April 9, 2025 • 16 mins
Super Rugby Pacific bosses are trumpeting an improvement on and off the field so far in 2025.
They say dead time is down by more than a minute per match - while an average of 61 points per game is the highest in competition history.
Higher average attendance and growing TV ratings are also being referenced.
It comes as Rugby Australia announces a 10 million dollar a year uplift in a new broadcast rights deal with Channel Nine.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And we're joined now on sports Talk by Gary Birchett.
He is the head of Sports content for Sky TV.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Good evening, Gary, Good evening, Darcy, and very warming to
your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
And thanks very much for joining us. Is a great
time to be head of content for Sky Sport, especially
when you look at what's happening in the rugby union
space right now. Super Rugby has accelerated. Evidentally, have you
seen much of that? How have you consumed this increase
(00:45):
in consumption?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Well, I think the way that a competition starts is
paramount and you have to give credit to Super Rugby
and sans A for the scheduling. If you take your
casting mind back to round one, you know, starting down
at christ Church with the Crusaders and the Hurricanes. It
was a Sunday afternoon, the Crusaders fans came out, they
got a home victory, and then it was followed up
(01:08):
with Blues the Chiefs, and in the second round we
had the Chiefs hosting the Crusaders and the Highlanders and
the Blues.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
So starting with those local.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Derbies truly speaks to your audience, and I think that
set a really strong launch pad for getting fans into
the competition. But darci al viewership and I was really
are reflected by the quality of the competition on the
park and I think few can argue that we've had
an exhilarating start and now we're midway through the competition
(01:39):
and there's just been so many high points, you know,
So when I'm talking to my commentators and giving them briefings,
commentators rely very much on moments in a match, and
so we're seeing a more aggressive and running and attacking
style of rugby, and I think that also.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Bleeds into the commentary calls.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
And that's what we want as broadcast is we want
to bring our viewers those high points so that we
can so we can get them excited.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
What points to look at when you see the right
and eyeballs that are really important to you? Are the
particular parameters that are important for what you do.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yes, you know, we rely heavily on on reach and engagement.
You know, reach is the total number of people that
will come to an event. That's where we rely on
our impressive marketing promo teams to let people know when
the matches on.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
That's that's really important.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
But you know, as a producer, we also look at engagement,
so you know, people staying with us from from whistle
to whistle, that's a very good indicator of how how
pulsating match and our coverage is. But I always say that,
you know, as broadcasts, sometimes you can do the perfect
the perfect broadcast or the match coverage, but sometimes the
athletic display in the middle hasn't actually come up to standard.
(02:51):
So we really rely on the athletes to put on
a show so that our commentators and our production teams
to complement the action in the middle to create a
real sensory experience for the fan.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So I'm presuming you're quite closely involved with all of
these productions. So you're a head of sports content. Are
you very much hands on and hands in not only
with the way it's broadcast, but with what you want
from Super Rugby full stop?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yes, there's I think the one thing I always remind
my team is that we're entertainers and that people pay
for our product and so we've got to make it good.
We've got to make it better than anyone else around us.
And I stand by that and that's something that Sky
holds very dear that it is premium content worth paying for.
