TVNZ chooses AsiaSat 5 to deliver live coverage of 2018 Commonwealth Games

20 March 2018

Asia Satellite Telecommunications Company Limited (AsiaSat) and Television New Zealand (TVNZ) have collaborated to deliver live coverage of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games via AsiaSat 5.

This collaboration is integral to TVNZ’s extensive plan of providing the largest-ever free to air coverage of the Games in New Zealand and enabling broadcast rights-holders in the Asia-Pacific region to have full access to the event’s live coverage and daily highlight packages.

The 2018 Commonwealth Games, taking place on the 4th to 15th of April in Australia’s Gold Coast, will gather more than 6,600 athletes and team officials from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories.

Commonwealth Games coverage by TVNZ, New Zealand’s leading free to air broadcaster, will be distributed through AsiaSat 5’s wide C-band beam to rights-holding broadcasters in Asia in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union and TVNZ’s sub-licensees in the Pacific region. Event coverage will include the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies, as well as 11 days of live and replayed television action showcasing athletes competing in 18 sports and seven para-sports across 18 sports venues.

As the exclusive broadcast rights holder for New Zealand, TVNZ will deliver live coverage, replays and highlights across TVNZ 1, TVNZ Duke, new pop-up channel Games Extra and fully streamed channel Games Online for sports fans.

Barrie Woolston, Chief Commercial Officer of AsiaSat says, “The Commonwealth Games is a significant feature in the 2018 sporting calendar. We are delighted to have the privilege of working with TVNZ and the ABU to bring this wonderful event to wider audiences in New Zealand, the Pacific and across Asia. We look forward to the great success of the Games next month.”

John West, TVNZ Executive Vice President – Sports says, “TVNZ’s coverage of the Commonwealth Games is our most ambitious event ever. AsiaSat was chosen as part of our delivery solution due to its wide footprint in the region and proven record in the delivery of major events coverage.”