America’s Cup Youtube coverage to again be blocked in New Zealand

TV production trials underway in New Zealand, which is now the subject of a seven day block on Youtube coverage. ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

Stephanie Martin, ACEA’s Chief Communications Officer © ACEA - Photo Gilles Martin-Raget http://photo.americascup.com/

In a schedule given to Sail-World, from Television New Zealand, the state owned America’s Cup rights broadcaster in New Zealand stated they will be only be publicly broadcasting one day’s racing live, and that the remaining races would be available live via one of their website outlets.

There is no replay facility available for a week, in New Zealand, except through one of TVNZ’s web outlets.

The statement from Stephanie Martin, Chief Communications Officer of the America’s Cup Events Authority reads:

'We will begin coverage on Wednesday, Nov 16 through Sunday, Nov. 20. This will also be the first time we're able to stream to iOS devices.

'In New Zealand, TVNZ will livestream the races on TV One and the final race on Sunday, Nov. 20 will be on TVNZ live, so they will be broadcasting the whole time.

'That means that our YouTube livestream will be blocked in New Zealand because we have a broadcaster rights holder, and that also means blocked on mobile devices in NZ. That always means that our YouTube replays cannot be embedded into NZ Websites until 7 days after they air. Our livestreamed press conferences will not be blocked and can be viewed in New Zealand via YouTube.

'If there are any changes or updates on other countries on our live broadcasts, we will let you know immediately.'

Television NZ is proposing a single day of public broadcast coverage © SW

For the America’s Cup World Series in Plymouth seven day blocks were imposed on Youtube coverage in New Zealand, midway through the series.

It took Sail-World two weeks to get an explanation and apologies America’s Cup Event Authority and http://www.sail-world.com/nz/Americas-Cup:-Television-NZ-admits-error-over-Youtube-block-in-NZ/89308!Television_New_Zealand after TVNZ alleged the blockage was caused because Sail-World worldwide ran the freely available content.

The offer to block a territory from coverage except via a rights holder seems to be an integral part of the ACEA offered rights package. In this instance it is believed that ACEA have granted TVNZ a seven day block instead of the 48 hour block offered in at least one other region.

The block is even more difficult to understand given that of the eight teams currently entered in the America's Cup World Series, New Zealand has the longest heritage in terms of Challenging for the event - extending back to 1987, and that so many New Zealanders are involved in the America's Cup TV production.

According to the schedule provided by TVNZ, there will be no broadcast in New Zealand until Thursday 17 November (NZT) with the single live public broadcast on Monday 21 November (NZT).

The America's Cup Events Authority have announced that the San Diego round of the America’s Cup World Series will be broadcast by Canal+ in France.

The San Diego event will be streamed live on the Canal+ official web site November 16---19 and then the final winner---take---all fleet race on Sunday November 20 will be broadcast live on Sport+.

In addition to the live programming, Canal+ will also feature a 50---minute highlight program, including the tight action of the AC Match Racing Championship, the AC500 Speed Trial and the final Sunday race that crowns the AC Fleet Race Champion.

It is not known if this public broadcast, will also result in a block on Youtube coverage in France for either 48 hours, as was offered to Italian broadcasters, or for seven days as in New Zealand. Or if the block on Youtube coverage will be applied only to New Zealand fans.

There are two French flagged challengers in the America's Cup World Series.

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