April 9, 2025 • 23 mins
On Sports Fix with D'Arcy Waldegrave for Wednesday April 9, 2025 - Gary Burchett - Sky Television's Head of Sport on Super Rugby pulling in big numbers, and a resurgence of a competition now back competing with the NRL.
D’Arcy delivers a tribute to the sudden passing of Dr John Mayhew.
Plus, Newstalk ZB sports news director Clay Wilson joins the panel to discuss Rugby Australia's mega deal with channel nine.
Get 'Sports Fix' every weekday afternoon on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
LISTEN ABOVE
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. It'd be
follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Welcome to Sportsfix, your daily dose of sport.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Greetings, greetings, and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast. It's
a Wednesday. It's the ninth of April twenty twenty five.
My name is Darcy Waldgrave and featuring on the podcast.
Today we go to Sky particularly Sky Sport boss man
Gary Burchett joins the program. A lot more eyeballs are
(00:44):
on Super Rugby. We'll talk that and a few other
issues around the wonderful wide world of televised sport. I've
got a thought on doctor John Mayhew, wonderful man who
passed away today. There has been a huge part of
New Zealand rugby and New Zealand Rugby league. Rest and peace.
(01:04):
John will be talking about you shortly and then we'll
be joined in the chamber by Clay Wilson. Clay is
the director of Sport for News Talk to zb toss
around some ideas and a couple of big sports stories
of the day. That's what we plan on doing, so
that is what we will do. Brace yourself is here.
It comes in other news. Here are some we vocal
(01:30):
slices of sport today. Super Rugby Pacific is gigging a
few goals. People are returning to the tournament. CEO Jack
Mesley spoke of the improvements that have stimulated new excitement
for the game.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
We're seeing many hoodos for many years get broken and
huge lot of reversal of results of matches from last year,
not just with the Australian sides, more on a specific
for example, the Crusaders are back, So all of that
is feeling some interesting.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Rory McElroy is well aware of the interest behind his
shot at joining an elite group of golfers. If he
picks up the green jacket at Augusta, he'll become the
sick man to pick up a career Grand Slam after
Jens Saracen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicholas and Tiger Woods. Look,
(02:18):
I understand the narrative and the noise, and you know
there's a lot of anticipation and build up and coming
into this tournament Eachen every year. But I just have
to keep my head down and focus on my job
and Arsenal manager Mikla Teta has explained why his team
are riding high after tearing Real Madrid a new one
in the First League Champions League quarter final three nil
(02:42):
and all goals came in a withering seventeen minute second
half stretch. My feeling was that the team was super
convinced and we have the trust that we could do
it because we've done it for now, big periods against
the best opposition that you can face in.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Football for two years.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
And if you can do that, you can do it
on the day. Use an opinion.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine and Dussy.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Walter Grave that we're joined now by Gary Bitch here's
the head of sports content for Sky TV.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Good evening, Gary, Good evening, Darcy, and very warm ending
to your listeners, and.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Thanks very much for joining us. This 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
(03:37):
in consumption?
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Well, I think the way that a competition starts is
paramount and you have to give credit to Super Rugby
and sans are for the scheduling if you take your
cast your 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
(04:00):
up with Blues v. Chiefs, and in the second round
we had Chiefs hosting the Crusaders and the Highlanders and
the Blues. So starting with those local derbies truly speaks
to your audience and I think that set a really
strong launch pad for getting fans into the competition. But
the Darcil viewership numbers really are reflected by the quality
(04:22):
of the competition on the park, and I think you
can argue that we've had an exhilarating start and now
we're midway through the competition 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
(04:44):
I think that also bleeds into the commentary call. 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 (04:55):
What points to look at when you see the rise
and eyeballs that are really important to you are the
particular parameters that are important for.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
What you do.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Yes, you know, we rely heavily 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 5 (05:19):
That's that's really important. But you know, as a.
