World Cup broadcasting deal fails NZers, says Labour

Having to pay to watch most 2011 Rugby World Cup matches will deny many New Zealanders their "birthright", says Labour's broadcasting spokesman Brendon Burns.

Sky Television this month won host broadcaster rights for the tournament and will work with Rugby World Cup Ltd (RWCL) to produce coverage of all 48 matches in New Zealand.

While discussions are under way with other broadcasters to ensure some of the matches are available free-to-air, full coverage of the event will only be available to those with a Sky subscription.

Mr Burns said today the National-led Government's "hands-off" policies meant New Zealanders without Sky could only hope the second-pickings offered on free-to-air would allow them to watch All Black and other matches which "we regard as our birthright".

Associate Minister for the Rugby World Cup, Gerry Brownlee, said last week the Government had not been involved in the negotiations.

"These were entirely commercial decisions," he said.

Mr Burns said when former Prime Minister Helen Clark initially co-presented New Zealand's bid for the tournament, she did so on behalf of every New Zealander.

"That's now been lost sight of," he said.

"This ignores the contribution that we as taxpayers and ratepayers will all make to the upgrading of various stadiums to allow the World Cup to take place here."

Mr Burns said it was the Government's responsibility to support the New Zealand broadcasting industry, not to "enrich Sky".

RWCL managing director Mike Miller said it aimed to provide the New Zealand public with the largest amount of free-to-air coverage since the last event in 2007.

Sky planned to broadcast every match on its sports channels and the rugby channel, and there would also be a "comprehensive number" of replays of every match, along with a number of World Cup-related productions.

- NZPA