Please select your home edition
Edition
PredictWind - Wave Routing 728x90 TOP

America's Cup 36 announce first free to air broadcast package

by Richard Gladwell, Sail-World.com/nz 30 May 2018 14:46 PDT 31 May 2018
Camera boat - Race 1 - Qualifiers - Day 1, 35th America's Cup, Bermuda, May 27, 2017 © Richard Gladwell

America's Cup organisers have announced the first of a series of deal for free to air coverage for the 36th America's Cup and preliminary regattas.

Long time America's Cup broadcaster Television NZ has been awarded an exclusive free to air TV broadcast, a similar agreement has been signed with Newstalk ZB and Radio Sport for live radio coverage.

The deal, which covers all preliminary events starting next year with the America's World Series in 2019.

The arrangement returns to the free to air broadcast model that has been in place since the 1987 America's Cup in Fremantle. That relationship was only altered last year when America's Cup Events Authority chose to sign a broadcast deal with Sky TV in New Zealand. SkyTV are a subscription only broadcaster. The deal was followed by similar deals with subscription only broadcasters, except for the home territory of Bermuda.

The free TVNZ coverage may not be available throughout the world ie outside the NZ broadcast territory and it remains to be seen how web coverage will be affected.

Also not clear in the media announcement is how new media will be handled with the likes of 360VR and mobile device apps and whether these will be run under the auspices of AmericasCup.com

It is also not clear in the announcement as to how the arrangement with mobile services provider Vodafone (and others) will operate. Vodafone backed Emirates Team NZ's coverage of the 2017 America's Cup with the innovative and very popular Dock-in and Dock-out shows which worked around draconian ACEA coverage rules and went out via social media - mainly on Facebook. Several attempts were made to shut down the ETNZ/Vodafone webcasts in Bermuda as it was claimed that these were in violation of of live broadcast TV agreements.

Vodafone works closely with the former America's Cup broadcaster SkyTV and the two have been in negotiations to combine their operations under various business models. Vodafone's main competitor in NZ, Spark has formed a relationship with TVNZ to secure several prime sports broadcast properties in recent months, outbidding the SkyTV, which is still the predominant sports broadcaster in New Zealand. Spark was not mentioned in the official media release.

Other channels are expected to be permitted to cover in the traditional way - up to the starting signal and once the race is finished. They are also able to run so-called "live" coverage by tweeting and other non-video or audio coverage on social media and alert/update systems when there is a significant event in the game.

TVNZ have committed to not running advertising during the live coverage. It is not known how long the races will be, or whether they will be longer than the 18 minutes target in Bermuda, meaning that ad-free coverage is not a significant revenue hit for the broadcaster. Given that the audience in New Zealand is likely to be close to a million viewers for the America's Cup it is expected that any advertising that is carried will carry a premium.

In a news item on TVNZ announcing the coverage, the state owned enterprise claimed it had 2,674,600 viewers for its last coverage of the America's Cup in 2013 - an event in which the Match extended for 19 days compared to the 2017 America's Cup for which TVNZ put the subscriber only audience of SkyTV at 983,000 New Zealanders. The 2017 Match lasted five days or nine races compared to 19 for the 2013 America's Cup in San Francisco. Both were early morning broadcasts in New Zealand with the 2017 event being an earlier start. The population of New Zealand is 5 million and the TV NZ claim is that the event was watched by more than 50% of the New Zealand population.

Social media work arounds?

Given the undertaking by organisers for racing to be held close inshore, broadcasters who do not hold the territory rights may be able to provide a land-based broadcast - not possible previously due to the privilege flag control by organisers over water and airspace covering the racing area and authorised by local authority regulation.

The announcement makes no mention of the use of Youtube for live coverage. In the 2013 America's Cup Youtube coverage of the racing was provided live to territories not covered by signed broadcast rights, and then made live for all after the conclusion of racing. The territorial restrictions are easily overcome through the use of geo-location blocking software.

In a media release Grant Dalton, CEO of Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand, says TVNZ’s involvement will maximise the number of New Zealanders that see the event. “It has been a fundamental principle of Emirates Team New Zealand and the Challenger of Record that the America’s Cup be accessible to as many Kiwis as possible since we won the trophy back almost one year ago. TVNZ have committed to provide coverage of this America’s Cup like no other, so we are delighted that the America’s Cup Match Presented by Prada and all preceding events will be broadcast live and free to air for all New Zealanders to watch and be part of.”

