Amazon expected to bid for exclusive All Blacks and Super Rugby broadcasting rights: report
Amazon is expected to massively shake-up the sports broadcasting industry, with the streaming giant reportedly preparing to bid for the next round of Sanzaar (South African, New Zealand, Argentinian and Australian Rugby) broadcasting rights.
Sanzaar, which formed when rugby union went professional in 1996, is the body charged with running Super Rugby and The Rugby Championship.
According to a report by the New Zealand Herald, Amazon’s interest had been obvious for a number of months with Sanzaar opening the formal formal bidding process for rights to screen provincial, Super and test-match rugby from 2021.
Based on how previous deals are structured, each participating Sanzaar country will continue to bid for its own broadcasting rights – with SuperSport likely to remain the main Super rugby rights-holder in South Africa, while Fox Sports is expected to be the main bidder in Australia.
This means that current New Zealand broadcaster – Sky Television – is expected to be the biggest loser as it goes toe-to-toe with Amazon during the bidding process next year.
However with Amazon officially launching its Prime streaming service to South African customers in December 2016, it is not clear whether the company will bid for New Zealand-only rights, or whether it will extend its bid to offer rugby streaming to both Australia and South Africa.
Given the sensitivity of the agreement, commercial confidentiality was invoked across Sanzaar, Sky and Amazon, reported The Herald, with none of the parties willing to issue additional comment.
Read: 6 ways government wants to end DStv’s monopoly in South Africa
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