Spark and Sky join forces in new sports streaming bundle

Spark and Sky strike six-month sports deal

Starting next month Spark will offer its customers a streaming sports bundle that includes its own content and that of its rival Sky.

The move comes as Sky prepares to launch its own broadband service that will compete with Spark, among others. It is expected to launch early in the new year.

The offer is part of an initial six month commercial agreement between the two companies. Both partners are cagey about revealing the details of that agreement.

Martin Stewart, Sky's chief executive says his company has a partnership strategy of partnerships to get its content into the hands of as many viewers as possible. He points to existing partnership deals with Vodafone and TVNZ.

Partnership follows Lightbox–Neon merger

Last year Spark sold its Lightbox entertainment service to Sky. The broadcaster then merged Lightbox with its own Neon brand. Now Spark has a wholesale arrangement with Sky to sell this service to its customers.

There has been speculation that Spark was looking for a similar deal allowing it to exit the sport streaming market.

Spark says it will offer a combined Spark Sport-Sky Sport bundle for $50 a month to broadband and mobile customers who are on contracts.

Telco complaints reach eight year high

The Commerce Commission says the number of consumer complaints about telcos is increasing. As a result, Telecommunications Commissioner Tristan Gilbertson says the industry needs to lift its game. He is asking for industry views on what can be done to improve matters.

He says: “We’re asking for specific examples of the problems consumers are running into and views on how things could be done better. This will help us to understand what needs to change to make a meaningful difference for New Zealand consumers”.

Vodafone rolls out 5G roaming in four new markets

Vodafone says it has enabled 5G roaming in Australia, Taiwan, Latvia and Finland. The move comes at a time when local carriers have almost zero international roaming revenues. Tony Baird, wholesale and infrastructure director says Vodafone is taking action now to prepare for future demand.

Senior management changes at Chorus

Vanessa Oakley, Chorus general manager strategy and business operations and Ian Bonnar, general manager of corporate relations will leave the company early in the New Year. Both joined Chorus from Telecom. In recent years Oakley led the Chorus business transformation programme.

Starlink prepares New Zealand launch

At the New Zealand Herald Juha Saarinen joins the dots between SpaceX picking up licences for 22 satellite frequency bands and a report from MBIE that Elon Musk's Starlink plans two New Zealand earth stations. He says Starlink could have 30Gbps of capacity when, or if, it launches. This would rise to about 90Gbps, enough to support 10,000 users.

Qrious gains privacy certification

Spark's Qrious business unit has picked up ISO27701 certification. It's a new certification that shows a company has the processes and systems in place to manage and protect personal data. The move comes ahead of Privacy Act changes set to apply from December.