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All Blacks matches return to free-to-air – in delay

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 4 Jun 2026, 9:41am
Players of New Zealand huddle after losing the Rugby Championship 2025 match between Argentina Pumas and New Zealand All Blacks at Jose Amalfitani Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)
Players of New Zealand huddle after losing the Rugby Championship 2025 match between Argentina Pumas and New Zealand All Blacks at Jose Amalfitani Stadium on August 23, 2025 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Photo by Marcelo Endelli/Getty Images)

All Blacks matches return to free-to-air – in delay

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Thu, 4 Jun 2026, 9:41am

The All Blacks are back on TV3 – if you’re willing to wait. 

The July tests against France, Italy, and Ireland will be shown delayed on both the linear TV3 and on-demand Three Now.  

It’s the first major play since Sky bought the channel last year, and is aimed at converting casual viewers into paying subscribers. 

Sky TV’s Head of Sport Content Gary Burchett told Heather du Plessis-Allan that sports rights aren’t cheap, and the production itself can be “eye-wateringly” expensive.  

So, he says, they put value on their customers because their money is what allows them to actually acquire the rights and put on world-class rugby. 

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