Speaker 6 (05:23):
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 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 standards. So we really rely
(05:45):
on the athletes to put on a show so that
our commentators and our production teams to complement the action
in the middle to.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Create a real sensory experience for the fan.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
So I'm presuming you'll 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 6 (06:11):
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.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
We've got to make it better.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
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. And I work with
a lot of athletes that 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
(06:43):
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 tone and flavor to it
at work. But yeah, to answer your question, I am
hands on, but I've got a very capable team and
we produce world class rugby coverage. We all produce world
class football coverage.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
So I've got a.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
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 (07:15):
How important is it that you produce and provide top
rugby content? Is this an essence that the pillar of
Sky Sports have rugby as a success?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Yeah it is.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
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 5 (07:36):
I believe you do. You like your motorsport.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
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 as a viewer to
understand the athlete behind the number, so their journey, their struggle,
(08:03):
you know, it sometimes make you know that contest related
or to our viewer.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
We need to find that connectivity and you know, being.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
Emotion emotion and personalizing the content is something that we
take very seriously.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Rugby very important though to draw iballs full stop said,
it's our 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 Inns, 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 Gary.
Speaker 6 (08:39):
That's a really good question and a good good effort
from you. But I have not privited those conversations. It's
safe to say that rugby is incredibly important to our network.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
If you look at the keys for subscription, and you know, rugby.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
Is very much up there as his NRL, as is
as his cricket, as is football, and network there New
Zealand's but they love that rugby, but they also have,
you know, a collection of sports that drive them. We're
not just a rugby network, but it is. It is
a bedrock of our success. But I don't I don't
(09:13):
have anything further to add on whether the negotiations are
presently at it's because you don't know, or you can't
tell me because I don't, Because I don't know these
things that these things are tightly held, and you know,
I trust, I trust the Sky Sport executive you know,
to handle to handle such matters.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Garabit Chet joins us. He is the hit of sports
content for Sky TV. How big is the n r
L outside of the Warriors, because the Warriors is the
go too. That's why you've paid for the privilege of
covering the n r L, well, at least providing coverage
of the n r L.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
Does it s look without 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 and promotional campaign from from my colleagues, and
wasn't the result we wanted, but there was just there
(10:09):
was great height, you said, Laura mcgoldvick, and a small
crew on site in Vegas to capture the fervor and.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
The excitement from the Wars fans. And it's they are.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
They are highly, hugely successful you know sporting entity here,
if I'm not mistaken, the only NFL club that sold
every home.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Game, every ticket, every home game.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
So they create in the same way with Auckland FC.
They create a true fan experience on match day, even
if the result doesn't necessarily go your way. You know
you've walked away being part of something special. So it's
and and there's a lot.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
There's a lot to be said for entertaining the fan
on and off the park.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Grey. 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,
(11:06):
that that luxury? What can you do to promote that?
Because I'm presuming your numbers are going up as far
as people subscribing, I can.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
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 5 (11:25):
I think we're giving people value for money.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
I've been 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.
Speaker 5 (11:43):
Describing the sport on Sky.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
You think about it, You've got ten dedicated Sky sport
channels have two ESPN channels and if you like your racing,
your two track side channels, So there's fourteen channels to
choose from.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
I mean that is a lot of sport. So we
think we're tremendous.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
Value for money and that has to be reflected in
the quality of the coverage and the level of coverage
that we deliver.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
The at a local level, garry and covering sport 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
MBL level aren't ideal. Is this something you'd like to
(12:27):
be 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 is better than nothing.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
In some instances, we can't cover all the sports.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
We simply can't, and we make a selection and we
value our judgment on showcasing the sports that have pried
and place in the hearts of minds of New Zealanders
and we think we at equally reflect that in our programming.
There's very few sports, there's very few competitions and series
(13:06):
that don't have the private 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 teared and that's something
that you know, we're comfortable with, and but that has
to be some business logic and some prudent management on
how we actually spend our money, because as you know,
(13:27):
sports production is not cheat.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Gary Burchet, thank you very much for your time, my pleasure.
Sports doctor John Mayhew passed away today, the foremot doctor
for the All Blacks, a cherished member of the rugby
community in North Harbor, the medical community, and indeed the
wider community. By anyone who knew, Doctor John is an
(13:50):
affable character. He was honest, he was up front, He
was extraordinarily educated and understood what it meant to be
part of the rugby community. His work in the concussion
space should never be forgotten. He's always been on the
front foot when it comes to dealing with the monster
(14:12):
of concussion. With all of the latest changes in concussion medication.
