MAORI TELEVISION LAUNCHES FREE-TO-AIR RUGBY LEAGUE
Maori Television will consolidate its reputation as the home of New Zealand rugby league with the launch of exclusive free-to-air matches from the national competition every Saturday and Sunday at 2.00 PM from April 14-15.
League legends Tawera Nikau, Ritchie Barnett and Tony Kemp will join sports journalists Dale Husband and Te Arahi Maipi as commentators of two games every weekend from the New Zealand Rugby League National Premiership, the Bartercard Cup. The revamped television coverage – produced by Brendon Butt – will be delivered in English on Saturday, and Maori on Sunday.
The franchise-based competition is now entering its eighth season and has 10 teams: Auckland Lions, Tamaki Titans, Counties Manukau Jetz, Waitakere Rangers, Harbour League, Waicoa Bay Stallions, Northern Storm, Central Falcons, Wellington Orcas and Canterbury Bulls. Past championship winners include Canterbury Bulls (2000, 2003), Hibiscus Coast Raiders (2001), Mt Albert Lions (2002, 2004, 2005) and Auckland Lions (2006).
Maori Television executive producer of sport Bailey Mackey says the move to Saturday doubleheaders enables the channel to show the late game live on Saturday with the curtain-raiser filmed for delayed broadcast on Sunday. With just one split round required this year, the Bartercard Cup season will start later – April 14-15 – with the grand final scheduled for the weekend of September 8-9.
“Last year was a watershed year for rugby league on Maori Television,” Mr Mackey says. “As well as a live Bartercard Cup game every Monday night and a weekly review-preview show, we were also able to secure the free-to-air rights to the Tri-Nations tournament, making this top level international series available to all viewers for the first time.
“This level of television coverage of New Zealand rugby league is unprecedented and signals a new era for the sport in Aotearoa.”
The televised games are:
ROUND 1 – Mt Smart Stadium No 2 Ground, Auckland:
Saturday April 14 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Canterbury Bulls (live)
Sunday April 15 at 2.00 PM National Junior Competition 16s Final (delayed)
ROUND 2 – Mt Smart Stadium No 2 Ground, Auckland:
Saturday April 21 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Northern Storm (live)
Sunday April 22 at 2.00 PM Tamaki Titans v Central Falcons (delayed)
ROUND 3 – Mt Smart Stadium No 2 Ground, Auckland:
Saturday April 28 at 2.00 PM Auckland Lions v Canterbury Bulls (live)
Sunday April 29 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Harbour League (delayed)
ROUND 4:
Saturday May 5 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Canterbury Bulls (live)
Sunday May 6 at 2.00 PM Auckland Lions v Wellington Orcas (delayed)
ROUND 5:
Saturday May 12 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Counties Manukau Jetz (live)
Sunday May 13 at 2.00 PM Harbour League v Tamaki Titans (delayed)
ROUND 6:
Saturday May 19 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Wellington Orcas (live)
Sunday May 20 at 2.00 PM Tamaki Titans v Waicoa Bay Stallions (delayed)
ROUND 7:
Saturday May 26 at 2.00 PM Harbour League v Wellington Orcas (live)
Sunday May 27 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Waicoa Bay Stallions (delayed)
ROUND 8:
Saturday June 2 at 2.00 PM Tamaki Titans v Counties Manukau (live)
Sunday June 3 at 2.00 PM Harbour League v Northern Storm (delayed)
Saturday June 9 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Auckland Lions (live)
Sunday June 10 at 2.00 PM Waicoa Bay Stallions v Central Falcons (delayed)
ROUND 9:
Saturday June 16 at 2.00 PM Auckland Lions v Tamaki Titans (live)
Sunday June 17 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Harbour League (delayed)
ROUND 10:
Saturday June 23 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Auckland Lions (live)
Sunday June 24 at 2.00 PM Harbour League v Central Falcons (delayed)
ROUND 11:
Saturday June 30 at 2.00 PM Harbour League v Canterbury Bulls (live)
Sunday July 1 at 2.00 PM Auckland Lions v Central Falcons (delayed)
ROUND 12:
Saturday July 7 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Tamaki Titans (live)
Sunday July 8 at 2.00 PM Harbour League v Waicoa Bay Stallions (delayed)
ROUND 13:
Saturday July 14 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Waitakere Rangers (live)
Sunday July 15 at 2.00 PM Tamaki Titans v Harbour League (delayed)
ROUND 14:
Saturday July 21 at 2.00 PM Auckland Lions v Harbour League (live)
Sunday July 22 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Wellington Orcas (delayed)
ROUND 15:
Saturday July 28 at 2.00 PM Harbour League v Waitakere Rangers (live)
Sunday July 29 at 2.00 PM Tamaki Leopards v Northern Storm (delayed)
ROUND 16:
Saturday August 4 at 2.00 PM Tamaki Leopards v Auckland Lions (live)
Sunday August 5 at 2.00 PM Waitakere Rangers v Central Falcons (delayed)
ROUND 17:
Saturday August 11 at 2.00 PM Auckland Lions v Waitakere Rangers (live)
Sunday August 12 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Tamaki Leopards (delayed)
ROUND 18:
Saturday August 18 at 2.00 PM Tamaki Titans v Canterbury Bulls (live)
Sunday August 19 at 2.00 PM Counties Manukau Jetz v Central Falcons (delayed)
SEMI-FINALS: August 25-26
PRELIMINARY FINAL: September 1-2
GRAND FINAL: September 8-9
Book your seat on the sofa for the New Zealand Rugby League National Premiership – every Saturday and Sunday at 2.00 PM from April 14-15 – only on the home of New Zealand rugby league, Maori Television.
Loading ...