Netball still under pressure in spite of TV deal
Photo:
Andrew Cornaga / Photosport
New Zealanders will be able to watch the 2026 Netball Premiership live and free-to-air for the first time in 18 years, but there are many unanswered questions over the TVNZ deal.
Tension over the lack of a broadcast deal for the 2026 netball season saw worried players, unusually, speak out about their nerves over next year's season.
This week the announcement finally came - Netball New Zealand was splitting with Sky to ink a new arrangement with TVNZ, one that will go back to an era we haven't seen for 18 years - exclusive, live, free-to-air games that everyone can watch.
Fans celebrated, but underneath the headline announcement there are a lot of questions that aren't being answered. Financial questions.
Such as, will the players have to take a pay cut?
Did TVNZ even pay for the broadcast rights, given Sky had them backed into a corner then cut the sport adrift?
Will there be a mass exodus to the Australian and UK competitions, given they (controversially) don't have restrictions on player imports?
Today on
The Detail
, two of the country's premier sports writers, Locker Room founder Suzanne McFadden and RNZ sports correspondent Dana Johannsen, discuss the issues still facing netball.
Netball New Zealand isn't discussing financial details, but we know it has a slush fund from former rights packages of more than $11 million that it could use for player salaries.
"It may be that they take a punch to the stomach this coming season, and I guess they're hoping that they get more sponsorship deals because it's going out to more eyeballs," said McFadden.
As far as TVNZ is concerned, "what they get out of it will probably be huge for them," she said. "I imagine that netball will now probably be TVNZ's number one sport as far as coverage goes."
"It's still the largest sport in New Zealand, the largest sport played in secondary schools, so making it have a broader reach is a great thing."
And TVNZ won't have to outlay a lot of resources - Netball New Zealand will be putting money towards the production of the coverage. It used outside contractors this past season to provide TV their one game a weekend that was broadcast.
"We don't know if TVNZ has actually put any money into this agreement," said McFadden.
"Netball New Zealand has stressed that they will have to look at other avenues to pay the players, so that's going to be looking for more sponsors, going to the government, to Sport New Zealand for money, and dipping into those reserves."
Pay negotiations have been carrying on this week, "but I do think there will be a cut," she says. "Which kind of opens up this whole can of worms ... how many of our players will now go to play in Australia or England?"
Last week Netball New Zealand announced the exemption criteria for players going overseas would be relaxed, meaning players such as star shooter Grace Nweke could stay with the Swifts in Australian Super Netball and still play for the Silver Ferns.
Previously, Kiwi athletes had to meet a 100-Test cap threshold before they could be eligible to play in an international competition.
McFadden thinks more players will head across the Tasman or to England.
"I don't think there'll be a grand exodus because first of all those two major leagues don't have room just to fill up their teams with Kiwis."
Johannsen said Australia is paying the price internationally for its policy of taking all-comers, with foreigners coming in at key positions and leaving skill shortages when it comes to the Diamonds.
"It's really interesting to see but there's no push to change that [rule]," she said.
"I don't think you'll see as much as a full Silver Ferns starting lineup all based over there, but I think maybe four or five players could pick up contracts.
"If I was a young player, even on the fringe of the Silver Ferns, but wanting a bit of an OE, that's a really great option."
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