New Zealand 2 will deal a massive blow to NZ rugby

[Wb1234]

TikTok - Make Your Day

Nz2 can’t come fast enough

 

[Pippen94]

So who's framing as favourite for nz2?! New stadium means team will all likelihood be based in Christchurch. Kea seems no goer while other bid may have dropped out. Orcas still remain but I think they are too focused on Wellington.

 

[Wb1234]

Warriors ranked 5th and that doesn’t include nz tv viewers which would add another 100k

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Ratings by a boozehound isn't going to influence whether another team from New Zealand comes in.

 

[Wb1234]

Yeh letting him go was a good move

 

[flippikat]

Interesting chat. Remember when we were told that no spark meant Sky would have no competition..?
Is there a single argument that the Union trolls made that holds up?

I recall at the time those comments made, there was no imminent prospect of streaming services getting into NRL coverage for NZ.

We're a comparatively small market, so I can understand it being a tough business case to get "across the line", especially as Spark has struggled and Sky will do everything to keep rugby union - BUT if a streaming company combines the Australian AND NZ markets, it can work.

The landscape is in the process of changing now in Australia, and we could well get drawn into that, which is pretty damn exciting - especially if it means more FTA coverage here in NZ.

It looks like Sky have been trying to pre-empt that by putting more games in sensible timeslots on their FTA channel "Sky Open" (formerly Prime), but it remains to be seen whether the NRL deem it enough.

 

[flippikat]

So who's framing as favourite for nz2?! New stadium means team will all likelihood be based in Christchurch. Kea seems no goer while other bid may have dropped out. Orcas still remain but I think they are too focused on Wellington.

I think the Wellington part of the Orca bid may get them the nod. I can't see the NRL wanting a 3rd NZ team, so if they reason that NZ 2 will cover-off Christchurch AND Wellington they'll consider it "job done" for NZ.

A mistake IMO because I strongly believe Christchurch AND Wellington need to be in the expansion timeline in the next decade or two with their own teams.. but I know Australian leagues are reluctant when it comes to multiple NZ teams.