So and I work with a lot of athletes that
(03:41):
come in in the expert and the number two chair
and remind them you're not an athlete anymore. Now your
job is actually to go and entertain. So get excited,
because if you're not excited our audience, our audience certainly
won't be. So it's about finding the rhythms and the
patterns within the match. But also, you know, fans aren't silly,
so you can't talk up something that's not there. So
it's about bringing an authenticity and a genuine sort of
(04:03):
tone and flavor to it at work. But yeah, your question,
I am hands on, but I've got a very capable
team and we.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Produce world class rugby coverage.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
We all produce world class football coverage. So I've got
a very set of stable and experienced hands around me
that the collaborate to put on what we think is
sport worth paying for.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
How important is it that you produce and provide top
rugby content? Is this an essence that the pillar of
Sky sport to have rugby as a success?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I mean New Zealand is a rugby nation, but it's
also a netfort nation, a football nation, a rugby league nation,
a motorsport nation.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
I believe you do.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
You like your motorsport, So I don't have any bias
except that we want all our sports to succeed. And
part of my role with my colleague is to make
sure that all our sports have polish and sing and
that we give the athletes justice. And sometimes it's more
than the contest. I think what's important when you're watching
an as a viewer to understand the athlete behind the number,
(05:11):
So their journey, their struggle, you know, it sometimes makes them,
you know, that content relatable to our viewer. We need
to find that connectivity and you know, so being emotion
of emotion and personalizing the content is something that we
take very seriously.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Rugby very important though to draw ibles full stop, because
you said it's a national game and this is something
you're going to hang your coat on, so we're all
particularly interested. And where you are with ns it are
with the latest deal, how long before we find out
if you have signed up together as a team as
a unit as one Garry.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
That's a really good question and a good good effort
from you.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
But I have not privited those conversations, safe to say
that rugby is incredibly important to our network.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
If you look at the keys for.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Subscription and and you know, rugby is very much up there,
as is NRLs is, as is cricket, as is football
and network there New Zealand. But they love the rugby,
but they also have, you know, a collection of sports
that drive them.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
We're not just the rugging network, but it is very much.
It is a bedrock of our success.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
But I don't I don't have anything further to add
on on whether it's because the Asians are presently at.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
It's because you don't know, or you can't tell.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Me because I don't because I don't know these things
that these things are tidy held and I you know,
I trust, I trust the Sky Sport executive you know,
to handle to handle such matters.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Garabitchik joins us See as the head of Sports content
for Sky TV. Auckland FC have been a revelation in
their first year. How are those numbers versus another Well,
I'm talking Auckland a local product and the Blues do that?
Do they match up? Where's the success out there?
Speaker 3 (07:02):
It's been one of the success stories. It's actually been
one of the most extraordinary sporting runs that I've been
associated and I've been working in sport since two thousand
and four in radio and in television. And to have
a new entity, to have a startup, to come into
a city like Auckland with a new coach and with
(07:25):
zero experience in the professional playing realm, and to be
top of the table, continuously top of the table throughout
the season, to win three derbies against rivals Wellington, to
build a fan base and averaging over fifteen thousand at
ghostmart Media Stadium is just nothing short of extraordinary. So
(07:45):
we're watching history in the making. Naturally, it's our wish
that Auckland, where they sit, that they become, you know,
the premiers in their maiden season of the Aleague. But
it's just been a wonderful rite and I think they've
given not only Aucklands, but I think they've given New
Zealanders an opportunity to truly support another team.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
How numbers compare though to the likes of the Blues,
I'm sure you must run comparison. And again with the Warriors,
we know what a big draw cub they are, so
in that level, where do they all sit the Blues
Auckland DFC League because they're all competing here in Auckland
City and of course across New Zealand to.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Be taking Blues are come to be taking top spot.
But the a leg numbers you know, for this season
have been nothing short of extraordinary. We're looking at on
sky Sport they're up forty year on year. On Skygo
they're up sixty six percent. And women's comp also is
up you know, thirty to forty percent. So let's not
forget the Welling Wellington Phoenix women in the w League.
(08:46):
So you know, there's there's there's a lot to be
excited about with football and with the All Whites qualifying
for their third World Cup final next year. I think
it just goes to show the widespread support and enthusiasm
for the round bow in this country.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
How big is league the NRL side of the Warriors,
because the Warriors is the go too. That's why you've
paid for the privilege of covering the NRL, well, at
least providing coverage of the NRL.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Does it sit look without.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Going into specifics, the you know, the the opening match
in Las Vegas produced extraordinary numbers for our network that
was in tandem with a very coordinated marketing promotional campaign
from from my colleagues, and wasn't the result we wanted,
but there was just there was great height, you said,
(09:41):
Laura mcgoldwick, and a small crew on site in Vegas
to capture the fervor and the excitement from the Wars fans.
