Top TVNZ Ratings for Kiwi Cricket

Since TVNZ’s exclusive free-to-view coverage of home soil cricket began in December 2023, over three million Kiwis have watched bat and ball action across TVNZ 1 and DUKE, with a further 868,000 accounts reached on TVNZ+ and 22.6m streams recorded.

With more juggernaut sport, including new and exclusive events, still to come on TVNZ this year, it’s going to be a big 2026!

TVNZ was announced as the home of New Zealand Cricket in Aotearoa from the 2023/24 season through to the end of the 2025/26 season under an arrangement with Spark.

Featuring international cricket alongside the domestic competition, Super Smash, the move saw all BLACKCAPS home fixtures broadcast on free-to-air television for the first time in two decades.

Over three seasons, big tours and defining moments from New Zealand’s cricketing talent consistently drew large audiences across TVNZ’s platforms.

The biggest BLACKCAPS audience was achieved from the 2024 Pakistan T20i Series on TVNZ, which saw the home side take the win as 1.6 million Kiwis tuned in from their living rooms and baches.

The White Ferns viewership built across the partnership, with the most recent T20i Series against South Africa pulling in the biggest audience, with just shy of 1.2million watching on TVNZ 1 and over 135,000 logged in accounts on TVNZ+.

The coverage also expanded horizons, with local waiata in te reo Māori in the match titles built into international games thanks to the support of Te Māngai Pāho.

TVNZ’s General Manager, Sport and Events, Melodie Robinson said it had been a real privilege to help grow cricket audiences over the past three summers.

“I’d also like to thank the exceptional TVNZ and Whisper teams that put together our coverage each match, especially our commentators, we’re grateful they chose to share their summers with us,” added Melodie Robinson.

Cricket comes to an end with TVNZ, but a winter of sport is about to kick into gear.

This weekend, the ANZ Premiership begins free-to-view exclusively on TVNZ, showcasing its commitment to delivering high-quality local sport to New Zealanders and showcasing women’s sport across the motu.

Alongside FPC rugby, TVNZ will have every match of the National Provincial Championship (NPC).

TVNZ is also set to become the home of football, with the biggest tournament in the world, FIFA World Cup 2026 kicking off in June with 104 matches exclusively on TVNZ, followed by the New Zealand International Football Festival in July.

UFC continues on TVNZ, with pay-per-view arriving later this year for Main Card fights.

Sources:
Linear Source: Nielsen TAM; Consolidated until 29/03/26; 01/12/23 – 05/04/26; Black Caps Home Games, White Ferns home games and SuperSmash Cricket on TVNZ Linear channels; AP 5+; Cume Reach (000’s,%); Incl Replays, Highlights etc

TVNZ+ Source: TVNZ Internal Data; 01/12/23  – 05/04/26; AP 13+; Black Caps Home Games, White Ferns home games and SuperSmash Cricket; Incl Replays, Highlights etc; Reach Excludes co-viewing.