1
00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,520
Speaker 1: Now. SkyTV shares have had a bit of a bump

2
00:00:02,560 --> 00:00:05,320
Speaker 1: today after the PayTV provider announced a new deal with

3
00:00:05,360 --> 00:00:08,560
Speaker 1: Warner Brothers Discovery. Warner Brothers Discovery has decided it's not

4
00:00:08,560 --> 00:00:11,959
Speaker 1: going to launch its streaming service Max in New Zealand. Instead,

5
00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,080
Speaker 1: it's going to allow Sky to broadcast all the movies

6
00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:16,599
Speaker 1: in the shows on Max through Sky's various platforms and

7
00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:18,279
Speaker 1: so on. And this will mean shows like The Big Bang,

8
00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,000
Speaker 1: Theory and Friends and Rick and Morty will be available

9
00:00:21,000 --> 00:00:22,799
Speaker 1: on Neon when the deal kicks in at the end

10
00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:26,360
Speaker 1: of the month. Sophie Maloney is SkyTV's chief executive. Hey Sophie,

11
00:00:26,440 --> 00:00:26,960
Speaker 1: you're to hear that.

12
00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:27,920
Speaker 2: How you doing well?

13
00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:30,600
Speaker 1: Thank you? Now, these guys have launched Max in Australia,

14
00:00:30,640 --> 00:00:32,440
Speaker 1: so why didn't they want to launch Max here?

15
00:00:33,479 --> 00:00:36,760
Speaker 3: Well, we it's a long standing partnership with Warner Brothers

16
00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:40,400
Speaker 3: Discovery and we're just super excited that they've seen that

17
00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:43,000
Speaker 3: rather than going direct consumer and artia on New Zealand,

18
00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,040
Speaker 3: it's better to partner with Sky because we've got the

19
00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:46,800
Speaker 3: best customer base for them to engage them.

20
00:00:46,840 --> 00:00:48,800
Speaker 2: So we're really excited about the deal. Here.

21
00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,280
Speaker 1: Was it simple economics? Was it just that you guys

22
00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:53,360
Speaker 1: offered them more for the product than they could make

23
00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:55,680
Speaker 1: by going to hundreds of thousands of US for it.

24
00:00:56,840 --> 00:01:00,959
Speaker 3: I think there's economics and there's the ability to continue

25
00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:02,920
Speaker 3: to partner with us. I mean, our customer based across

26
00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,240
Speaker 3: Sky and Neon is impressive. So yeah, I'm sure that's

27
00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:08,440
Speaker 3: part of what they weighed up. But also there's a

28
00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:10,760
Speaker 3: there's a fair amount of effort that goes into direct

29
00:01:10,800 --> 00:01:12,800
Speaker 3: consumer for these players, and I think they looked at

30
00:01:12,800 --> 00:01:15,000
Speaker 3: the size of market and you know, we were the

31
00:01:15,000 --> 00:01:15,800
Speaker 3: best bet for them.

32
00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,160
Speaker 1: Why didn't they have that option in Australia.

33
00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,480
Speaker 3: That's Stephanie for the Aussie market and for those guys

34
00:01:22,480 --> 00:01:24,880
Speaker 3: to answer for you. What I am excited about is

35
00:01:24,920 --> 00:01:27,440
Speaker 3: that customers are not only going to get their favorite

36
00:01:27,440 --> 00:01:32,000
Speaker 3: titles from HBO Max, but yeah, lots of deep library

37
00:01:32,000 --> 00:01:33,839
Speaker 3: content that we haven't had access to before.

38
00:01:35,120 --> 00:01:37,280
Speaker 1: How long is it for because there is always the

39
00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,160
Speaker 1: risk obviously that this is just tiding them over for

40
00:01:40,200 --> 00:01:41,679
Speaker 1: a bit and then they go direct to consumer at

41
00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:42,399
Speaker 1: some stage.

42
00:01:42,760 --> 00:01:43,000
Speaker 2: Yeah.