With all the lessons people have learned in concussion, John
was always there. He was an All Black doctor for
what one hundred and thirty odd matches. He was also
involved with the Warriors. He's involved with North Harbor Rugby
(14:32):
as a doctor since its inception back in nineteen eighty five.
But it's his work around concussion that I think he'll
be remembered for. Professionally. I love talking to him on
the program. I loved getting him on and getting his
honest reaction, thoughts and feedback in a space which was
(14:52):
absolutely treasured by him. Enemy missed doctor John Mayhew on
so many different levels. It's sad to see you go,
and it's real sad that we won't get you back
on the airwaves again. But I'd like to thank you
for your engagement, passion, your work, your commitment to the
(15:13):
game of rugby union and just for being an all
round good bugger. Rest easy, doctor John, Rest easy.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
We are now in session on Sports.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Today's Gest and the chamber is Clay Wilson, Director of
Sport for News Talk z B. Welcome on in a
happy day for Ossie Rugby.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
My friend, Yeah and there haven't been too many of
them in the last I don't know how far do
we go back ten years. I was going to say
maybe even further than that. Are certainly not when it
comes to comparisons with your blacks, But Ozzie Rugby in
general hasn't it. It's been struggling along somewhat in recent years,
so to see them get an increase like this in
(15:57):
terms of their broadcast deal is interesting news because you
wonder why the likes of a Channel nine wants to
pay this much. They've clearly been quite creative in terms
of how they've structured this deal. I'm sure we'll talk
about the bonuses that have been that have been put
into this deal between the two, but yeah, interesting and
I wonder how much of it's driven off the back
of the early success of.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I'd say most of it, yeah, because it's ten million
dollars more than the previous contract with Channel nine. So
eyeballs must be on the game or the energy around
it is being spoken of and Channel nine have gone
we need to have a part of this, like Super
Rugby needs to be celebrating this. Jack Mesley, the CEO,
(16:41):
should be standing on the rooftops shouting look.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
What we've this morning.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Talking to Mike Hasking, he was too and then rightly.
So they've made quick changes and they've made relevant changes
and the people are climbing in. Still the biggest one
as they got rid of Melbourne, well Melbourne got rid
of themselves. It just makes it a more effective competition, right,
you know.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I feel like a few of us have been proven
right in that regard saying there was just too many
teams in Australia and look now you've bred the talent,
pulled over a fewer number of teams. And I mean,
I still think there's some order to go under the
bridge in terms of throughout the entirety of the season
how competitive the Australian teams are and how much more
competitive they are. But I think we can say for
(17:22):
sure they're more competitive and both these parties Channel nine
and Rugby Australia, to me, it's a case of strike
while the iron's hot. The Australian teams are doing well,
the competition in Australia is doing well. The changes they've
brought in are having some effect as well, like you
just spoke about, so get in and do it. And
to me, what's good for rugby and Australia is good
(17:43):
for rugby and New Zealand. You know, they are our
trans Testement rubles. Perhaps not the All Blacks, biggest foe,
but we want, especially from a super rugby perspective, Australian
rugby to be doing well. This is a good thing
for us over on this side of the Testament too.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It's jeopardy again. There's a twenty five million dollar bonuses
package chucked me. This contract finishes what twenty thirty So
the players are going, oh, what more money for me?
Is that something maybe New Zealand should indulge into me.
Maybe Sky have tried to line that up in the
negotiations with our n Z.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Well, well, I think you look at and I think
we will perhaps get into it. What's happening on this
side of the Tasman in terms of broadcast and where
that's going with zed Are. But maybe it's something they
haven't even considered. Maybe Sky and Insidare will look at
this and say, hey, that's a way of we can
agree on a slightly lower figure and structure. Some bonus
is bonus payments into it if the game is doing
(18:37):
meeting certain metrics so yeah, i'd say good on them,
and I'll be really interested to see how if it
all it affects the.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Discussion and they can promise all they want. But the
bonuses are the Wallabies and Super Rugby teams actually win
trophies at the moment, what are the chances of that.
It's a pretty sound bet, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Yeah, I think from a channel ime perspective, But if
you're Rugby Australia you probably don't really have too much
to lose. You're getting a bit more. Yes, are you
putting some amount of risk in terms of the bonuses
and how likely they are those things are to happen.
But if you're Rugby Australia you probably don't. You know,
you don't have though, I'm assuming they would have been expecting,
(19:17):
you know, the broadcast situation to be somewhat worse than this.
