Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights

by **Rugby Fan** Sun 3 Sep - 13:38

In a move that threatens to reshape New Zealand's sporting and broadcast landscapes, New Zealand Rugby is expecting internet giant Amazon to throw its hat in the ring and compete for the next round of rugby broadcast rights.

Sanzaar's formal bidding process for rights to screen provincial, Super and test match rugby from 2021 is now slated to be under way by April next year, an earlier-than-usual start time to allow new overseas players - Amazon's Prime Video streaming service being the most notable - to address not-insubstantial infrastructural issues.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11915194

by aucklandlaurie Sun 3 Sep - 15:45

It will be interesting to see what the 8 part documentary is like, as it will indicate how appreciative Amazon is to New Zealand Rugby, the money side of it is no issue.

by **Rugby Fan** Mon 4 Sep - 0:06

aucklandlaurie wrote:...the money side of it is no issue.

The money side of it is a huge issue. NZRU would not have extended the All Blacks brand to the Maori and Sevens teams, and Steve Hansen probably wouldn't be advertising Tim Tams, if there was no need to generate revenue from as many commercial avenues as possible.

The question is what sum of money is enough to consider switching horses, and whether it's worth taking a risk on a new platform.

by aucklandlaurie Mon 4 Sep - 7:42

What I meant was that money is no issue for Amazon.

Most definitely New Zealand has to look for alternate ways of raising revenue, my concern with Amazon is I'm not convinced that they are good for Rugby.

by XR Mon 4 Sep - 9:39

It'll all depend on the Aussies and Saffas. 2 SA teams are now playing in Europe, by the time bidding starts the SA Union will have seen how it all works, costs, logistics etc and they may wish to not be a part of Super Rugby beyond 2021 and link up with europe.

That would have massive implications and then you throw the Aussies in to the mix with their issues internally facing NRL & AFL (and cricket) and cutting teams, then you could have a situation which is financially not as beneficial as it once seemed

by **Rugby Fan** Mon 4 Sep - 12:54

aucklandlaurie wrote:What I meant was that money is no issue for Amazon.

Sorry, mate.

by TightHEAD Mon 4 Sep - 13:13

Why not, Sky have priced fans out of watching the game for years and have done little to grow the game.

by aucklandlaurie Mon 4 Sep - 19:46

TightHEAD wrote:Why not, Sky have priced fans out of watching the game for years and have done little to grow the game.

In New Zealand Sky has always shown (Pay to view) not only the All Black branded games but also the Black Ferns and all Super rugby games, but they have also catered to the grassroots of New Zealand Rugby by broadcasting all Provincial Mitre 10 cup games.

Yes, we do pay for it in our Sky subscription but when we do pay I regard it as being no different to paying an entry fee at a stadium. In turn the money comes back to the NZRU. My fear is that Amazon will want to come along and just pick the eyes out of it and cover only the ABs.

by tigertattie Wed 6 Sep - 12:28

gcBlues wrote:It'll all depend on the Aussies and Saffas. 2 SA teams are now playing in Europe, by the time bidding starts the SA Union will have seen how it all works, costs, logistics etc and they may wish to not be a part of Super Rugby beyond 2021 and link up with europe.

That would have massive implications and then you throw the Aussies in to the mix with their issues internally facing NRL & AFL (and cricket) and cutting teams, then you could have a situation which is financially not as beneficial as it once seemed

What would happen if SA decide that Europe is the way to go and cut ties with Oz and NZ? Not only taking thier clubs to Europe but also getting into the 6Ns (potentially replacing poor old Italy)

Then it's just NZ and Oz.

Then Oz could decide that with all their internal goings on that they don't want to be part of things with NZ and poooof, NZ end up sitting there all on their lonesome

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Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights

Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights

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Re: Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights

Re: Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights

Re: Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights

Re: Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights

Re: Amazon could bid against Sky for SANZAAR rights