Rugby giants offer more tests to TV

By WYNNE GRAY



A Super 14 rugby tournament and an expanded Tri-Nations series are being offered to global broadcasters for the start of the 2006 season.

Sanzar (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia rugby) has decided to test the interest in the new concept before announcing a formal offer to News Ltd, which has been the rugby alliance's broadcasting partner in a 10-year deal. That deal ends next year, but News has first right of refusal on a new, five-year contract.

Sanzar has hired broadcasting agent Ian Frykberg to see if broadcasters are interested in the new concept, or if they would prefer to continue with the Super 12 and Tri-Nations tournaments.

In about a month, Frykberg will report back to Sanzar, which will then announce its formal offer to News Ltd. Sky, TVNZ and TV3 will be approached in New Zealand for their feedback and what value they put on broadcasting the current or expanded competitions in a new five-year contract.

South Africa and Australia could each field an extra team in a Super 14 and the extra round of the Tri-Nations could be played as traditional home and away matches or as a mini-tour in one country.

"The key change is, we are not going to News first, we are going to test the market," Sanzar and New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Chris Moller said yesterday.

"Then we get the chance to get the right feedback from ... stakeholders on rugby and broadcasting issues."

Moller said the four main markets were South Africa, New Zealand, Australia and Europe and since last year "there has been a strong level of interest from a number of broadcasters wanting to be involved with this rugby".

Sanzar sold its broadcasting rights for $878 million to News during the 1995 World Cup in South Africa, a sale which has underpinned Southern Hemisphere rugby.

In settling on its latest proposals, Sanzar bypassed claims from the Pacific Islands, Japan and Argentina that they should be involved in expanded tournaments.