Sky’s Rugby Rights Renewal Hinges on Shareholder Approval Amid Cost Commitments

A New Era for Rugby Broadcasting in New Zealand

Sky New Zealand has reaffirmed its position as the definitive home of rugby in Aotearoa with a renewed five-year broadcast partnership with New Zealand Rugby and SANZAAR, commencing January 2026. This agreement guarantees Sky customers exclusive live access to a comprehensive slate of international and domestic rugby competitions through to 2030, reinforcing the broadcaster’s commitment to delivering premium sports content.

The deal notably includes every All Blacks match played within SANZAAR countries, encompassing marquee events like the Bledisloe Cup and The Rugby Championship. It also introduces fans to an exciting new biennial men's tournament, the Nations Cup, featuring 12 teams from the Six Nations and Southern Hemisphere unions, culminating in a grand final series. The 2029 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand is another highlight, promising to captivate rugby enthusiasts nationwide.

Elevating Women’s Rugby and Domestic Competitions

In a significant boost for women’s rugby, the agreement expands coverage of Black Ferns matches beyond previous levels, including all games from the Pacific Four Series, new September/October internationals, and the historic 2027 British & Irish Lions Women’s tour. This marks a milestone in visibility and support for the women’s game, aligning with broader trends toward gender equity in sports broadcasting.

On the domestic front, Sky will broadcast every match from Super Rugby Pacific, Super Rugby Aupiki, and Super W, alongside the National Provincial Championship (NPC) and selected matches from the Farah Palmer Cup and Heartland Championship. To enhance accessibility, select domestic matches will be sublicensed to TVNZ for free-to-air viewing, ensuring rugby’s grassroots and provincial competitions reach a wider audience while maintaining exclusivity for Sky subscribers.

Financial and Strategic Implications

While the commercial terms remain confidential, Sky’s Chief Executive Sophie Moloney emphasized the deal’s sustainability, balancing financial prudence with the long-term health of New Zealand rugby. Sky anticipates programming costs for FY26 will remain within 47-49% of revenue, a key metric for investors monitoring the company’s cost management amid competitive sports rights markets.

The agreement requires shareholder approval at Sky’s Annual Meeting in November 2025, reflecting the transaction’s material impact on the company’s asset base and obligations. Notably, New Zealand Rugby retains the right to schedule up to five offshore All Blacks and Black Ferns matches outside the contracted competitions, with broadcast rights for these events to be negotiated separately.

Looking Ahead

Sky will continue as the host broadcaster for all matches played in New Zealand, leveraging its live sports production expertise to deliver high-quality coverage. This partnership complements Sky’s existing rugby portfolio, which includes rights to the Rugby World Cups, HSBC Sevens Series, Six Nations, and UK Gallagher Premiership, positioning the company as a dominant player in rugby broadcasting globally.

For rugby fans and investors alike, this deal signals a stable and enriched content offering that could drive subscriber loyalty and engagement over the next half-decade.