And it's they are. They are highly, hugely successful, you know,
sporting entity here, if I'm not mistaken, the only NRL
club that sold every home game, every ticket, every home game.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
So they create in the same way with Hawkland f C.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
They create a true fan experience on even if the
result doesn't necessarily go your way, you know, you've walked
away being part of something special.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
So it's and and there's.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
A lot and there's a lot to be said for
entertaining the fan on and off the part Gary.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Liam Lawson has been extraordinary, not result wise, but coverage
wise for Formula one this year. How's that reflected in
your coverage?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
One of the most popular events that we've seen, certainly
in twenty twenty five. And I think there's a number
of reasons for that. Yes, local flavor is incredibly important.
You know, Liam is a bit of a poster boy
for the sport. We were lucky in this country that
the first you know, three Grand Prixs, so we had Melbourne,
we had Shanghai and then Japan in three very viewer
(10:49):
friendly time slots. And then, like any good sporting story, Darcy,
you need it a little bit of conflict and spice.
And so when Liam was famously you know, dumped by
Red Bulls.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Racing, and.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
You know, we also had the support of New Zealand's
mainstream media who were reporting on the story, and it
didn't just incense New Zealand motorsport fans, it incensed motorsport
fans globally, so we were quite kind of fortunate. You know,
every good sporting story needs a subplot. So a little
(11:22):
tricky with bar Rain this weekend with a one thirty
am start, but it's you know, coupled with the high
quality coverage that we received from our partners at Sky UK,
I think it's one of the true leanback experiences, you know,
for sport on a big screen on our network.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Gay it's interesting time for everybody. The cost of living
has gone up. I don't think any of us are
making any more money. It's tight. Sky arguably is a luxury.
I think the Skysport package went up another five bucks
of recent times. How do people justify spending that money
(11:59):
that luxury? What can you do to promote that? Because
I'm presuming your numbers are going up with as people subscribing.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I can tell you that our viewership numbers are certainly
going up. All our sports are up. Engagement across all
platforms for this time last year is up ten percent,
so we're obviously doing something right.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
I think we're giving people value for money. And I've been.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Lucky enough to work, you know, in various places the UK.
I've worked in Hong Kong, I've worked in India, and
pound for pound, I don't think that in sporting fans
around the world do not get as much value as
they do describing the sport on Sky you think about it,
You've got ten dedicated Sky Sports channels, have two ESPN channels,
(12:45):
and if you like your racing, you have two track
side channels, so there's fourteen channels to choose from.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
I mean, that is a lot of sport. So we
think we're tremendous.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Value for money and that has to be reflected in
the quality of the coverage and the level of coverage.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
That we deliver.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Where's your growth.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
In sport or in platform?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
In sport? Where do you grow? How much more do
you have to cover? You've got most sports. Are there
any areas that you're lacking, any place you'd like to
invest in or at team to grow in.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
That's an easy one. Last month we were fortunate to
reacquaint our partnership with New Zealand Cricket in a six
year deal and for many it feels like the cricket
is coming back home. And so this is a sport
that we missed dearly, and it's a sport that will
help build the fabric of our summer coverage and it
(13:41):
will bleed in nicely to the ASP Tennis and into
Australian Open Tennis as well. But you know, having spent
some time working in India, I can tell you that
the New Zealand cricket team is held in such high
regard the way that they play the game, and I
think that was typified by their grociousness in that twenty
nineteen World Cup defeat to England.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Lords.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
So there are very strong brands and you know, I'm
personally excited and I think the network, and I can
speak on behalf of my colleagues.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
We're truly excited.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
That we get to to fashion cricket for New Zealand
audiences at.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
A local level, gary and covering sport that maybe hasn't
got the profile the sports would like. How expensive is
it for you to put games on and provide that
coverage Because being in this role, I hear from people
some of the local production values that maybe sells NBL
level aren't ideal. Is this something you'd like to be
(14:38):
better at? I suppose or have more money to spend
on to bring that coverage level up, because from HD
to a potato it can be quite jarring and probably
not ideal for the sports themselves, a case of something
that's better than nothing.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
In some instances, we can't cover all the sports. We
simply can't, and we make a selection and we value
our judgment on showcasing the sports that have pride and
place in the hearts and minds of New Zealanders and
we think we at equally will reflect that in our programming.
