Its an article on media happenings for the week
Big names in musical chairs; NBR's subs battle heats up; Writer's Disputes Tribunal win.
www.nzherald.co.nz
From the article above....
Changes in Sport
When it comes to sport, Sky has renewed its biggest contract of all – All Blacks and Super Rugby rights – for the next five years, and it takes back domestic cricket from TVNZ (and before that Spark Sport) later in the year.
However, it’s also facing renewed competition from a revamped and recharged TVNZ, whose new digital technology allows it to compete more strongly for sports rights.
TVNZ, for example, has the rights to this year’s Football World Cup and will offer a mix of select free-to-air and all-you-can-eat pay options for viewers.
With that as a strategic backdrop, Sky has already reshaped its sports team. Those and other changes are starting to come into the picture.
The changes include the departure of one of Sky TV’s longest-serving and best-known sports broadcasters,
Stephen McIvor.
He has been a regular face and voice on Sky’s sport channels since the broadcaster’s inception in 1990. Originally a full-time staff member, he has more recently worked as a freelance contractor for the company.
Across more than three decades, his various roles have included presenting the likes of Warriors league coverage, motorsport, special shows and – last week, for the final time – the ASB Classic men’s tennis.
He has also been the face of several high-profile overseas assignments, including the 2024 America’s Cup in Barcelona, where British skipper
Sir Ben Ainslie infamously misinterpreted a comment from the Kiwi commentator calling him a “f***ing w***er” on a live mic.
Media Insider approached Sky about McIvor’s departure, which – until then – had not been announced by the company.
“Stephen has brought passion, heart and showmanship to every broadcast,” said Healy. “Always professional and understanding the need to entertain, he leaves an indelible mark on our viewers and our industry, and we thank him wholeheartedly for his outstanding contribution.”
McIvor says he’s not done as a broadcaster. He has been juggling his freelance TV work with a range of MC gigs and working as a communications consultant with corporates.
“Thirty-five years: it’s been fun, and I think I’ve seen the best of times in making TV with some really cool people,” McIvor told Media Insider.
“I love live telly, it’s my passion, but this market is tiny, so opportunities are few and far between, but you never know. My phone is always on.”
McIvor’s departure comes amid a big shake-up within Sky Sport – 12 roles have been cut and 11 new ones introduced under a new strategy to introduce more entertaining sports shows to complement live coverage.
Sky’s sports content boss,
Gary Burchett, an experienced former head of news at Fox News in Australia and Disney Star broadcast executive in India, has firm ideas and plans for more sports entertainment content out of Sky’s Mt Wellington studios, say insiders.
Central to these plans is
Laura McGoldrick – one of Sky’s best talents. She is a cricket tragic, so will undoubtedly form part of the backbone of that new on-air cricket team. She’s also a superb presenter for All Blacks and Warriors live coverage.
Part of the changes in sport also include an overhaul of Sky’s Warriors NRL commentary team, with Glen Larmer moving to other sports.
“Beavan Dewar is Sky’s principal caller for Warriors men’s matches. This was put in place towards the end of the 2025 season and will continue through 2026," said Healy.
“Glen Larmer remains a valued member of our Sky Sport commentary team. I don’t have anything to share today in terms of what he will be calling this year.”
