Treat For Sky Subscribers During Rugby World Cup

Media Release,
September 23, 2003.

SPECIAL TREAT FOR SKY DIGITAL RESIDENTIAL SUBSCRIBERS DURING RUGBY WORLD CUP

Residential SKY Digital subscribers will be able to enjoy SKY's Rugby Channel (Digital channel 15) every weekend without any additional charges -Friday 6pm to Monday 6am throughout the 2003 Rugby World Cup starting Friday, October 10 from 6pm.

Every weekend, SKY Digital subscribers will be able to enjoy a plethora of World Cup rugby entertainment on the Rugby Channel for no additional charge.

The Rugby Channel will also be accessible to all digital subscribers for half an hour every night so viewers can catch the action of the day in the brand new programme, The Cup, created especially for the World Cup.

The Cup is dedicated to providing in-depth World Cup analysis, expert opinions, inside news from within the All Black camp with interviews, previews and reviews as John Mitchell's team face their biggest challenge to date. Daily field reports from Australia will be provided by Tony Johnson and Reunion Producer Grant Harding (editor of New Zealand Rugby World) - both of whom will be embedded within the NZRU in St Kilda, Melbourne.

Back in New Zealand, SKY Sport commentator Ian Smith, former Black Fern and Sport 365 presenter Melodie Robinson and renowned sports broadcaster Eric Young will share the hosting responsibilities of The Cup. All Black legend Ian Jones will provide in-depth tactical analysis.

During the Air New Zealand NPC season The Cup will screen Sunday to Thursday from 7:30pm and Friday to Saturday night from 6:30pm. Once the NPC season has concluded on November 26, The Cup will screen every night from 7:30pm for the remainder of the World Cup.

SKY Television's Executive Producer of Rugby, Andrew Fyfe said, "SKY is delighted to bring rugby fans a wealth of additional rugby programming for the duration of the 2003 Rugby World Cup."

"A dedicated crew, including Tony Johnson will provide a daily New Zealand perspective from Melbourne," Fyfe said.

"For six very special weeks all digital viewers will get a taste of SKY's celebrated Rugby Channel and it's new show The Cup. It's a limited opportunity to experience for themselves the best in New Zealand, Australian, South African and British rugby programming."

Also giving in-depth analysis of play in the World Cup is Deaker on Sport, the talkback style show hosted by the incomparable Murray Deaker, screening Mondays from 8:30pm on SKY Sport 1.

New Zealand's leading rugby programme Reunion, will also feature the best from both sides of the Tasman with Tony Johnson and guests reporting from Australia. The Kiwi perspective - including the NPC - will be provided from SKY's studio. Reunion screens live every Tuesday from 8:30pm on SKY Sport 1 and the Rugby Channel.

Eric Young will be joined by regular panellist Duncan Johnstone for Press Box, the show that delivers the real story to some of the most controversial rugby issues.

The New Zealand Herald's Wynne Gray and SKY's Tony Johnson will be joined by the biggest names of world rugby's media based in Australia - Press Box screens every Wednesday from 8:30pm on the Rugby Channel.

SKY News Australia will provide updates of the day's World Cup action every hour and will also screen special editions of Sportsline Australia and Sportsline International hosted by the Sky News Sports team, Murray Shaw and Craig Norenbergs.

New Zealand's only daily sports news show, Sport 365, will offer match highlights and bulletins every night at 7pm on SKY Sport.

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