43
00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:46,160
Speaker 3: No, we haven't talked about the term because it's commercially

44
00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,640
Speaker 3: sensitive and it's a pretty competitive landscape. As you'll appreciate, heither,

45
00:01:49,680 --> 00:01:51,200
Speaker 3: So we never talk about it in terms of our

46
00:01:51,280 --> 00:01:56,200
Speaker 3: entertainment deals. Suffice to say that I'm confident that we're

47
00:01:56,200 --> 00:01:58,480
Speaker 3: going to continue to partner really, really well, and of course,

48
00:01:58,520 --> 00:02:02,160
Speaker 3: of customers keeping showing the content with us, then there's

49
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:04,000
Speaker 3: no reason for Warner Brothers to launch direct.

50
00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,720
Speaker 1: Hey, so I saw that they actually paid you. It

51
00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:09,680
Speaker 1: looks like four to five million. What happened there?

52
00:02:10,480 --> 00:02:12,920
Speaker 3: Oh, look, that's just part of the we have to disclose,

53
00:02:13,480 --> 00:02:15,240
Speaker 3: you know, the how the deal works.

54
00:02:15,360 --> 00:02:17,280
Speaker 2: Because the prior deal is coming to an end.

55
00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:20,120
Speaker 3: We're basically prepaid for some content that we haven't managed

56
00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,240
Speaker 3: to play out by the launch date. So that's just

57
00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,280
Speaker 3: part of the mechanics of giving effect to the new deal.

58
00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:28,720
Speaker 1: Did you see Gregor Paul's column at the weekend? Which

59
00:02:28,760 --> 00:02:31,400
Speaker 1: one was that that was the one that asked whether

60
00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:33,600
Speaker 1: you in New Zealand, like as in SkyTV and New

61
00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,559
Speaker 1: Zealand Rugby are partners or competitors?

62
00:02:37,480 --> 00:02:40,160
Speaker 2: Yes? I did see that article, of course, And what's

63
00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:40,680
Speaker 2: the answer.

64
00:02:40,960 --> 00:02:44,760
Speaker 3: Yeah, well, I think that there's there's obviously always speculation.

65
00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:47,720
Speaker 3: Does New Zealand Rugby want to think about a direct

66
00:02:47,800 --> 00:02:51,680
Speaker 3: consumer play? From our perspective, we're very comfortable to have

67
00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:55,880
Speaker 3: that conversation, and we've got a a really important customer

68
00:02:55,919 --> 00:02:59,720
Speaker 3: base who loved their Rugby. And if New Zealand Rugby

69
00:02:59,760 --> 00:03:02,000
Speaker 3: wants to do some of that on their platform and

70
00:03:02,040 --> 00:03:04,440
Speaker 3: still partner with us, and we can think about free

71
00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:05,160
Speaker 3: to wear as well.

72
00:03:05,200 --> 00:03:06,639
Speaker 2: I think it's all part of it, right.

73
00:03:07,320 --> 00:03:10,000
Speaker 1: Aren't they already doing it through the streaming platform that

74
00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:10,480
Speaker 1: they've got.

75
00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:15,880
Speaker 3: They are doing it for markets offshore, and so they

76
00:03:15,880 --> 00:03:18,280
Speaker 3: do have the ability to do that like we used

77
00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:20,000
Speaker 3: to do with Rugby Pass. You might recall that we

78
00:03:20,080 --> 00:03:23,280
Speaker 3: said that as part of our solution, we sold that

79
00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:24,480
Speaker 3: to World Rugby.

80
00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:27,680
Speaker 2: So yeah, they've got that, they've got that capability. But

81
00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:28,800
Speaker 2: I suppose the read.

82
00:03:28,639 --> 00:03:32,600
Speaker 3: Across from this deal is that Warner Brothers Discovery looked

83
00:03:32,600 --> 00:03:34,960
Speaker 3: at the size of market and the audience opportunity and

84
00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:37,800
Speaker 3: revenue and decided it was better to partner with us,

85
00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:41,120
Speaker 3: take the check from us, and I suppose you could

86
00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:44,560
Speaker 3: make a read across to Rugby that said, we're very

87
00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,120
Speaker 3: comfortable to help Rugby with their global ambitions. We know

88
00:03:48,240 --> 00:03:50,680
Speaker 3: that that's been talked about a lot in terms of

89
00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:53,920
Speaker 3: the Silver Lake investment, so that for me is all

90
00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,120
Speaker 3: part of it. But yeah, in terms of this deal, Heather,

91
00:03:57,520 --> 00:03:59,640
Speaker 3: we're just super excited and we think you will be

92
00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,520
Speaker 3: because White Loaders will be with you on again soon.

