Sky NZ refocuses on domestic sports

Pay-television broadcaster Sky New Zealand will target more domestic sports content after signing a series of domestic rights deals in recent days, according to spokeswoman Kirsty Way.

Way told the Stuff.co.nz news website that the broadcaster had acquired rights for domestic tennis and billiards, and intends to acquire rights for the NZ Open golf event.

“As we know, it's always quite costly to produce local sport. But we are trying to think outside the square to get as much local coverage as we can,” Way said. “Over the last few days, we've picked up the New Zealand tennis nationals which are coming up, so that's also good for us. We're just really looking at what we can do more locally.”

The broadcaster has lost rights for properties such as football’s English Premier League and golf’s PGA Tour in recent months.