TVNZ frees sail space

By SIMON HENDERY

TVNZ's logo will disappear from Team New Zealand sails next America's Cup, but the broadcaster says its financial commitment to the yachting syndicate is not being cut.

Television New Zealand will retain broadcasting rights for the 2003 campaign, but its name will no longer appear beside the other "family of five" top sponsors, helping Team New Zealand attract "a considerably higher level of sponsorship than in previous campaigns."

Rick Ellis, the state-owned broadcaster's chief executive, said the move would help Team New Zealand's defence of the cup by opening the door to additional sponsorship.

As reported in these pages last week, Team New Zealand is understood to have brokered a multi-million-dollar sponsorship deal with German software giant SAP.

The syndicate and the company have refused to comment, but Team New Zealand spokesman Murray Taylor said a sponsorship announcement was likely this week.

Team New Zealand has never detailed its sponsorship figures, but TVNZ, Telecom, Steinlager, Lotto and Toyota are believed to have contributed about $5 million each to the last campaign.

TVNZ will devote about 160 hours of airtime to the challenge and continue to run the Team New Zealand and America's Cup non-apparel merchandising programme.

The company's financial contribution to the campaign would not be reduced from last time, TVNZ spokesman Glen Sowry said.

America's Cup Minister Trevor Mallard said TVNZ's "selfless" decision to make its signage space available would help Team New Zealand's campaign.

Herald Online feature: America's Cup