team’s away Test match against Italy on November 18.

The match, to be played in Rome, had been in danger of receiving no television coverage in New Zealand, as negotiations over the rights fee had been tough.

If no deal had been reached, it would have been the first time in the professional era that an All Black game was not shown on television in New Zealand.