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New Zealand’s Sky Network is spending €37 million on the acquisition of RugbyPass, which runs a live streaming rugby service across Australia, Asia and Europe.

Ireland-based RugbyPass reaches 40 million rugby fans a month and is the rights holder of SANZAAR, the international rugby competition involving Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 62 countries across Asia and Europe, including 39 exclusively.

Explaining the acquisition, Sky Network Television Ltd Chief Executive Martin Stewart stated “RugbyPass has established itself as an important player in the sport streaming world. It has the ability to reach rugby fans in markets that are not currently well-served with rugby content, and a strong growth plan for more markets.

“Sky’s investment will support that growth plan, including by leveraging our capabilities of developing rugby communities and providing high quality and engaging rugby content.

Sky, which is a separate entity to Comcast’s European company, has been bolstering its rugby coverage against telecommunications provider Spark.

Earlier this month it launched the Sky Sport Now app that gives online access to Sky Sport channels online within New Zealand. It ha also acquired the naming rights to the Wellington Regional Stadium from 2020.

RugbyPass Chief Executive, Tim Martin added “we’re delighted to be joining the Sky family. RugbyPass was created as a market disruptor to help bring rugby to a younger, internet savvy audience on a global scale. Rugby is a growth sport globally and we estimate there are 120 million rugby fans around the world, many of them in developing rugby markets where rugby is a secondary sport and access to content can be difficult.”

Launched in 2016, RugbyPass broadcasts live in 63 countries and is the largest publisher of rugby content in the world.

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