Rugby World Cup 2011

The announcement that New Zealanders will be able to watch live free-to-air broadcasts of key Rugby World Cup matches across Maori TV, TVNZ and TV3, in addition to coverage on Sky, will pose some significant challenges for advertisers.

While full details of coverage remain to be announced questions are already being asked on how channels will differentiate their offering, and with parallel broadcasting of the same event, how viewership will play out? And what will it mean for viewership of non-rugby programmes in September and October next year.