Sky seals rights to air New Zealand national team home games
Sky Television (Sky) used to have exclusive rights to New Zealand Cricket (NZC) matches for over two decades until 2019. From then, the national teams’ games were held by Spark Sport from 2020 to 2023 which was then picked up by Television New Zealand (TVNZ) in a 3-year deal. Sky returns with a six-year contract, reforming partnerships with NZC.
Sky deal with New Zealand Cricket begins on 2026/27 season
The broadcasting deal for New Zealand Cricket is still with TVNZ, a public service broadcaster (PSB) in the country, until the 2025/26 season. This deal with Sky will begin in the 2026/27 domestic and international seasons for six years until 2032/33. Sky has exclusive rights to broadcast national team games for the duration of the contract.
Scope and limitations of the contract
The contract specifically covers home games for the Black Caps (men’s national team) and White Ferns (women’s teams). It will not include domestic events like the Super Smash Twenty20 or the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield ODI. This deal specifically covers the national teams’ events, not domestic clubs.
NZC also negotiates international broadcasting rights with other networks. That means Sky only covers domestically hosted games for Black Caps and White Ferns for the New Zealand audiences. All home international NZC games are exclusive to Sky’s Pay-TV broadcasting platforms.
How to watch New Zealand Cricket games on Sky platforms
The deal with Sky Television secures all NZC home international games on paid platforms. Events will air on Sky Sport channels which require a Sky Sport subscription on top of the standard Sky TV package.
Sky Sport Now is a standalone streaming option that you can download on iOS and Android devices or view on desktop web apps. It’s also a paid subscription service that does not need Sky TV or Sky Subscription.
Existing Sky Subscribers can use Sky Go, a downloadable app for iOS and Android devices. Pair it with your Sky TV package and subscriptions to stream NZC games at no extra cost.
The importance of this deal to New Zealand Cricket
NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink stated that the partnership with Sky is to ensure the best possible access for cricket fans in New Zealand. It creates certainty for the short-to-mid-term domestic broadcasting future of the sport with strong revenue potential.
The secured broadcasting revenue is the organisation’s financial backbone. It ensures the players are paid, the stadiums are maintained, and the sport continues to develop.
Securing broadcasting rights with a large brand like Sky also reassures cricket fans get consistent coverage of the sport. Thus, the six-year contract also helps NZC retain and grow viewership over time. It’s a partnership that holds the players, organisations, and the fans’ best interests at heart.
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