So to get this and say hey, here's the offer,
I'd suspect Phil war And as cronies would have, would
have jumped, have jumped all over this and got the
deal done.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Let's get away to cricket the IPL. I still don't
know who won last year, nor do I care. Quite frankly,
it's the auction. That's the most exciting thing for me,
but relevant in India and that is a massive cricketing audience.
Now ten different ways of being dismissed, is that right,
Clay Wilson, I believe there is done. I don't go
through them now, we'll take all day. I've never heard
(19:50):
of retired out before. Though. Devin Conway got walked in
Chennai's IPR run chase.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
What is that?
Speaker 4 (19:58):
Well, to my understanding, this rule is exclusive to the
IPL and it's effectively a super sub rule. Right, you
can bring a player out of the game and insert
another player who was not originally in the in the
match day eleven. In terms of trying to impact the
game somehow, Cheni were chasing a big total. Devin Conway
(20:22):
got to sixty nine off forty nine balls.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I might add, oh, which swell was a wet week.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Well, perhaps in today's world maybe when you're chasing two
hundred and two hundred and twenty odd to win, it's
it is too slow. But yeah, they've brought him out
of the game and I think the logic from the
captain afterwards was that he's more of a timer of
the ball, you know, effectively saying he was scoring too slowly.
To me, if you read between the lines, they brought
Revender Revender Jadajia in and didn't matter. They didn't win
(20:50):
the game.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
It's going to say, did they actually win? No backfire
and Devon must be filthy?
Speaker 4 (20:55):
How are you feeling? If you're Devin Conway.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
You're terrible? What do you mean I'm not quick enough?
Sixty nine or forty nine deliveries? What more do you want?
Bowl better?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Devin Conway is a beautiful batsman to watch for purists
of the game. But he's certainly no slouch. He can
he can move the stroke along just fine, and I
think sixty nine or forty nine he's got just as
much chance as anyone, especially a fresh batter coming in
to go on and score those runs they needed. But
(21:25):
but I mean, this is the ip L will ipl
b c C, I will be cc, I won't they
They're going to do things and been something a bit different.
Like you said, reference at the top, it's ipl even
for someone who follows cricket, isn't at the top of
my list of importance. But yeah, if they want to,
if they want to go ahead and do it, it's
(21:46):
more like I say, you think about how Devin Commo
feels and it hasn't. It doesn't happen that much, has it.
So I'm not I'm not sure it's going to be
a thing a lot of competitions are going to do.
But but hey, they're giving it a crack over there,
and I know maybe so maybe it's something that will
it's insane.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
I think it was just a mild flashcase of dyslexia
and they thought he was forty nine off sixty nine
deliveries and they drop Get that's my theory anyway. Clay
Wilson Sports News directed from it News Talk ZB thanks
so much for joining us the other chamber.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
A lot of problem does sport of sex.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
And there it is for another day the Sports Fix podcast.
I'm Darcy water Grave. It is been Wednesday, the ninth
of April twenty twenty five, a sad day for New
Zealand sports fans with the death of doctor John Mayhew.
Rest easy, my friend, you will be missed. If you've
(22:41):
enjoyed today's podcast to feel free to subscribe. That way,
it'll turn up in your mbox on a daily basis.
You can also listen to myself or Jason pine between
seven and eight Monday to Friday on Sports Talk and
this Weekend Sport with Piney between twelve midday and three
Saturday and Sunday. Tell your friends, tell your family, get
(23:02):
them all to subscribe, and we'll catch all again tomorrow
here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
For more from News Talk said B listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talks. It'd be
follow this and our Wide Ranger podcasts now on iHeartRadio.
Welcome to Sportsfix, your daily dose of sport.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Greetings, greetings, and welcome into the Sports Fixed podcast. It's
a Wednesday. It's the ninth of April twenty twenty five.
My name is Darcy Waldgrave and featuring on the podcast.
Today we go to Sky particularly Sky Sport boss man
Gary Burchett joins the program. A lot more eyeballs are
(00:44):
on Super Rugby. We'll talk that and a few other
issues around the wonderful wide world of televised sport. I've
got a thought on doctor John Mayhew, wonderful man who
passed away today. There has been a huge part of
New Zealand rugby and New Zealand Rugby league. Rest and peace.
