New Zealand public-service broadcaster TVNZ has said it will return to contend the rights to the next edition of the America’s Cup after having been outbid for the 35th edition of the sailing showpiece by pay-television broadcaster Sky.
The 35th America’s Cup concluded on Monday 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, this year’s event in Bermuda marked the first that was held solely by a pay-television broadcaster in New Zealand. TVNZ chief executive Kevin Kenrick told the New Zealand Herald newspaper that the broadcaster would “absolutely proactively engage” to secure the rights to the 36th America’s Cup.
“I think the teams and many of the sponsors and supporters would like to maximise the number of New Zealanders that see the event,” Kenrick said. “Effectively Sky is available in just under half of New Zealand households. New Zealand is a bit of an outlier in that we have a pay-TV monopoly that also owns a free-to-air business and we have no anti-siphoning legislation.”
He added: “We were keen to participate this time round but when you have someone that can buy the pay rights and free to air rights, they typically can pay more. The only disappointment is they don't make it available to all New Zealanders.”
Sky chief executive John Fellet hit back at this criticism, stating the event had been made available on its free-to-air channel Prime, with a 90-minute delay. Fellet said Sky had not yet decided whether it would again bid for the rights, adding a decision would be made when more is known about the make-up of the event.
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, which has already been named challenger of record.
Team New Zealand principal Matteo de Nora has already hinted that organisers will be prioritising a free-to-air strategy. He told Italian newspaper La Stampa in a recent interview: “The main goal is to have more audience, even among the ones that don't follow this sport. Besides the boat, there has to be a return to nationality. The America's Cup has to be a challenge between nations. And we need to also think about the TV.
“Private networks, pay-TV, buy the rights and offer the America's Cup in a non-clear way. The America's Cup organisation can gain more money but at the end there is a more limited audience. This will reduce the sponsors' interest.”