NPR

Kiwias wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:56 am Zarn Sullivan continues to impress.

Gumboot wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:41 pm

Kiwias wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:56 am Zarn Sullivan continues to impress.

He sure does.

I still think 10 is his best position, though.

Grandpa wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 8:47 pm

Gumboot wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:41 pm

Kiwias wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:56 am Zarn Sullivan continues to impress.

He sure does.

I still think 10 is his best position, though.

I agree.... hopefully the next Blues coach plays him there...

PS. I saw Rieko pass twice today!

Grandpa wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 8:47 pm

Gumboot wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 7:41 pm

Kiwias wrote: Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:56 am Zarn Sullivan continues to impress.

He sure does.

I still think 10 is his best position, though.

I agree.... hopefully the next Blues coach plays him there...

PS. I saw Rieko pass twice today!

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 10, 2023 6:23 am Chiefs win 29-20.

Kudos to the Reds, they really made a game of it.

Gumboot wrote: Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:33 am Really good defence by Mo'unga to shut down that overlap.

Intellectual property (IP) filings and a new domain name linked to NZ Rugby reveal a new platform which contains a clear potential for an enormous change in the way the organisation behind the All Blacks and Black Ferns manages its games. The new URL is nzrplus.co.nz, claimed by Drew Deakin, digital delivery manager at NZ Rugby on April 11. While not live yet, IP filings for NZR+ provide a window into the organisation’s intentions.

The filings arrived in early April to IPONZ, the government agency in charge of intellectual property. They allow for “broadcasting of rugby matches”, “streaming live sports events”, “sports ticketing”, “subscription broadcasting” and a large number of other potential business verticals. This raises the spectre of a new streaming platform which could allow NZ Rugby to sell access to All Blacks, Black Ferns, NPC or Farah Palmer Cup games via a paid subscription streaming service. Depending on which countries it’s sold in, this could imperil the close relationship between NZ Rugby and Sky, which has held NZ Rugby’s broadcast and streaming rights in New Zealand for decades.

This cannot happen until at least 2026, with Sky’s current deal with NZ Rugby, worth a reported $500m, running through the end of 2025. Sources familiar with the NZR+ project suggest it will launch as a much more modest platform prior to the 2023 men’s Rugby World Cup which kicks off in France on September 9 – less than three months away. The Spinoff understands that its initial incarnation will be a content site, dominated by video clips and short documentary-style footage, focused on getting fans behind-the-scenes with the All Blacks, Black Ferns, Sevens and other national representative sides.

However the filing describes something much more ambitious than a simple fan platform. Along with streaming games, it makes reference to software and platform as a service (SAAS and PAAS), both of which are the underlying technology and business models of subscription streaming. What it looks like is a product which might start as a benign platform for behind-the-scenes footage, but that should properly be understood as a way of building a database of members. They will ultimately become a group to which NZ Rugby hopes to sell NZR+ – a subscription service whereby superfans can purchase access to live and archive matches from across its portfolio of teams.

Dan54 wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:44 am Interesting to see how it all develops Guy. I know regardless I am tragic enough to know I will sign up as soon as anything comes on air anyway.

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:51 am

Dan54 wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:44 am Interesting to see how it all develops Guy. I know regardless I am tragic enough to know I will sign up as soon as anything comes on air anyway.

As soon as the Silver Lake deal was announced it was clear this would happen... broadcasters have had their day with more and more content moving to online streaming. Netflix and Spotify are the big names but there's a host of others and for a 'brand' like the ABs (NZR) its a logical way to control their product while maximising revenue.... without having to bend to the wishes of a broadcaster.

That last hasn't been a major issue in NZ because NZR bought into Sky... but as you and I know Dan, the Australian situation shows what can happen when your broadcast partner throws you down the pecking order of promotion. SkySport there neglected Rugby Union to the point of abuse and RA suffered as a result.


I think we'll see this new platform steadily develop from small beginnings so that by the time Sky's deal expires it will be a glitzy package that hopefully ticks all the right boxes.

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:22 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:51 am

Dan54 wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 4:44 am Interesting to see how it all develops Guy. I know regardless I am tragic enough to know I will sign up as soon as anything comes on air anyway.

As soon as the Silver Lake deal was announced it was clear this would happen... broadcasters have had their day with more and more content moving to online streaming. Netflix and Spotify are the big names but there's a host of others and for a 'brand' like the ABs (NZR) its a logical way to control their product while maximising revenue.... without having to bend to the wishes of a broadcaster.

That last hasn't been a major issue in NZ because NZR bought into Sky... but as you and I know Dan, the Australian situation shows what can happen when your broadcast partner throws you down the pecking order of promotion. SkySport there neglected Rugby Union to the point of abuse and RA suffered as a result.


I think we'll see this new platform steadily develop from small beginnings so that by the time Sky's deal expires it will be a glitzy package that hopefully ticks all the right boxes.

If it ticks the "lots more afternoon footy and stuff the NH telly audience" box, I'm in.