(01:04):
John will be talking about you shortly and then we'll
be joined in the chamber by Clay Wilson. Clay is
the director of Sport for News Talk to zb toss
around some ideas and a couple of big sports stories
of the day. That's what we plan on doing, so
that is what we will do. Brace yourself is here.
It comes in other news. Here are some we vocal
(01:30):
slices of sport today. Super Rugby Pacific is gigging a
few goals. People are returning to the tournament. CEO Jack
Mesley spoke of the improvements that have stimulated new excitement
for the game.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
We're seeing many hoodos for many years get broken and
huge lot of reversal of results of matches from last year,
not just with the Australian sides, more on a specific
for example, the Crusaders are back, So all of that
is feeling some interesting.
Speaker 2 (01:57):
Rory McElroy is well aware of the interest behind his
shot at joining an elite group of golfers. If he
picks up the green jacket at Augusta, he'll become the
sick man to pick up a career Grand Slam after
Jens Saracen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicholas and Tiger Woods. Look,
(02:18):
I understand the narrative and the noise, and you know
there's a lot of anticipation and build up and coming
into this tournament Eachen every year. But I just have
to keep my head down and focus on my job
and Arsenal manager Mikla Teta has explained why his team
are riding high after tearing Real Madrid a new one
in the First League Champions League quarter final three nil
(02:42):
and all goals came in a withering seventeen minute second
half stretch. My feeling was that the team was super
convinced and we have the trust that we could do
it because we've done it for now, big periods against
the best opposition that you can face in.
Speaker 4 (02:56):
Football for two years.
Speaker 2 (02:57):
And if you can do that, you can do it
on the day. Use an opinion.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
It's Sports Fix with Jason Hine and Dussy.
Speaker 2 (03:05):
Walter Grave that we're joined now by Gary Bitch here's
the head of sports content for Sky TV.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
Good evening, Gary, Good evening, Darcy, and very warm ending
to your listeners, and.
Speaker 2 (03:17):
Thanks very much for joining us. This 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
(03:37):
in consumption?
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Well, I think the way that a competition starts is
paramount and you have to give credit to Super Rugby
and sans are for the scheduling if you take your
cast your 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
(04:00):
up with Blues v. Chiefs, and in the second round
we had Chiefs hosting the Crusaders and the Highlanders and
the Blues. So starting with those local derbies truly speaks
to your audience and I think that set a really
strong launch pad for getting fans into the competition. But
the Darcil viewership numbers really are reflected by the quality
(04:22):
of the competition on the park, and I think you
can argue that we've had an exhilarating start and now
we're midway through the competition 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
(04:44):
I think that also bleeds into the commentary call. 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 (04:55):
What points to look at when you see the rise
and eyeballs that are really important to you are the
particular parameters that are important for.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
What you do.
Speaker 6 (05:07):
Yes, you know, we rely heavily 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 5 (05:19):
That's that's really important. But you know, as a.
Speaker 6 (05:23):
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 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 standards. So we really rely
(05:45):
on the athletes to put on a show so that
our commentators and our production teams to complement the action
in the middle to.
Speaker 5 (05:50):
Create a real sensory experience for the fan.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
So I'm presuming you'll 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 6 (06:11):
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.
Speaker 5 (06:20):
We've got to make it better.
Speaker 6 (06:21):
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. And I work with
a lot of athletes that 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
(06:43):
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 tone and flavor to it
at work. But yeah, to answer your question, I am
hands on, but I've got a very capable team and
we produce world class rugby coverage. We all produce world
class football coverage.
Speaker 5 (07:05):
So I've got a.
Speaker 6 (07:06):
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 (07:15):
How important is it that you produce and provide top
rugby content? Is this an essence that the pillar of
Sky Sports have rugby as a success?
Speaker 5 (07:28):
Yeah it is.
Speaker 6 (07:29):
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 5 (07:36):
I believe you do. You like your motorsport.
Speaker 6 (07:39):
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 as a viewer to
understand the athlete behind the number, so their journey, their struggle,
(08:03):
you know, it sometimes make you know that contest related
or to our viewer.
Speaker 5 (08:09):
We need to find that connectivity and you know, being.
