New Zealand Cricket will not be "stepping in with cash to help end the rights impasse that appears set to deny viewers live television coverage of the World Cup semifinal rematch in South Africa," according to Mark Geenty of STUFF.
Sky Television did not "screen the two Twenty20 internationals after it and host broadcaster SuperSport couldn't agree on a rights fee." As of Tuesday night "there was no resolution," with Sky spokesperson Kirsty Way saying negotiations "were continuing to try and secure coverage of the three one-day internationals, starting in Centurion on Wednesday." A source familiar with the negotiations said that "it was purely about money, with Sky and SuperSport stubbornly refusing to budge on their respective bids during the T20 series, which was shown in Australia on Fox Sports." Way said there had been some "to-ing and fro-ing" in recent days. The "monetary difference is understood to be negligible, which increased the frustration for New Zealand cricket fans accustomed to watching every major overseas tour on Sky for the past 12 years."
An NZC spokesperson said that "it remained hopeful the three ODIs would be televised." But NZC "would not be offering to pay the difference to break the rights impasse, saying it was a matter for Sky and SuperSport to resolve." Sky would not "comment on negotiations but appeared to have set its bottom line which it described as 'a really good bid'" (STUFF, 8/18).