Grandpa wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:07 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:22 amIf it ticks the "lots more afternoon footy and stuff the NH telly audience" box, I'm in.

Depends which makes them the most money... Sky have said evening rugby brings in more viewers in NZ... so that will be the driver I presume?

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:49 am

Grandpa wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:07 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 5:22 amIf it ticks the "lots more afternoon footy and stuff the NH telly audience" box, I'm in.

Depends which makes them the most money... Sky have said evening rugby brings in more viewers in NZ... so that will be the driver I presume?

Yep, just as it's always been. So I'll just keep relying on good ol' streaming sites... as always.

Grandpa wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 11:05 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:49 am

Grandpa wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:07 am

Depends which makes them the most money... Sky have said evening rugby brings in more viewers in NZ... so that will be the driver I presume?

Yep, just as it's always been. So I'll just keep relying on good ol' streaming sites... as always.

I prefer daylight games... better conditions generally leads to better games...

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:29 am

Grandpa wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 11:05 am

Gumboot wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 8:49 am

Yep, just as it's always been. So I'll just keep relying on good ol' streaming sites... as always.

I prefer daylight games... better conditions generally leads to better games...

I guess there's a couple of hurdles facing the streaming model... the attraction of live games as opposed to watching at a suitable time for you, and the whole big screen at the pub thing. Nothing to stop a bar from streaming games I guess but there's a cultural shift wrapped up withing this that's going to present some serious challenges.

Grandpa wrote: Tue Jun 13, 2023 7:56 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:29 am

Grandpa wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2023 11:05 am

I prefer daylight games... better conditions generally leads to better games...

I guess there's a couple of hurdles facing the streaming model... the attraction of live games as opposed to watching at a suitable time for you, and the whole big screen at the pub thing. Nothing to stop a bar from streaming games I guess but there's a cultural shift wrapped up withing this that's going to present some serious challenges.

Sky (In the UK at least) will soon be like Amazon, a streaming service, as they look to make satellite dishes redundant. I've watched live matches on Amazon and they are fine. Most tennis seems to be on Amazon these days too. Plus you can watch on catch-up... so I don't think there will be much noticeable difference? Or am I misunderstanding what you are saying?

Sandstorm wrote: Tue Jun 13, 2023 7:58 am

Grandpa wrote: Tue Jun 13, 2023 7:56 am

Guy Smiley wrote: Tue Jun 13, 2023 4:29 am

I guess there's a couple of hurdles facing the streaming model... the attraction of live games as opposed to watching at a suitable time for you, and the whole big screen at the pub thing. Nothing to stop a bar from streaming games I guess but there's a cultural shift wrapped up withing this that's going to present some serious challenges.

Sky (In the UK at least) will soon be like Amazon, a streaming service, as they look to make satellite dishes redundant. I've watched live matches on Amazon and they are fine. Most tennis seems to be on Amazon these days too. Plus you can watch on catch-up... so I don't think there will be much noticeable difference? Or am I misunderstanding what you are saying?

My brother lives in the States and watches all his cricket and rugby on streaming services. Live or catch-up it’s identical to satellite TV.

Enzedder wrote: Tue Jun 13, 2023 6:52 am Angus Gardner has the Christchurch game; Nick Berry the Hamilton one

Blackadder strained his quad within a couple of minutes of being injected into last weekend’s quarterfinal against the Drua, ending the All Blacks’ loose forward’s first match since March in all too familiar fashion.

“Many weeks,” head coach Robertson said of the yet-to-be determined recovery timeline.

“He did a good job, as Ethan tends to do with it. We really feel for him, he trained so hard to get back, just his couple of little touches in that four minutes was pretty amazing...just shows what we’ve missed.”

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 2:14 am Blackadder is out... could be a long break from playing

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sup ... f-campaign

Blackadder strained his quad within a couple of minutes of being injected into last weekend’s quarterfinal against the Drua, ending the All Blacks’ loose forward’s first match since March in all too familiar fashion.

“Many weeks,” head coach Robertson said of the yet-to-be determined recovery timeline.

“He did a good job, as Ethan tends to do with it. We really feel for him, he trained so hard to get back, just his couple of little touches in that four minutes was pretty amazing...just shows what we’ve missed.”

Guy Smiley wrote: Wed Jun 14, 2023 4:27 am Imagine the Crusaders' season if those two had been fully fit?

The uncompromising nature of Blackadder’s on-field intensity was discussed on this week’s Aotearoa Rugby Pod episode, where Joey Wheeler praised Blackadder’s mentality as his biggest strength but also his biggest liability.

“The way he plays the game,”Wheeler said. “That (injury toll) is just a by-product of the style of footy player he is. He is rip, sh*t and bust. He has a complete disregard for his body and I think he is going to be in the triage ward a bit throughout his career.

“But he is the ultimate professional, super resilient and he always comes back bigger and stronger and a better rugby player for it.”

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ethan-bl ... er-injury/