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Sky Television today assured viewers that free-to-air coverage will be available if the company takes over as rights holder of the Commonwealth Games from TVNZ.

Sky spokesman Tony O'Brien said a proposal had been received from current rights holder TVNZ, which has broadcast the Games for the past 40 years.

"If Sky is the successful bidder, as with the 2010 and 2012 Olympic Games, New Zealand viewers will be guaranteed comprehensive free-to-air coverage," he said in a statement.

Mr O'Brien could not provide details on the coverage, such as which channel it would be shown on or whether the free coverage would be delayed.

However, some indication may be taken from plans to air the winter and summer Olympics on Prime Television for 12 and 22 hours a day respectively.

TVNZ spokeswoman Megan Richards said it had been looking to offload broadcast rights after it was estimated the state broadcaster faced a loss of $5 million on the Games.

She said in previous years it was possible to absorb this loss in the interest of keeping such international events on free-to-air channels.

"In this economic climate that's not something that's manageable for us. We have no reserves and no buffer any more.

"So the plan B was to put that proposal to Sky."

Any deal would require the approval of the Commonwealth Games Committee in India which was expected to be sought in the next few weeks.

Ms Richards said the move did not signal an end to TVNZ bidding on international events and it would still be pursuing the rights to the Rugby World Cup in 2011 – although its bid would reflect "our financial position".

She said it was likely TVNZ would look to shared coverage deals in the future to lower costs.

Progressive Party leader Jim Anderton said today New Zealand was one of the only countries in the world not to have legislation protecting free-to-air viewing of popular sporting events.

Britain, Canada, Australia and other European countries ensured free-to air-viewing, but New Zealand had "left the stable door open and the horse has well and truly bolted".

The showing of next year's games on Sky was "part of a trend towards pay TV of iconic event which we've taken as part of our culture", Mr Anderton said.

Governments past and present had put the issue in the "too hard basket" and elderly and low-income people were missing out, he said.

Many sportspeople were mentors and idols for young children, he said.

A spokeswoman for Broadcasting Minister Jonathan Coleman said he would not comment at this stage.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee, which also looks after the Commonwealth Games team, said today broadcasting arrangements were made with the international organisation, in this case the Commonwealth Games Federation.

However, the original broadcaster would have signed up to certain responsibilities and those would still hold for any new broadcaster, communications manager Ashley Abbott said.

She said the committee, which spends about $20 million every four years sending teams to games, would still expect a wide percentage of the population to be able to view the games.

(Source: stuff.co.nz)