93
00:04:03,560 --> 00:04:05,520
Speaker 1: I like what you're doing now. I'm not finished with Rugby.

94
00:04:05,560 --> 00:04:08,200
Speaker 1: We'll come back to that. Are you getting are you

95
00:04:08,200 --> 00:04:10,160
Speaker 1: getting the vibes from ends are that they want to

96
00:04:10,200 --> 00:04:12,680
Speaker 1: actually come They want to offer us the product the

97
00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,200
Speaker 1: games direct to consumer here in New Zealand as well

98
00:04:15,240 --> 00:04:16,160
Speaker 1: as the global market.

99
00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:18,880
Speaker 2: Well, we're in.

100
00:04:19,400 --> 00:04:23,400
Speaker 3: We're in good discussions with them about the local market

101
00:04:23,760 --> 00:04:28,960
Speaker 3: and having a conversation around what the value is, and

102
00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:33,160
Speaker 3: we certainly know that they've got ambitions to grow access to.

103
00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,760
Speaker 2: The All Blacks brand abroad.

104
00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,440
Speaker 3: We think there's a happy path to do that doing

105
00:04:38,480 --> 00:04:41,800
Speaker 3: a deal with us and having the content that we

106
00:04:41,839 --> 00:04:44,520
Speaker 3: will capture on the ground here for them to then

107
00:04:44,560 --> 00:04:48,600
Speaker 3: distribute offshore. So yeah, it's going to be definitely be

108
00:04:48,600 --> 00:04:49,839
Speaker 3: a big part of the conversation.

109
00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:52,440
Speaker 1: Okay. So I had assumed that the hold up in

110
00:04:52,520 --> 00:04:55,279
Speaker 1: the negotiations with you guys as to how it was

111
00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:57,359
Speaker 1: basically around how much you were going to pay for

112
00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,119
Speaker 1: this situation to continue, your partnership to continue, But now

113
00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:02,440
Speaker 1: sounds like maybe it may also be held up by

114
00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,560
Speaker 1: what their ambitions are and whether you are prepared to

115
00:05:04,560 --> 00:05:05,800
Speaker 1: accommodate that. Is that fair?

116
00:05:07,960 --> 00:05:10,000
Speaker 3: I think there's a whole bunch that goes into it.

117
00:05:10,040 --> 00:05:12,279
Speaker 3: There's also the rights that they're bringing to market. You know,

118
00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:15,599
Speaker 3: there's been a lot of talk about the New Nation's Cup,

119
00:05:16,560 --> 00:05:19,520
Speaker 3: which is the end of year tours and inbounds being

120
00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,080
Speaker 3: rolled up into a new rights package and so that's

121
00:05:23,120 --> 00:05:24,320
Speaker 3: something that we're keen to see.

122
00:05:24,360 --> 00:05:25,120
Speaker 2: What that looks like.

123
00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,760
Speaker 3: Is that there's value attached the all blacks heather as

124
00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:28,520
Speaker 3: you'll appreciate.

125
00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:30,280
Speaker 2: Yeah, so there's a whole.

126
00:05:30,040 --> 00:05:32,720
Speaker 3: Bunch of things that are in that conversation with New

127
00:05:32,800 --> 00:05:38,160
Speaker 3: Zealand Rugby, and yeah, we're excited to continue the conversation.

128
00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:39,919
Speaker 3: We know what the value of the rights are in

129
00:05:40,000 --> 00:05:42,360
Speaker 3: terms of what our customers are prepared to pay because

130
00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:44,920
Speaker 3: of the customers who are watching it and enjoying it,

131
00:05:45,560 --> 00:05:48,960
Speaker 3: and that all goes into the mix, right, So I'm

132
00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,680
Speaker 3: very keen to find a way to make sure our

133
00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:53,039
Speaker 3: customers can continue to.

