The sale of Spark Sport to TVNZ today has left motorsport fans across the country searching for answers as to how they’ll watch their series of choice.
The popular streaming service hosts a number of premier world motorsport series, including Formula 1, 2 and 3, Moto GP, Moto2 and Moto3 as well as WRC.
This morning’s announcement only confirmed the transfer of cricket to the free-to-air broadcaster.
Sky TV have now also got in on the act, announcing they’ll host all Formula 1 races and their supporting content from 2023 and beyond in a multi-year deal.
A spokesperson for Spark has confirmed to Velocity News, however, both MotoGP and WRC will remain under their umbrella until the takeover takes place in July.
“The Spark Sport platform will be available for customers to access as they do today up until 1 July 2023 – this includes MotoGP and WRC,” they said.
This means the first seven rounds of the World Rally Championship will be shown on the platform with uncertainty hanging over the last six. The last WRC event shown on Spark Sport will be Safari Rally Kenya.
MotoGP fans are also in a similar predicament, the first eight rounds with broadcasts confirmed but 13 still without a broadcast partner in New Zealand.
Both series do host their own streaming service, however they remain exclusive to that category and it’s supporting classes.
MotoGP Videopass is available anywhere in the world for streaming of their motorcycle racing, as well as Moto2 and Moto3. It does, however, come at a cost to New Zealand viewers, a massive $50 per month for live races and exclusive content.
WRC+ is much more affordable for rally fans, a season pass, covering all 13 events, coming in at $165 or a monthly option at just $18.50.
It may not necessarily come down to this for Kiwi sports fans, Spark confirming they are in discussions with appropriate authorities to allow TVNZ to distribute content.
“Now that we have announced the partnership, we are in the process of engaging with rights holder to obtain their consent to allow their content to be distributed by TVNZ instead of Spark Sport,” they said in a statement to Velocity News.
“We can confirm that we have already obtained NZ Cricket’s agreement and that F1 will no longer be on Spark Sport from 31 December 2022. However, all other content is subject to rights holder discussions.”
Whilst Formula 1 fans have already been offered a saving grace, MotoGP and WRC viewers may be in for an expensive year unless Sky comes to the rescue.
If that doesn’t happen, fans wishing to watch all of F1, WRC and MotoGP after July will be looking at a massive $108.50 per month.
Negotiations at this stage are still ongoing, however.
Velocity News will provide updates when announcements are made. Keep an eye on our weekly “Motorsport Diary” posts in the interim if you’re not sure where to get your racing fix.
Hi,I have had the TVNZ+ app for a while now and ,although TVNZ+ keeps advertising motogp again and again I just cant seem to find it.When is TVNZ+ planning to stream the motogp
Yes, what’s up with that. We need motogp broadcast desperately.