(15:14):
There's very few sports, there's very few competitions and series
that don't you know, have the privilege of sitting on
the Sky platform, so you can't you can't treat you know,
National Rugby League in the same vein as you would
treat all black or so everything will be tiered and
that's something that you know, we're comfortable with and but
(15:36):
there has to be some business logic and some prudent
management on how we actually spend our money because as
you know, sports production is not cheap.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I'm well aware that worked for Radio Sport for a
number of years just to just to pay for the
privilege of being engaged costume and harm in a leg
let in let alone putting anything on any last thoughts,
You're Gary great to have you on and have your
ideas and what you're doing behind the scenes. Is the
head of sports content for Sky TV. He messages for
(16:04):
the listeners out there.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
I mean, there's a huge weekend of sport coming up
for us. It's actually one of the bigger weekends if
you We've got the Formula one bar Rain Grand Prix.
We have Master's golf as well. You know, Scottish Scheffler
Looms is the favorite to secure his third Masters title
in four years.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Andre Heimgartner he.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Will hope to clinch another race in Topo for a
second successive year, we have the A League.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
We're looking for.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Another three points for Steve Coreker and his team to
hopefully put one hand on that premiership plate. English Premier
League Football, NBA Investing Championsship Cup. I mean, where does
it end? You know, I'm the lucky ones. I have
the privilege of being able to change the color of
someone's day and make them smile through some cracking sports coverage.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Darcy Wildergrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And we're joined now on sports Talk by Gary Birchett.
He is the head of Sports content for Sky TV.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
Good evening, Gary, Good evening, Darcy, and very warming to
your listeners.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
And thanks very much for joining us. Is a great
time to be head of content for Sky Sport, especially
when you look at what's happening in the rugby union
space right now. Super Rugby has accelerated. Evidentally, have you
seen much of that? How have you consumed this increase
(00:45):
in consumption?
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Well, I think the way that a competition starts is
paramount and you have to give credit to Super Rugby
and sans A for the scheduling. If you take your
casting mind back to round one, you know, starting down
at christ Church with the Crusaders and the Hurricanes. It
was a Sunday afternoon, the Crusaders fans came out, they
got a home victory, and then it was followed up
(01:08):
with Blues the Chiefs, and in the second round we
had the Chiefs hosting the Crusaders and the Highlanders and
the Blues.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
So starting with those local.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
Derbies truly speaks to your audience, and I think that
set a really strong launch pad for getting fans into
the competition. But darci al viewership and I was really
are reflected by the quality of the competition on the
park and I think few can argue that we've had
an exhilarating start and now we're midway through the competition
(01:39):
and there's just been so many high points, you know,
So when I'm talking to my commentators and giving them briefings,
commentators rely very much on moments in a match, and
so we're seeing a more aggressive and running and attacking
style of rugby, and I think that also.
Speaker 4 (01:53):
Bleeds into the commentary calls.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
And that's what we want as broadcast is we want
to bring our viewers those high points so that we
can so we can get them excited.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
What points to look at when you see the right
and eyeballs that are really important to you? Are the
particular parameters that are important for what you do.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
Yes, you know, we rely heavily on on reach and engagement.
You know, reach is the total number of people that
will come to an event. That's where we rely on
our impressive marketing promo teams to let people know when
the matches on.
Speaker 4 (02:27):
That's that's really important.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
But you know, as a producer, we also look at engagement,
so you know, people staying with us from from whistle
to whistle, that's a very good indicator of how how
pulsating match and our coverage is. But I always say that,
you know, as broadcasts, sometimes you can do the perfect
the perfect broadcast or the match coverage, but sometimes the
athletic display in the middle hasn't actually come up to standard.
(02:51):
So we really rely on the athletes to put on
a show so that our commentators and our production teams
to complement the action in the middle to create a
real sensory experience for the fan.
