Hot Off the Press Release: Sky “Supercharges” Sports Coverage
July 25, 2019 
8 Comments
Sky Sport News’ Kate King and Goran Paladin.
Sky has taken the covers off its new-look and expanded sport service, announcing 12 dedicated sport channels in HD, a new sport news channel, the retention of the two ESPN channels and a new sport streaming app.
Here are the press releases in full:
Sky supercharges sport offering with 12 sport channels
Sky is supercharging its already superb sports offering and putting more sport into the lives of New Zealanders, Sky chief executive Martin Stewart has announced.
From 1 August all Sky Sport customers will get 12 dedicated sport channels, including:
– Dedicated homes for Rugby, Cricket, Golf and Football – and channels that strongly feature Netball, League, Motorsport and more
– A new Sky Sport News channel
– The two ESPN channels
All 12 channels will be in HD, offering our customers a brilliant viewing experience.
There will be more great features and documentaries, highlights through the Sky Sport Highlights app, and continued access to On Demand sport via an enhanced and improved Sky Go.
There will also be additional pop-up channels for major events like the Australian Tennis Open and Tokyo Olympics Games.
Martin Stewart said, “We’re supercharging Sky Sport. The enhancements are designed for the millions of New Zealanders who love sport.
“We already have nationwide reach and a reliable service that we know our customers value. By enhancing the channel line-up we’re giving them even more sport, better content discovery, and in glorious HD as well.
“The depth and breadth of our sports offer is second to none, and we continue to add more. We were delighted to announce our six-year deal with Cricket Australia last week, including the iconic Boxing Day Tests back for the first time since 1987, and there’s more to come.
“Delivering the best sport to our customers and helping our sports partners grow their sport is what we’re here for.
“The Sky Sport News channel is an exciting new initiative. We will have daily news from New Zealand and around the world, expert opinion and analysis, exclusive interviews, and a raft of features to keep every keen sports fan ‘in the know’.”
Sky Sport News will be live from 1 August, and our special local shows will start on 2 September.
The full new channel line-up is:
Sky Sport News
Sky Sport 1 – Rugby 24/7
Sky Sport 2 – Cricket 24/7
Sky Sport 3 – Home of Netball
Sky Sport 4 – Home of Rugby League
Sky Sport 5 – Home of Motorsport
Sky Sport 6 – Golf 24/7
Sky Sport 7 – Football 24/7
Sky Sport 8 – Best of The Rest
Sky Sport 9 – Best of The Rest
ESPN
ESPN 2.
Sky announces new sports streaming app
Kiwi sports fans will soon be able to watch Sky Sport’s full line up of 12 sport channels, whenever and wherever it suits, with the launch of Sky’s new sport streaming service, Sky Chief Executive Martin Stewart has announced.
“Sky was the first company to bring sport streaming to New Zealand, first with Sky Go and then Fan Pass. Fan Pass has efficiently streamed four sports channels 24/7 for the last four-and-a-half years, but we know sports fans are looking for more.
“Today we are supercharging it. We have already delivered cheaper pricing for it, and from 14 August we will replace it with our new sports app, Sky Sport Now.
Sky Sport Now will have:
– All 12 Sky Sport channels (compared to the 4 channels on Fan Pass), including dedicated homes for Rugby, Cricket, Football and Golf; and channels that strongly feature Netball, League, Motorsport and more; and the two ESPN channels
– The new Sky Sport News channel, with daily news from New Zealand and around the world, expert opinion and analysis, exclusive interviews, and a raft of features to keep every keen sports fan ‘in the know’
– The ability to link to a big screen
– Flexible pricing, with weekly and monthly prices, and a special annual deal
– Access to replays, highlights, features and documentaries on demand
– A great new stats section, with results, fixtures, tables and top performers.
Martin Stewart said “I announced last month that we are accelerating our focus on streaming services. Sky Sport Now is the first evidence of that strategy. It’s a superb sport streaming offer, and we want it to be in hands of every Kiwi sports fan, wherever they are.
“Sports fans are increasingly mobile, and often time poor. Young fans in particular are looking for a range of experiences. Sky Sport Now is one way we can make sport more accessible, exciting and appealing.
“We want to delight our customers every day, and we want to be in hands of every New Zealander.”
Sky Sport Now will be available from 14 August, and can be purchased for:
Week Pass $19.99
Month Pass $49.99
12 Month Pass $39.99 per month.
Introducing Sky Sport News
Connecting the World of Sport with New Zealand’s Home of Sport
Sky will launch a new Sky Sport News channel which will broadcast the latest sports news from New Zealand and across the globe 24/7, Sky Chief Executive Martin Stewart has announced.
It will show live sports news bulletins from New Zealand and around the world including Fox Sports News Australia and Sky Sports News UK, along with breaking news and live press conferences.
Like all Sky Sport channels, Sky Sport News will broadcast in HD.
Martin Stewart says: “The Sky Sport News channel is an exciting new initiative. We will have daily news from New Zealand and around the world, expert opinion and analysis, exclusive interviews, and a raft of features to keep every keen sports fan engaged.
“We’ll also be launching brand new Sky Sport News shows, including an exciting morning news service, live from our state-of-the-art Auckland studios in September, drawing on the resources of our world-renowned Sky Sport crew.
“I’m also pleased to announce that talented broadcasters Kate King and Goran Paladin will be joining us as presenters. They will be joined by some other exciting local talent, so watch this space.”
The channel will be live from 1 August, and our special local shows will start on 2 September.
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July 25, 2019 at 8:22 pm
Hummmm … This is a rather bold claim by Sky
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/news/article.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=12252746
I have a feeling this could backfire spectacularly! Sit back and watch the self destruction!
Real HD 1920×1080 or Sky HD 1440×1080 ?
That was my first question, too. Still waiting for Sky to confirm …
Hi Philip, any news on whether Prime will be live streamed and will Sky Sport News be available on Freeview?
I’m afraid Sky isn’t sharing any of its plans with me but I’d be surprised if either eventuated.
Thanks for getting back to me as always Philip. I honestly don’t get the point of owning a FTA channel if they don’t bring it into the 21st century and allow live streaming, let alone HD for Freeview.
I agree, Leo. Sky has squandered the crossover potential of its Prime ownership. Pumping up its sports content has been the first step towards addressing this but the whole channel needs reappraising. At the moment it seems like a cross between Duke and Choice with no clear identity of its own. Its profile certainly isn’t helped by being SD on Freeview, and live streaming in HD would help to offset this. But I suspect Sky still sees having Prime exclusively in HD on its satellite platform as an incentive for people to subscribe. Who knows — given the new CEO’s priority on streaming, Prime might become part of the strategy but I still think it’s a long shot.
I had a look at the sports channel today and my first impression’s that it doesn’t look any better than Sky 5 and Vibe HD.