Speaker 6 (08:13):
Emotion emotion and personalizing the content is something that we
take very seriously.
Speaker 2 (08:17):
Rugby very important though to draw iballs full stop said,
it's our 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 Inns, 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 Gary.
Speaker 6 (08:39):
That's a really good question and a good good effort
from you. But I have not privited those conversations. It's
safe to say that rugby is incredibly important to our network.
Speaker 5 (08:48):
If you look at the keys for subscription, and you know, rugby.
Speaker 6 (08:52):
Is very much up there as his NRL, as is
as his cricket, as is football, and network there New
Zealand's but they love that rugby, but they also have,
you know, a collection of sports that drive them. We're
not just a rugby network, but it is. It is
a bedrock of our success. But I don't I don't
(09:13):
have anything further to add on whether the negotiations are
presently at it's because you don't know, or you can't
tell me because I don't, Because I don't know these
things that these things are tightly held, and you know,
I trust, I trust the Sky Sport executive you know,
to handle to handle such matters.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
Garabit Chet joins us. He is the hit of sports
content for Sky TV. How big is the n r
L outside of the Warriors, because the Warriors is the
go too. That's why you've paid for the privilege of
covering the n r L, well, at least providing coverage
of the n r L.
Speaker 6 (09:46):
Does it s look without 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 and promotional campaign from from my colleagues, and
wasn't the result we wanted, but there was just there
(10:09):
was great height, you said, Laura mcgoldvick, and a small
crew on site in Vegas to capture the fervor and.
Speaker 5 (10:14):
The excitement from the Wars fans. And it's they are.
Speaker 6 (10:18):
They are highly, hugely successful you know sporting entity here,
if I'm not mistaken, the only NFL club that sold
every home.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
Game, every ticket, every home game.
Speaker 6 (10:29):
So they create in the same way with Auckland FC.
They create a true fan experience on match day, even
if the result doesn't necessarily go your way. You know
you've walked away being part of something special. So it's
and and there's a lot.
Speaker 5 (10:43):
There's a lot to be said for entertaining the fan
on and off the park.
Speaker 2 (10:46):
Grey. 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,
(11:06):
that that luxury? What can you do to promote that?
Because I'm presuming your numbers are going up as far
as people subscribing, I can.
Speaker 6 (11:15):
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 5 (11:25):
I think we're giving people value for money.
Speaker 6 (11:27):
I've been 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.
Speaker 5 (11:43):
Describing the sport on Sky.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
You think about it, You've got ten dedicated Sky sport
channels have two ESPN channels and if you like your racing,
your two track side channels, So there's fourteen channels to
choose from.
Speaker 5 (11:53):
I mean that is a lot of sport. So we
think we're tremendous.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
Value for money and that has to be reflected in
the quality of the coverage and the level of coverage
that we deliver.
Speaker 2 (12:04):
The at a local level, garry and covering sport 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
MBL level aren't ideal. Is this something you'd like to
(12:27):
be 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 is better than nothing.
Speaker 5 (12:41):
In some instances, we can't cover all the sports.
Speaker 6 (12:45):
We simply can't, and we make a selection and we
value our judgment on showcasing the sports that have pried
and place in the hearts of minds of New Zealanders
and we think we at equally reflect that in our programming.
There's very few sports, there's very few competitions and series
(13:06):
that don't have the private 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 teared and that's something
that you know, we're comfortable with, and but that has
to be some business logic and some prudent management on
how we actually spend our money, because as you know,
(13:27):
sports production is not cheat.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
Gary Burchet, thank you very much for your time, my pleasure.
Sports doctor John Mayhew passed away today, the foremot doctor
for the All Blacks, a cherished member of the rugby
community in North Harbor, the medical community, and indeed the
wider community. By anyone who knew, Doctor John is an
(13:50):
affable character. He was honest, he was up front, He
was extraordinarily educated and understood what it meant to be
part of the rugby community. His work in the concussion
space should never be forgotten. He's always been on the
front foot when it comes to dealing with the monster
(14:12):
of concussion. With all of the latest changes in concussion medication.
With all the lessons people have learned in concussion, John
was always there. He was an All Black doctor for
what one hundred and thirty odd matches. He was also
involved with the Warriors. He's involved with North Harbor Rugby
(14:32):
as a doctor since its inception back in nineteen eighty five.
But it's his work around concussion that I think he'll
be remembered for. Professionally. I love talking to him on
the program. I loved getting him on and getting his
honest reaction, thoughts and feedback in a space which was
(14:52):
absolutely treasured by him. Enemy missed doctor John Mayhew on
so many different levels. It's sad to see you go,
and it's real sad that we won't get you back
on the airwaves again. But I'd like to thank you
for your engagement, passion, your work, your commitment to the
(15:13):
game of rugby union and just for being an all
round good bugger. Rest easy, doctor John, Rest easy.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
We are now in session on Sports.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Today's Gest and the chamber is Clay Wilson, Director of
Sport for News Talk z B. Welcome on in a
happy day for Ossie Rugby.
Speaker 4 (15:35):
My friend, Yeah and there haven't been too many of
them in the last I don't know how far do
we go back ten years. I was going to say
maybe even further than that. Are certainly not when it
comes to comparisons with your blacks, But Ozzie Rugby in
general hasn't it. It's been struggling along somewhat in recent years,
so to see them get an increase like this in
(15:57):
terms of their broadcast deal is interesting news because you
wonder why the likes of a Channel nine wants to
pay this much. They've clearly been quite creative in terms
of how they've structured this deal. I'm sure we'll talk
about the bonuses that have been that have been put
into this deal between the two, but yeah, interesting and
I wonder how much of it's driven off the back
of the early success of.
Speaker 2 (16:19):
I'd say most of it, yeah, because it's ten million
dollars more than the previous contract with Channel nine. So
eyeballs must be on the game or the energy around
it is being spoken of and Channel nine have gone
we need to have a part of this, like Super
Rugby needs to be celebrating this. Jack Mesley, the CEO,
(16:41):
should be standing on the rooftops shouting look.
Speaker 4 (16:43):
What we've this morning.
Speaker 2 (16:46):
Talking to Mike Hasking, he was too and then rightly.
So they've made quick changes and they've made relevant changes
and the people are climbing in. Still the biggest one
as they got rid of Melbourne, well Melbourne got rid
of themselves. It just makes it a more effective competition, right,
you know.
Speaker 4 (17:01):
I feel like a few of us have been proven
right in that regard saying there was just too many
teams in Australia and look now you've bred the talent,
pulled over a fewer number of teams. And I mean,
I still think there's some order to go under the
bridge in terms of throughout the entirety of the season
how competitive the Australian teams are and how much more
competitive they are. But I think we can say for
(17:22):
sure they're more competitive and both these parties Channel nine
and Rugby Australia, to me, it's a case of strike
while the iron's hot. The Australian teams are doing well,
the competition in Australia is doing well. The changes they've
brought in are having some effect as well, like you
just spoke about, so get in and do it. And
to me, what's good for rugby and Australia is good
(17:43):
for rugby and New Zealand. You know, they are our
trans Testement rubles. Perhaps not the All Blacks, biggest foe,
but we want, especially from a super rugby perspective, Australian
rugby to be doing well. This is a good thing
for us over on this side of the Testament too.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
It's jeopardy again. There's a twenty five million dollar bonuses
package chucked me. This contract finishes what twenty thirty So
the players are going, oh, what more money for me?
Is that something maybe New Zealand should indulge into me.
Maybe Sky have tried to line that up in the
negotiations with our n Z.
Speaker 4 (18:13):
Well, well, I think you look at and I think
we will perhaps get into it. What's happening on this
side of the Tasman in terms of broadcast and where
that's going with zed Are. But maybe it's something they
haven't even considered. Maybe Sky and Insidare will look at
this and say, hey, that's a way of we can
agree on a slightly lower figure and structure. Some bonus
is bonus payments into it if the game is doing
(18:37):
meeting certain metrics so yeah, i'd say good on them,
and I'll be really interested to see how if it
all it affects the.
Speaker 2 (18:44):
Discussion and they can promise all they want. But the
bonuses are the Wallabies and Super Rugby teams actually win
trophies at the moment, what are the chances of that.
It's a pretty sound bet, isn't it.
Speaker 4 (18:55):
Yeah, I think from a channel ime perspective, But if
you're Rugby Australia you probably don't really have too much
to lose. You're getting a bit more. Yes, are you
putting some amount of risk in terms of the bonuses
and how likely they are those things are to happen.