Speaker 2 (03:01):
So I'm presuming you're quite closely involved with all of
these productions. So you're a head of sports content. Are
you very much hands on and hands in not only
with the way it's broadcast, but with what you want
from Super Rugby full stop?
Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yes, there's I think the one thing I always remind
my team is that we're entertainers and that people pay
for our product and so we've got to make it good.
We've got to make it better than anyone else around us.
And I stand by that and that's something that Sky
holds very dear that it is premium content worth paying for.
So and I work with a lot of athletes that
(03:41):
come in in the expert and the number two chair
and remind them you're not an athlete anymore. Now your
job is actually to go and entertain. So get excited,
because if you're not excited our audience, our audience certainly
won't be. So it's about finding the rhythms and the
patterns within the match. But also, you know, fans aren't silly,
so you can't talk up something that's not there. So
it's about bringing an authenticity and a genuine sort of
(04:03):
tone and flavor to it at work. But yeah, your question,
I am hands on, but I've got a very capable
team and we.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Produce world class rugby coverage.
Speaker 3 (04:12):
We all produce world class football coverage. So I've got
a very set of stable and experienced hands around me
that the collaborate to put on what we think is
sport worth paying for.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
How important is it that you produce and provide top
rugby content? Is this an essence that the pillar of
Sky sport to have rugby as a success?
Speaker 4 (04:38):
Yeah, it is.
Speaker 3 (04:39):
I mean New Zealand is a rugby nation, but it's
also a netfort nation, a football nation, a rugby league nation,
a motorsport nation.
Speaker 4 (04:46):
I believe you do.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
You like your motorsport, So I don't have any bias
except that we want all our sports to succeed. And
part of my role with my colleague is to make
sure that all our sports have polish and sing and
that we give the athletes justice. And sometimes it's more
than the contest. I think what's important when you're watching
an as a viewer to understand the athlete behind the number,
(05:11):
So their journey, their struggle, you know, it sometimes makes them,
you know, that content relatable to our viewer. We need
to find that connectivity and you know, so being emotion
of emotion and personalizing the content is something that we
take very seriously.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Rugby very important though to draw ibles full stop, because
you said it's a national game and this is something
you're going to hang your coat on, so we're all
particularly interested. And where you are with ns it are
with the latest deal, how long before we find out
if you have signed up together as a team as
a unit as one Garry.
Speaker 4 (05:49):
That's a really good question and a good good effort
from you.
Speaker 3 (05:52):
But I have not privited those conversations, safe to say
that rugby is incredibly important to our network.
Speaker 4 (05:58):
If you look at the keys for.
Speaker 3 (06:00):
Subscription and and you know, rugby is very much up there,
as is NRLs is, as is cricket, as is football
and network there New Zealand. But they love the rugby,
but they also have, you know, a collection of sports
that drive them.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
We're not just the rugging network, but it is very much.
It is a bedrock of our success.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
But I don't I don't have anything further to add
on on whether it's because the Asians are presently at.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
It's because you don't know, or you can't tell.
Speaker 3 (06:30):
Me because I don't because I don't know these things
that these things are tidy held and I you know,
I trust, I trust the Sky Sport executive you know,
to handle to handle such matters.
Speaker 2 (06:39):
Garabitchik joins us See as the head of Sports content
for Sky TV. Auckland FC have been a revelation in
their first year. How are those numbers versus another Well,
I'm talking Auckland a local product and the Blues do that?
Do they match up? Where's the success out there?
Speaker 3 (07:02):
It's been one of the success stories. It's actually been
one of the most extraordinary sporting runs that I've been
associated and I've been working in sport since two thousand
and four in radio and in television. And to have
a new entity, to have a startup, to come into
a city like Auckland with a new coach and with
(07:25):
zero experience in the professional playing realm, and to be
top of the table, continuously top of the table throughout
the season, to win three derbies against rivals Wellington, to
build a fan base and averaging over fifteen thousand at
ghostmart Media Stadium is just nothing short of extraordinary. So
(07:45):
we're watching history in the making. Naturally, it's our wish
that Auckland, where they sit, that they become, you know,
the premiers in their maiden season of the Aleague. But
it's just been a wonderful rite and I think they've
given not only Aucklands, but I think they've given New
Zealanders an opportunity to truly support another team.
Speaker 2 (08:04):
How numbers compare though to the likes of the Blues,
I'm sure you must run comparison. And again with the Warriors,
we know what a big draw cub they are, so
in that level, where do they all sit the Blues
Auckland DFC League because they're all competing here in Auckland
City and of course across New Zealand to.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Be taking Blues are come to be taking top spot.
But the a leg numbers you know, for this season
have been nothing short of extraordinary. We're looking at on
sky Sport they're up forty year on year. On Skygo
they're up sixty six percent. And women's comp also is
up you know, thirty to forty percent. So let's not
forget the Welling Wellington Phoenix women in the w League.
(08:46):
So you know, there's there's there's a lot to be
excited about with football and with the All Whites qualifying
for their third World Cup final next year. I think
it just goes to show the widespread support and enthusiasm
for the round bow in this country.
Speaker 2 (09:04):
How big is league the NRL side of the Warriors,
because the Warriors is the go too. That's why you've
paid for the privilege of covering the NRL, well, at
least providing coverage of the NRL.
Speaker 4 (09:17):
Does it sit look without.
Speaker 3 (09:19):
Going into specifics, the you know, the the opening match
in Las Vegas produced extraordinary numbers for our network that
was in tandem with a very coordinated marketing promotional campaign
from from my colleagues, and wasn't the result we wanted,
but there was just there was great height, you said,
(09:41):
Laura mcgoldwick, and a small crew on site in Vegas
to capture the fervor and the excitement from the Wars fans.
And it's they are. They are highly, hugely successful, you know,
sporting entity here, if I'm not mistaken, the only NRL
club that sold every home game, every ticket, every home game.
Speaker 4 (10:00):
So they create in the same way with Hawkland f C.
Speaker 3 (10:03):
They create a true fan experience on even if the
result doesn't necessarily go your way, you know, you've walked
away being part of something special.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
So it's and and there's.
Speaker 3 (10:13):
A lot and there's a lot to be said for
entertaining the fan on and off the part Gary.
Speaker 2 (10:17):
Liam Lawson has been extraordinary, not result wise, but coverage
wise for Formula one this year. How's that reflected in
your coverage?
Speaker 3 (10:27):
One of the most popular events that we've seen, certainly
in twenty twenty five. And I think there's a number
of reasons for that. Yes, local flavor is incredibly important.
You know, Liam is a bit of a poster boy
for the sport. We were lucky in this country that
the first you know, three Grand Prixs, so we had Melbourne,
we had Shanghai and then Japan in three very viewer
(10:49):
friendly time slots. And then, like any good sporting story, Darcy,
you need it a little bit of conflict and spice.
And so when Liam was famously you know, dumped by
Red Bulls.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Racing, and.
Speaker 3 (11:02):
You know, we also had the support of New Zealand's
mainstream media who were reporting on the story, and it
didn't just incense New Zealand motorsport fans, it incensed motorsport
fans globally, so we were quite kind of fortunate. You know,
every good sporting story needs a subplot. So a little
(11:22):
tricky with bar Rain this weekend with a one thirty
am start, but it's you know, coupled with the high
quality coverage that we received from our partners at Sky UK,
I think it's one of the true leanback experiences, you know,
for sport on a big screen on our network.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Gay it's interesting time for everybody. The cost of living
has gone up. I don't think any of us are
making any more money. It's tight. Sky arguably is a luxury.
I think the Skysport package went up another five bucks
of recent times. How do people justify spending that money
(11:59):
that luxury? What can you do to promote that? Because
I'm presuming your numbers are going up with as people subscribing.
Speaker 3 (12:09):
I can tell you that our viewership numbers are certainly
going up. All our sports are up. Engagement across all
platforms for this time last year is up ten percent,
so we're obviously doing something right.
Speaker 4 (12:19):
I think we're giving people value for money. And I've been.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
Lucky enough to work, you know, in various places the UK.
I've worked in Hong Kong, I've worked in India, and
pound for pound, I don't think that in sporting fans
around the world do not get as much value as
they do describing the sport on Sky you think about it,
You've got ten dedicated Sky Sports channels, have two ESPN channels,
(12:45):
and if you like your racing, you have two track
side channels, so there's fourteen channels to choose from.
Speaker 4 (12:49):
I mean, that is a lot of sport. So we
think we're tremendous.
Speaker 3 (12:53):
Value for money and that has to be reflected in
the quality of the coverage and the level of coverage.
Speaker 4 (12:59):
That we deliver.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Where's your growth.
Speaker 4 (13:04):
In sport or in platform?
Speaker 2 (13:05):
In sport? Where do you grow? How much more do
you have to cover? You've got most sports. Are there
any areas that you're lacking, any place you'd like to
invest in or at team to grow in.
Speaker 3 (13:18):
That's an easy one. Last month we were fortunate to
reacquaint our partnership with New Zealand Cricket in a six
year deal and for many it feels like the cricket
is coming back home. And so this is a sport
that we missed dearly, and it's a sport that will
help build the fabric of our summer coverage and it
(13:41):
will bleed in nicely to the ASP Tennis and into
Australian Open Tennis as well. But you know, having spent
some time working in India, I can tell you that
the New Zealand cricket team is held in such high
regard the way that they play the game, and I
think that was typified by their grociousness in that twenty
nineteen World Cup defeat to England.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
Lords.
Speaker 3 (14:04):
So there are very strong brands and you know, I'm
personally excited and I think the network, and I can
speak on behalf of my colleagues.
Speaker 4 (14:10):
We're truly excited.
Speaker 3 (14:11):
That we get to to fashion cricket for New Zealand
audiences at.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
A local level, gary and covering sport that maybe hasn't
got the profile the sports would like. How expensive is
it for you to put games on and provide that
coverage Because being in this role, I hear from people
some of the local production values that maybe sells NBL
level aren't ideal. Is this something you'd like to be
(14:38):
better at? I suppose or have more money to spend
on to bring that coverage level up, because from HD
to a potato it can be quite jarring and probably
not ideal for the sports themselves, a case of something
that's better than nothing.
Speaker 3 (14:53):
In some instances, we can't cover all the sports. We
simply can't, and we make a selection and we value
our judgment on showcasing the sports that have pride and
place in the hearts and minds of New Zealanders and
we think we at equally will reflect that in our programming.
(15:14):
There's very few sports, there's very few competitions and series
that don't you know, have the privilege of sitting on
the Sky platform, so you can't you can't treat you know,
National Rugby League in the same vein as you would
treat all black or so everything will be tiered and
that's something that you know, we're comfortable with and but
(15:36):
there has to be some business logic and some prudent
management on how we actually spend our money because as
you know, sports production is not cheap.
Speaker 2 (15:42):
I'm well aware that worked for Radio Sport for a
number of years just to just to pay for the
privilege of being engaged costume and harm in a leg
let in let alone putting anything on any last thoughts,
You're Gary great to have you on and have your
ideas and what you're doing behind the scenes. Is the
head of sports content for Sky TV. He messages for
(16:04):
the listeners out there.
Speaker 3 (16:06):
I mean, there's a huge weekend of sport coming up
for us. It's actually one of the bigger weekends if
you We've got the Formula one bar Rain Grand Prix.
We have Master's golf as well. You know, Scottish Scheffler
Looms is the favorite to secure his third Masters title
in four years.
Speaker 4 (16:26):
Andre Heimgartner he.
Speaker 3 (16:27):
Will hope to clinch another race in Topo for a
second successive year, we have the A League.
Speaker 4 (16:34):
We're looking for.
Speaker 3 (16:36):
Another three points for Steve Coreker and his team to
hopefully put one hand on that premiership plate. English Premier
League Football, NBA Investing Championsship Cup. I mean, where does
it end? You know, I'm the lucky ones. I have
the privilege of being able to change the color of
someone's day and make them smile through some cracking sports coverage.
Speaker 1 (16:57):
For more from Sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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