New Zealand Football Look for Self Sufficiency with Sky Broadcast Deal

New Zealand Football has struck a deal with Sky New Zealand to cover national team games between June-November, order in a move that will provide them with a self-sufficient business model for the year.

Eight men’s and six women’s football matches will be aired live by the pay-television broadcaster and the new deal will boost NZ Football’s finances that have suffered from poor ticket sales and large fees being paid for broadcast deals.

NZ Football CEO Grant McKavanagh said the new Sky deal would ease the cost of hosting internationals, create more advertising and alleviate other fees.

McKavanagh told the Star-Times newspaper: “I can’t go into details, but the new deal with Sky puts us in a position where we feel there’s respect on each side in terms of payment. Now, it’s turned around so that they pay us.

“Sky wants subscriptions and one-off games don’t do that. We need to go to them with a package and are selling in six-month lots.

“If we do make it to Brazil (2014 World Cup) our financial health is guaranteed for another four years, but the key is still a sustainable business model.”