"Within Luna Rossa we are very happy about this agreement with New Zealand’s most prominent broadcaster, it is great news for all of us. We are looking forward to showing the potential of the new America’s Cup Class boats,” said Max Sirena, Skipper of Luna Rossa.

“As the Challenger of Record for the 36th America’s Cup, we are pleased to jointly sign this agreement with TVNZ and the Defender. It is the first broadcast rights agreement to be signed and exemplifies our commitment to ensuring wide reaching broadcast and digital coverage of the America’s Cup both in New Zealand and globally,” stated Laurent Esquier, CEO of COR 36.

Part of the Event Fee of $40million paid by the Labour-led government to America's Cup organisers will cover the costs of the Host TV broadcast, along with contributions from the Challenger and Defender which will be a separate function from the territorial rights broadcasters such as TVNZ.

The announcement of free to air broadcast of the America's Cup circumvents a controversial election policy of NZ First, one of the partners in the Labour-led coalition government which called for all major sports broadcasts to be broadcast live on a free to air platform.

In a radio interview this morning, Emirates Team NZ CEO Grant Dalton confirmed they were dealing with three other Challengers, as yet unannounced ahead of the close of entries on June 30, 2018.

He also rated the chances on the new British Challenger INEOS Team UK, with the infusion of the biggest single sponsorship in sailing and the acquisition of several key America's Cup professionals in management and design along with the existing sailing team.

For the full interview click here

Related Articles

America's Cup: Luna Rossa to sail for Naples club.
Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest the next America's Cup as the team of a Naples club. Italian Challenger Luna Rossa will contest its seventh America's Cup as the team of the Circolo del Remo e della Vela Italia of Naples, as club that is new to the America's Cup. Posted on 10 Jul
America's Cup: French back "Kiwi" Protocol
K-Challenge tell Brits to sign Kiwi Protocol. Cup to be sailed before the end of 2025. Last weekend's missive from the French America's Cup challenge team is further evidence over the building frustration with progress towards the 2027 America's Cup in Naples. Posted on 6 Jul
K-Challenge gives opinion on proposed Protocol
Why the 38th edition could usher in a new era for the America's Cup Stephan Kandler and Bruno Dubois, Co-CEOs of K-Challenge, jointly stated: “The provisional Protocol published on 23 May 2025 by Defender Emirates Team New Zealand is an important step forward for the America's Cup." Posted on 4 Jul
America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
(Updated) A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. Confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. But what of Mainstream Media's role in the affair? Posted on 29 Jun
America's Cup - #3 Finish Line
The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. The Cup is still undecided. And somewhere, in one last simulation, the universe holds its breath. Step into the last leg. This is where legends break — or rise. Posted on 23 Jun
Cup Spy: "Burling Rule" unlikely to be changed
The Defender is unlikely to soften the Rules and allow open season on its sailing team. Despite the shift of three times America's Cup winner, Peter Burling it is understood that there is unlikely to be any softening of the Nationality rule to enable Burling to get any closer to the action than a chase-boat in the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 20 Jun
Burling "excited' by Italian move
In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role w In a media statement issued by his Media Team, Burling says he remains fully committed to his role with Black Foils, the New Zealand SailGP Team. Posted on 20 Jun
America's Cup: Kiwis advertising for key people
Emirates Team NZ seeking new people for key roles ahead of its 12th America's Cup campaign Emirates Team New Zealand, the current America's Cup champion is gearing up for the 2027 Defence of the most prestigious trophy in sailing. The team has advertised eight positions in the IT, Meteorology and Engineering areas Posted on 12 Jun
America's Cup: Another sponsor signs for Italians
Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team Luna Rossa has announced that Unipol has renewed its trust in the team and will accompany it as an official sponsor for the duration of the 38th America's Cup. Posted on 5 Jun
America's Cup fillibustered by Challengers
A Cup in turmoil - Protocol is unsigned - with entries due to open on Sunday. Updated story: America's Cup got underway in Rome on Monday, with Round 2 of the official welcoming ceremonies on Wednesday in Naples. However three teams are working in collusion and have again issued statements within minutes of each other. Posted on 29 May
Lloyd Stevenson - AC ETNZ 1456x180px BOTTOMHenri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeArmstrong 728x90 - Performance Mast Range - BOTTOM