Stuff And WBD To Bring America's Cup To Aotearoa With Most Accessible And Innovative Coverage Ever

Stuff Group and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) are partnering with Emirates Team New Zealand to provide the most extensive, 24/7, live and lively coverage of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup ever as Emirates Team New Zealand defends the Auld Mug in Barcelona.

Together, Stuff and WBD reach more than 90% of New Zealanders aged 15+, making this the most accessible America’s Cup for New Zealand audiences ever. With every race live and free via multichannel, multidimensional coverage across stuff.co.nz, Three and ThreeNow, New Zealanders can experience all the events of the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup when and how they want to.

The Barcelona Preliminary Regatta begins August 22 followed by the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger series, Puig Women’s America’s Cup, UniCredit Youth America’s Cup and October’s Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup Match. All are part of Stuff and WBD’s comprehensive coverage.

Every race will be available live, replayed in full at breakfast time, and available in full on-demand. A hub on New Zealand’s largest news website stuff.co.nz will deliver comprehensive highlights and news.

Emirates Team New Zealand CEO Grant Dalton says: “Typically with Emirates Team New Zealand, we look to do things differently, to innovate and do things better. So, when considering the coverage of the America’s Cup in New Zealand it was no different. When we started talking with Stuff and WBD, it was clear they are approaching the new media landscape in a similar bold way by challenging conventions and viewing event coverage from a 24-hour multi-platform perspective, that caters for all New Zealanders in whatever way they consume live sports, replays and news stories from on the ground in Barcelona.

“I don’t think it could be covered more extensively in a media partnership if we tried, so we are very excited to bring this America’s Cup coverage to New Zealand live and free with Stuff and WBD.”

Stuff Digital Managing Director Nadia Tolich says: “Hard on the heels of our partnership to deliver a new ThreeNews 6pm bulletin for WBD, partnering with them for live coverage of the America’s Cup will mean New Zealanders can watch the races from their mobile phones in bed, on their laptops or on a TV screen.

“Stuff is Aotearoa’s new home of live sport. Kiwis trust us to cover the big events brilliantly - from the Rugby World Cup which brought 4.6 million unique visitors to Stuff, to the excitement of the Davis Cup tennis and the Fifa Women’s World Cup.

“Our coverage will include insights and analysis from experts on the ground with fantastic opportunities for audience engagement in our live blogs. We’re excited about reporting on all the colour from Barcelona, from the personalities pier-side to the people in the plazas.”

WBD VP Head of Networks Australia and New Zealand Juliet Peterson says the company is proud to be helping all New Zealanders take part in this moment of national significance.

“There are few moments that stop and unite Aotearoa like the America’s Cup, and our partnership with Stuff and Emirates Team New Zealand means all New Zealanders can stop and be united, wherever they are and on whichever device they choose,” says Peterson. “While we will continue to bring local audiences the magic of gathering around the TV to watch the racing live - or replayed over breakfast for those deeper sleepers - the days of being limited to watching the racing on one platform, at one time, are well and truly behind us.

“As Emirates Team New Zealand embarks on an historic attempt to bring home the Auld Mug for a fifth time, and our women and youth teams make their first attempts at the Puig and UniCredit America’s Cups, this partnership means more New Zealanders will be right there alongside them as they make us proud in Barcelona.”

Stuff Brand Connections Managing Director Matt Headland says bespoke multichannel commercial opportunities will be available across Stuff, Three and ThreeNow.

“The America’s Cup is one of the biggest events on the 2024 sporting calendar for New Zealand, and in an Olympic year that’s saying something. A range of brand integration opportunities will be on offer, from live broadcast times to replay packages right throughout the next day and the dedicated America’s Cup hub on Aotearoa’s largest digital news site stuff.co.nz.”

WBD Senior Director, Revenue James Hole adds, “This partnership is not only good news for viewers, but great news for advertisers who want to connect with this large-scale and highly engaged audience. WBD and Stuff already reach 92% of the 15+ audience in New Zealand, and with a major event like the America’s Cup, we expect that could be even higher.”

Live racing coverage begins with the Barcelona Regatta on 22 August 2024, and finishes with the Louis Vuitton 37th America’s Cup from 12-27 October.

About Stuff Group

Proudly independent and New Zealand-owned, Stuff connects with more than 3.4 million Kiwis every month across its major businesses, delivering quality news, content and experiences that help make Aotearoa a better place. Stuff Digital has unrivalled reach across the nation through

number one news website stuff.co.nz and homegrown social network Neighbourly. Stuff Masthead Publishing connects with audiences through subscriber-led digital and printed metropolitan, regional and community publications, as well as a range of much-loved consumer magazines. Stuff Brand Connections arms advertisers and partners with a comprehensive range of cross-media advertising and Stuff Events solutions.

About Warner Bros. Discovery ANZ

Warner Bros. Discovery (Nasdaq: WBD) is a leading global media and entertainment company that creates and distributes the world’s most differentiated and complete portfolio of content and brands across television, film and streaming. Available in more than 220 countries and territories and 50 languages, Warner Bros. Discovery inspires, informs and entertains audiences worldwide through its iconic brands and products including: Discovery Channel, discovery+, CNN, DC, Eurosport, HBO, HBO Max, HGTV, Food Network, OWN, Investigation Discovery, TLC, Magnolia Network, TNT, TBS, truTV, Travel Channel, MotorTrend, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Games, New Line Cinema, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Turner Classic Movies, Discovery en Español, Hogar de HGTV and others.

About The America’s Cup

The America’s Cup is the oldest international sporting trophy dating back to 1851– and stands as one of the hardest sporting endeavours. The New York Yacht Club, one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, held the trophy for 132 years before losing it in 1983 to Australia. Since then, the Cup has only been won by teams from the United States, Switzerland and New Zealand. The current Defender of the America's Cup is Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron.

The 37th America’s Cup will take place between August and October 2024 in the beating heart of Barcelona, one of the most visited cities on planet earth. Situated around Port Vell and out along the beach to Port Olympic, the sailing world has made Barcelona their home for what promises to be one of the most intense America’s Cups in the event’s 173-year history.

About Emirates Team New Zealand

Emirates Team New Zealand, representing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, is the current Defender of the America’s Cup.

The most successful team in recent America’s Cup history, they have won the America’s Cup 4 times: 1995, 2000, 2017 & 2021. Furthermore they have won the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series four times (1995, 2007, 2013, 2017).

Over its history, the team has come to typify many of New Zealand’s values – a can-do attitude, teamwork, innovation, technology and accepting a challenge no matter how difficult.

With a strong kiwi identity, the team of around 150 people is a mix of familiar faces and new blood, looking for the best sailors, most innovative designers, shore crew and boat builders. On the 12th of October 2024 Emirates Team New Zealand will face the winner of the Louis Vuitton Cup in the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Match with the sole objective of winning the America’s Cup for an unprecedented 3rd time in a row and 5th time overall.

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