topic Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage in Archive

Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

A.R.C — Sun, 14 Feb 2021 21:30:38 GMT

For a long time SKY has provided coverage of Super Rugby from the Southern Hemisphere. I realise that Super Rugby has has a bit of a disruption but New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are all playing competitions within their own countries for the teams concerned. Both Australia and New Zealand use the term Super Rugby as part of the competition title and South Africa has a competition called "Preparation Series" including Clubs from Super Rugby and Currie Cup.

All three of these competitions are kicking off on the 19th February (Australia), 26th February (New Zealand) and 27th (South Africa). Is Sky showing any of these three competitions after their years of Super Rugby coverage. I can find no mention of these competitions on SKY.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

IanB2507 — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 11:13:48 GMT

It appears that Sky Sports haven't got the rights to Super Rugby Aus or Super Rugby Aotearoa this season, meaning that their already limited Rugby Union coverage has been cut even further.
Quite bizarre given that Sky Sports NZ are showing the competitions plus the 6 Nations, English Premiership and Top 14.
I guess Sky Sports think all UK subscribers are obsessed with their countless hours of football.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

TimmyBGood — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 13:31:43 GMT

@IanB2507 wrote:

Quite bizarre given that Sky Sports NZ are showing the competitions plus the 6 Nations, English Premiership and Top 14.

Sky Network Television Limited which carries Sky Sport (not Sky Sports) hasn't had shared ownership with Sky Group for many years and wasn't part of the Comcast acquisition. The similarities in product branding are a historical legacy.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

Postie1 — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 16:56:01 GMT

Has anyone actually had a reply from sky confirming whether any coverage will be shown?I've been actively trying to gain this information without any joy. As you say sky seems more focused towards the premiership footballl. Personally my preferences are super rugby and Top 14 which has already been lost.

As neither seem to shown on sky anymore, I'm wondering why I'm paying so much for a service that doesn't really fit my watching preferences. Guess time is closing in on me cancelling my sky Q contract.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

nolte — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:50:43 GMT

I would suggest emailing viewer relations at viewerR@sky.uk

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

Postie1 — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 18:55:11 GMT

I have just waiting for a reply

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

Rhonny — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 19:00:03 GMT

@Postie1

Personally my preferences are super rugby and Top 14

I suspect there aren't enough of you to make it worth Sky's investment.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

SDR — Thu, 18 Feb 2021 22:36:52 GMT

So who will broadcast Super Rugby in the UK in 2021? SANZAAR reported that there was good interest in the TV rights, with talks ongoing. But with Super Rugby AU starting tomorrow, on 19 February, and Aotearoa getting underway a week later, it is unlikely a deal will be agreed before the tournaments kick off. Quote from Rugby world

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

LucaStix — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 07:54:49 GMT

Yes - agree

Its disgraceful. Consdering dropping Sky Sports from my subscription.

My son & daughter are obsessed with super Rugby.

Surely a deal could be done direct with the new broadcaster. They must be open to a deal - its $$ after all!!

Sky are going to lose a shed load of UK subscribers without southern hemisphere Rugby and a dwindling coverage generally.

Sort it out Sky!

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

Chrisee — Fri, 19 Feb 2021 08:43:17 GMT

@LucaStix if any UK broadcaster was going to take the rights I would have expected it to be BT Sport who broadcast more Rugby than Sky. The time difference especially with NZ (minmum 11 hours) is a killer unfortunately limiting the price Sky would pay its the same with cricket .

Agree with you that Sky Sports is poor value if you only want rugby.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

A.R.C — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 17:18:36 GMT

Totally agree with you about coverage. Football has just so many poosersd and actors trying to get players booked.

I contacted Viewer Relations and they said they will not be covering it. I am really annoyed because they covered the two competitions last year.

Cheers

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

A.R.C — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 17:21:23 GMT

Super Rugby has been shown on SKY for at least 20 years. Possibly longer. Shame to see it evolve and SKY not cover it.

And if they cannot afford it then perhaps it is because they pay too much for football.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

A.R.C — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 17:23:16 GMT

SKY replied to me that they are not showing it this season. Also I thought New Zealand started yeaterday but I might be wrong.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

Postie1 — Sat, 20 Feb 2021 18:32:35 GMT

I'm hoping BT sport will take the option, then I'll leave sky after 30 years, as the sport seems totally focussed on Football. If they can have dedicated channels for F1, NFL, Golf & cricket surely there's a market for a rugby Union channel

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

TheFirstSword — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 14:26:58 GMT

Personally I hope Amazon picks it up! Jeff needs the cash!

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

A.R.C — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 20:35:02 GMT

If Amazon pick it up they won't get any of my money, and I would consider that SKY might not get my SKY Sports either.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

Postie1 — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 21:29:36 GMT

It's interesting the lack of information sky have put out about them dropping the coverage of super rugby.

They seem to have placed all their efforts towards the British Lions tour and dropped the bread and butter rugby coverage.

I'm seriously considering cancelling my sky sports as my first sports love is rugby which seems to be the sport they have least interest in.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

TomJ123 — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 08:20:55 GMT

I'm very disappointed that sky will not be showing the super rugby NZ this year and have only just learned about it this morning after getting concerned how little news they were reporting on regarding it.

I think I'll be cancelling my sky sports package as the rugby now is almost non existent on the platform. I have woken up every weekend at 6am for the past 15 years during the seasons to tune in to the matches over there.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

graceland22 — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 13:59:36 GMT

t has already kicked off and SKY UK are not showing it, nor the NZ version. It is ironic because The sponsor stuff shows SKY Aotearoa and they will be broadcast in NZ /Aus on SKY / Channel Nine.
Thus one would have thought that SKY UK would therefore be able to get a favourable deal.

Lost French Top 14 RU. Lost all UK RU (we used to get some of the Campionship). Lost AUS /NZ RU. Lost Aussie rules. No Pro 14 or Champion / Challenge Cup. SKY seems to have no appetite for rugby union, but the UK and global appetite for rugby union in the is huge, particularly when we cannot get to watch live games.

Will we even get NRL this season?

I got SKY Sport predominately to watch Rugby, I really must re-consider, it certainly wasn't for football or basketball / netball, niche sports or continuous re-runs of old Rugby League / Union or NFL matches. Rugby Union is one of the world's major sports with Britain at the fore-front and SKY now don't show any of it.

Re: Southern Hemisphere Rugby Union Coverage

Postie1 — Wed, 24 Feb 2021 14:09:53 GMT

I just read that the nz super rugby will be shown via RugbyPass, but this is a streaming service and the for tournament it'll cost £34.99. Another expenses on top of Sky, Bt Sport & Amazon Prime

I am wondering why I am paying all this money to sky every month when the main attraction was for the super rugby coverage

One of the main issues over the super rugby coverage in the uk is them not coming out and letting subscribers know they won't be covering the competition anymore. Sure the only reason for this is to try and stop people leaving when they find out.

Personally can't image there's much demand for dedicated channels for golf, nfl, F1 & cricket. Guess they must be cheaper than having a rugby channel with the tv rights for the Southern Hemisphere games.

Does this also mean sky won't be showing the rugby championship games between NZ, AUS, SA & Argentina?