Sky New Zealand has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the English Premier League for the next six years, beginning with the upcoming 2022/23 season.
The top-flight joins the channel’s football portfolio such as the A-League, top-tier European football clubs, the FIFA World Cup later this year and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Paul Molnar, Premier League Chief Media Officer, commented: “The Premier League is pleased to announce our new partnership with Sky NZ. We are very happy that Sky NZ views the Premier League and our clubs as a vital part of their live sports offering.
“They will be an outstanding home for the Premier League and we look forward to working together to showcase the League to new and existing fans throughout New Zealand.”
Studies show that the Premier League is the most viewed league in the world, which attracts 3.2 billion viewers. Sky NZ also stated that in recent years, football has grown in the country, both in terms of participation and fan interest.
Sophie Moloney, Sky’s Chief Executive, stated that securing the content is a ‘key part’ of the firm’s strategy, with the aim of ensuring all of its customers have sports to watch on Sky at any time.
She added: “Those of our Sky Sport customers who are fanatical football fans have had to purchase a second service to watch the Premier League in recent years, and it’s great to now be able to offer them the Premier League as part of their wide range of sport and entertainment viewing options on Sky.
“And for those football fans who don’t currently have Sky, particularly those who like to stream their sport, Sky Sport Now will offer them all 380 live matches of the Premier League each year, along with access to our huge range of other great sport, with weekly and monthly passes.”
In recent weeks, BT Group revealed that it was in ‘exclusive discussions’ with Discovery Inc which would also acquire streaming rights to the Premier League, building on its global viewership. In creating a new sports broadcasting joint-venture for UK viewers. The update saw BT counter reports that OTT platform, DAZN, had won the bid to acquire its UK sports media rights.