134
00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:54,280
Speaker 2: Enjoy their Rugby on sky.

135
00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:56,960
Speaker 3: And of course we need to work with New Zealand

136
00:05:57,000 --> 00:05:59,360
Speaker 3: Rugby to see what their offshore ambitions are too.

137
00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:01,320
Speaker 1: How do you find Craig Fenton to work with.

138
00:06:02,760 --> 00:06:06,240
Speaker 3: Yes, So Craig and I've had a, yeah, a good relationship.

139
00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:08,120
Speaker 3: Has been a fair bit of time with him since

140
00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,200
Speaker 3: I met him at the Rugby World Cup last year.

141
00:06:10,320 --> 00:06:13,040
Speaker 3: So yeah, it was a big news to see today.

142
00:06:13,360 --> 00:06:16,600
Speaker 1: Yeah, apparently rubbed up some people the wrong way. By

143
00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:17,640
Speaker 1: the sounds of things it ends.

144
00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:20,920
Speaker 2: Are, I certainly wouldn't be able to comment on that.

145
00:06:20,960 --> 00:06:23,720
Speaker 1: I was totally fishing for gossip there, as you can tell. Now,

146
00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:25,480
Speaker 1: listen on to the stuff that you were telling me

147
00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,160
Speaker 1: about White Lotus. When is that arriving?

148
00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:30,720
Speaker 2: Hopefully January?

149
00:06:30,880 --> 00:06:32,760
Speaker 1: Guess a bit of a way. Have you tried watching

150
00:06:32,800 --> 00:06:37,440
Speaker 1: The Penguin? Yes, I love it, Sophie, I tried.

151
00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:37,600
Speaker 2: Well.

152
00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:39,760
Speaker 1: I've had to split one of the episodes up across

153
00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:41,960
Speaker 1: two nights because it was so grim and it's given

154
00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:44,000
Speaker 1: me nightmares. I mean, I don't know what that says

155
00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:45,960
Speaker 1: about me, but it seems like it's a really I'm

156
00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,120
Speaker 1: too old for that. It's quite a dark show, isn't

157
00:06:48,160 --> 00:06:48,920
Speaker 1: it is?

158
00:06:49,200 --> 00:06:52,960
Speaker 3: It is quite dark, but there's also some lightness to

159
00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:54,800
Speaker 3: it too. I think it's I think it's really clear

160
00:06:55,000 --> 00:06:57,400
Speaker 3: writing and filming the way they've done it I do

161
00:06:57,480 --> 00:06:58,360
Speaker 3: have another one for you.

162
00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:03,040
Speaker 2: Then. Have you watched it?

163
00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:03,360
Speaker 3: No?

164
00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,240
Speaker 1: I think I've seen it added it's been pushed at me.

165
00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:09,840
Speaker 2: Yeah, six part British crime drammer. I think you'll enjoy.

166
00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,280
Speaker 3: It's based on a real life story of Joan Hennington

167
00:07:13,120 --> 00:07:17,120
Speaker 3: Juell Thief. I'm not going to read, Sophie, what's that?

168
00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:19,080
Speaker 1: It's the one with Sophie Turner and it isn't it?

169
00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:20,280
Speaker 2: Yes? Correct? Yeah?

170
00:07:20,480 --> 00:07:23,400
Speaker 1: Missus Jonas all right, brilliant. I think, oh yeah, don't

171
00:07:23,400 --> 00:07:25,480
Speaker 1: worry about Sweetpee. That sounds freaky as I'll watch this

172
00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:26,880
Speaker 1: one instead. Appreciate it.

173
00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:28,240
Speaker 2: Yeah, enjoy it.

174
00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,040
Speaker 1: Thank you, Heather, Thank you very much, Sophie. Sophie Maloney's

175
00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,280
Speaker 1: Guide to be Chief Executive. For more from Hither Duplessy

176
00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,160
Speaker 1: Allen Drive, listen live to news Talks. It'd be from

177
00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,880
Speaker 1: four pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio