In a submission to be made public today, TVNZ claims that sports fans are losing out in a system that allows Sky to “hoard” big events and charge subscribers a “sports tax “of more than $AUD14 dollars a week to watch major events live.
TVNZ’s submission to the Culture and Heritage Ministry, also accuses Sky of acquiring the free to air rights, but then failing to show them live and in full on Sky-owned free-to-air broadcaster, Prime.
About 720,000 householders subscribe to Sky, which has the rights to all major rugby test matches, cricket, soccer, racing, golf, basketball, rowing and athletics. More than 80 per cent of all New Zealand-produced sports content are broadcast on Sky, TVNZ says.
Sky declined to comment on the submission.