But if you're Rugby Australia you probably don't. You know,
you don't have though, I'm assuming they would have been expecting,
(19:17):
you know, the broadcast situation to be somewhat worse than this.
So to get this and say hey, here's the offer,
I'd suspect Phil war And as cronies would have, would
have jumped, have jumped all over this and got the
deal done.
Speaker 2 (19:29):
Let's get away to cricket the IPL. I still don't
know who won last year, nor do I care. Quite frankly,
it's the auction. That's the most exciting thing for me,
but relevant in India and that is a massive cricketing audience.
Now ten different ways of being dismissed, is that right,
Clay Wilson, I believe there is done. I don't go
through them now, we'll take all day. I've never heard
(19:50):
of retired out before. Though. Devin Conway got walked in
Chennai's IPR run chase.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
What is that?
Speaker 4 (19:58):
Well, to my understanding, this rule is exclusive to the
IPL and it's effectively a super sub rule. Right, you
can bring a player out of the game and insert
another player who was not originally in the in the
match day eleven. In terms of trying to impact the
game somehow, Cheni were chasing a big total. Devin Conway
(20:22):
got to sixty nine off forty nine balls.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
I might add, oh, which swell was a wet week.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
Well, perhaps in today's world maybe when you're chasing two
hundred and two hundred and twenty odd to win, it's
it is too slow. But yeah, they've brought him out
of the game and I think the logic from the
captain afterwards was that he's more of a timer of
the ball, you know, effectively saying he was scoring too slowly.
To me, if you read between the lines, they brought
Revender Revender Jadajia in and didn't matter. They didn't win
(20:50):
the game.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
It's going to say, did they actually win? No backfire
and Devon must be filthy?
Speaker 4 (20:55):
How are you feeling? If you're Devin Conway.
Speaker 2 (20:57):
You're terrible? What do you mean I'm not quick enough?
Sixty nine or forty nine deliveries? What more do you want?
Bowl better?
Speaker 4 (21:04):
Devin Conway is a beautiful batsman to watch for purists
of the game. But he's certainly no slouch. He can
he can move the stroke along just fine, and I
think sixty nine or forty nine he's got just as
much chance as anyone, especially a fresh batter coming in
to go on and score those runs they needed. But
(21:25):
but I mean, this is the ip L will ipl
b c C, I will be cc, I won't they
They're going to do things and been something a bit different.
Like you said, reference at the top, it's ipl even
for someone who follows cricket, isn't at the top of
my list of importance. But yeah, if they want to,
if they want to go ahead and do it, it's
(21:46):
more like I say, you think about how Devin Commo
feels and it hasn't. It doesn't happen that much, has it.
So I'm not I'm not sure it's going to be
a thing a lot of competitions are going to do.
But but hey, they're giving it a crack over there,
and I know maybe so maybe it's something that will
it's insane.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
I think it was just a mild flashcase of dyslexia
and they thought he was forty nine off sixty nine
deliveries and they drop Get that's my theory anyway. Clay
Wilson Sports News directed from it News Talk ZB thanks
so much for joining us the other chamber.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
A lot of problem does sport of sex.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
And there it is for another day the Sports Fix podcast.
I'm Darcy water Grave. It is been Wednesday, the ninth
of April twenty twenty five, a sad day for New
Zealand sports fans with the death of doctor John Mayhew.
Rest easy, my friend, you will be missed. If you've
(22:41):
enjoyed today's podcast to feel free to subscribe. That way,
it'll turn up in your mbox on a daily basis.
You can also listen to myself or Jason pine between
seven and eight Monday to Friday on Sports Talk and
this Weekend Sport with Piney between twelve midday and three
Saturday and Sunday. Tell your friends, tell your family, get
(23:02):
them all to subscribe, and we'll catch all again tomorrow
here on the Fix.
Speaker 1 (23:07):
For more from News Talk said B listen live on
air or online, and keep our shows with you wherever
you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
Popular Podcasts
40s and Free Agents: NFL Draft Season
Daniel Jeremiah of Move the Sticks and Gregg Rosenthal of NFL Daily join forces to break down every team's needs this offseason.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Bobby Bones Show
Listen to 'The Bobby Bones Show' by downloading the daily full replay.