No Coverage of the Kangaroos Tour in NZ?

[ozenzud]

I've just looked on the Sky Guide. No coverage of the 1st Test between Kiwis and England in NZ? Can't be? Surely? Anybody know?

 

[Beavers Headgear]

I've just looked on the Sky Guide. No coverage of the 1st Test between Kiwis and England in NZ? Can't be? Surely? Anybody know?

That will be correct, they haven’t shown any UK league for a few years now

 

[Matua]

Fingers crossed they might be still working out a deal. Kayo used to always leave it the last moment to get coverage of the AB end of year tours here in Oz before the rugby rights moved to Stan.

 

[adamkungl]

I emailed Sky and they said they did not acquire the rights. I'm thinking VPN to 9Now or BBC will be the best option unfortunately.

 

[ozenzud]

Yes. Having to stuff round with a VPN is a pain, but doable. Usually use it to watch Sky when overseas. Channel Nine with adds.....arrrrgh. Still don't believe Sky wouldn't get this. It is the middle of the night I guess.

 

[Manurewa_Marlins]

VPN workaround it is.

 

[adamkungl]

Yes. Having to stuff round with a VPN is a pain, but doable. Usually use it to watch Sky when overseas. Channel Nine with adds.....arrrrgh. Still don't believe Sky wouldn't get this. It is the middle of the night I guess.

The BBC coverage might be more tolerable than 9 if we can get it.

I'd imagine they simply can't be arsed paying for a foreign rugby league test that airs at 3am to 15 people. I suppose there's a chance they'll come through with the rights at the last minute if the NRL realises that it's not airing in NZ

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

It's mad how in this brave new world we've actually gone backwards. This 100% would've been on Sky in NZ in the pre-streaming days. In fact, pre-Sky it might've even been available on TV1 or TV2.

 

[Matua]

It's mad how in this brave new world we've actually gone backwards. This 100% would've been on Sky in NZ in the pre-streaming days. In fact, pre-Sky it might've even been available on TV1 or TV2.

Yeah, I can remember watching the famous 1990 tour on tv, not sure if we had Sky at our place then or not so may have been on TV1 or TV2.

Even though Enshitification was coined for the tech platforms it applies to broadcast rights in this context too.

 

[Rich102]

Might have to resort to Youtube.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

Yeah, I can remember watching the famous 1990 tour on tv, not sure if we had Sky at our place then or not so may have been on TV1 or TV2.

Even though Enshitification was coined for the tech platforms it applies to broadcast rights in this context too.

Sky Sport launched in May 1990 so you would've been a very early adopter if you were watching it on Sky

 

[adamkungl]

Midway through typing another bitch about the RFL and NRL failing such an obvious step, I found something.

Nrl.com has it: https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/10/24/ashes---game-1-england-v-australia-livestream-nz-only/

SuperLeague+ also has the 3 matches for a series pass of $15GBP (~$35 NZD)

 

[Matua]

Sky Sport launched in May 1990 so you would've been a very early adopter if you were watching it on Sky

I wonder when the Winfield Cup switched from TVNZ to Sky, if it was immediately I guess we would have been early adopters. Although, I doubt we got Sky straight away in Hawkes Bay, it was probably delayed.

Given all that I'm going to assume the tour was on TVNZ.

 

[Matua]

Midway through typing another bitch about the RFL and NRL failing such an obvious step, I found something.

Nrl.com has it: https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/10/24/ashes---game-1-england-v-australia-livestream-nz-only/

SuperLeague+ also has the 3 matches for a series pass of $15GBP (~$35 NZD)

That's a good outcome for you guys over home. And good the NRL is using some of their huge revenue to help you lot watch the game.

 

[adamkungl]

That's a good outcome for you guys over home. And good the NRL is using some of their huge revenue to help you lot watch the game.

Putting 2 and 2 together i'm guessing they've been trying to sell the international rights for some time and haven't got any bites so out of desperation they're putting it up for free at the last minute.