World Footy News

After having the luxury of most games on Free to Air TV in NZ last year, 2015 has seen the return of the bad old days for TV coverage of the Australian code after the collapse of Sommet Sport network. Each week just one game has been available on the Sky Sports network this year.

But just in time for the finals comes the announcement that footy will return to Free to Air for the 2015 AFL Finals series. TVNZ will show the matches on Freeview NZ Channel 13 with eight of the nine finals matches being shown live. Even better is the news that this is part of a three year rights deal that will run from 2016 to 2018.

From 2016 TVNZ will show three matches live per week plus another two either live or delayed throughout the home and away season. TVNZ will also show a weekly highlights show and have rights to other AFL events such as the AFL Draft and Brownlow Medal. This new deal is in addition to the Sky Sports deal where one match per week will continue to be shown live.

AFL Announcement below.

The AFL is pleased to announce TVNZ has been granted AFL international broadcasting rights.

 

The three-year rights term will run from 2016 to 2018, and will also include the 2015 Toyota AFL Finals Series. All of the Toyota AFL Finals Series matches, including the Grand Final, will be broadcast on TVNZ with eight matches broadcast live.

 

From 2016 TVNZ will broadcast a minimum of three live matches per week of the home and away season and a further two matches either live or delayed per week of the home and away season.

 

TVNZ will also air the AFL’s Weekly Highlights Program and has the right to air key AFL events including the Season Launch, Australian Football Hall of Fame, Rising Star, All Australian, Grand Final Parade, Brownlow Medal and the AFL Draft.

 

AFL General Manager – Game Development Simon Lethlean said TVNZ’s expanded AFL coverage was a great result for fans of the game.

 

“We are delighted AFL fans in New Zealand have the opportunity to watch matches live thanks to TVNZ’s coverage,” he said.

 

“As AFL club, KiwiKick and AFL9s participation continues to grow in New Zealand so does the interest in watching AFL matches.

 

“We look forward to working in partnership with TVNZ in the coming years.”

 

TVNZ’s Director of Content Jeff Latch says TVNZ is excited to be partnering with the AFL and bringing such an iconic Australian sport to Kiwi lounges in a free-to-air capacity. ”We’re rapt to be bringing the power and pace of the AFL to kiwi viewers and look forward to working with the AFL to build the popularity of the code in New Zealand.”

 

TVNZ AFL broadcast rights are in addition to the current rights held by Sky NZ. Sky NZ currently broadcasts one AFL match per week of the premiership season, including the upcoming finals series.