Some rugby fans say they are happy that Sky has lost its preferred bidder status to screen the Rugby World Cup as it could mean the tournament will return to free-to-air broadcast.
The All Blacks perform the haka during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham. Photo: PhotoSport
The pay TV company was told yesterday it was not the preferred bidder for the New Zealand broadcasting rights for next year's high-profile tournament.
Down at the waterfront on Auckland's Viaduct these people are happy that another broadcaster could get the coveted rights.
Taimi Tuioti is a big rugby fan and thinks Sky TV is too expensive.
"I'm happy about it, hopefully it becomes free to view so we can watch for free like the old days - it's pretty stink that we have to pay to support our own country."
Other people agreed - they said Sky TV has often made sport too exclusive.
"I reckon it's time that someone else got a turn, there's an opportunity for more New Zealanders to see it rather than just the people who can afford the subscription," one person said.
"My parents used to subscribe to Sky but don't have it anymore because the content wasn't that good - which is annoying because then you miss out on things like the Rugby World Cup," another said.
Another sports fan, Chris Hughes, said he knows a lot of people who only subscribe to SKY TV because of the rugby and if it loses the rights, he thinks they'll stop using it.
"I think it's another nail in the coffin, there have been a few in the last few years so this might be the last one which will see the end of Sky."
A Spark-Television New Zealand joint bid is tipped to be the front runner to broadcast the tournament which would cover internet video streaming and free-to-air television.
Sky TV still has the rights to Super Rugby and domestic games, known as SANZAAR rights, as well as All Black tests.
Its chief executive, John Fellet, told RNZ yesterday that the company's strength has been in offering premium sport content and expects that will continue.
But an investment advisor with Hamilton Hindin Greene, Jeremy Sullivan, said that was looking shaky.
"It's obviously a shock announcement that they are not the preferred bidder for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and Mr Fellet has also said they might get outbid for the end of year All Blacks tour as well - this is separate to the SANZAAR rights but it's still a blow for the stock."
World Rugby declined to comment on why Sky TV was not the preferred bidder, saying it could not discuss a live tender process.
The World Cup is set to take place in Japan from September to November.
