TVNZ has now won exclusive rights for NZ Netball games next year. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
After months of negotiations, New Zealand Netball has secured a broadcast deal for the 2026 ANZ Premiership - and it will be free to air.
Sky Sport has been the major broadcast partner of New Zealand Netball since 2008, but the national body is going back to TVNZ - its first home.
How much TVNZ are actually paying for the rights, if any, is not being disclosed and it seems inevitable that players will have to take pay cuts next year.
TVNZ has been in cost-saving mode but Netball NZ will be hoping that by having the games all free-to-air, they will attract bigger sponsorship deals.
Last year Netball NZ and Sky TV agreed to a one-year extension to their broadcasting partnership. RNZ reported that it was a significantly reduced deal.
In 2024, Netball NZ trialled free-to-air coverage of the ANZ Premiership, showing Saturday games live on TVNZ. This year, Netball NZ produced the Saturday game, which screened exclusively on TVNZ, and Sky got it on delay.
TVNZ has now won exclusive rights for next year for the whole domestic competition. Games will be shown across TVNZ 2 and TVNZ+.
TVNZ head of sports, events and partnerships Melodie Robinson said netball was one of New Zealand's most popular codes and they were excited to have secured the competition.
"Our netballers are at the top of their game, they're powerful wāhine toa, and we're thrilled to be connecting tamariki with the heroes who inspire them, bringing the excitement straight into their homes each weekend."
Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie has welcomed the return of netball to free-to-air television, calling it a fantastic outcome for fans.
"Following a season where we've seen, strong broadcast numbers, fantastic match attendances and unprecedented global viewership, it's exciting to now have the opportunity for even more New Zealanders to enjoy the game. Netball is played and loved by hundreds of thousands across Aotearoa, and this move will help bring the sport closer to communities nationwide."
New rule innovations introduced this year, including the captain's timeout and the game changing two-point shot are set to return for the season to run Saturdays and Sundays starting in April.
The competition will follow the two-round format, played between the six domestic teams across the motu before the finals series.
There will be 30 round robin matches and two finals over a 12-week period.
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