Stan Sport commentator and former Wallaby Tim Horan was just on Wide World of Sports on 3AW, talking to host Jimmy Bartel about the new broadcast deal and its potential impact on rugby union in Australia in general.
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I’m well aware of that. However, you have to ask yourself: why would a company like DAZN—backed by a founder with supposedly substantial wealth—require an investment of this scale? The fact that it continually needs to rely on external funding sources, such as the Saudis, just to stay afloat after significant losses doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the health of the company or the viability of its business model longer term, does it?
Also, when you say ‘interesting’—in what way? I’d genuinely like to hear more.
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Every media business is going through to financial struggles as the world moves away from wholly advertising dependent platforms into subscription models, DAZN have obviously been through some financial issues (they almost collapsed around Covid times). But expansion requires investment (spend money to make money). So I wouldn’t be thinking their issues are as bad as they sound - could the house of cards come tumbling down? Sure. But I suspect more investments and purchases are on the way.
Would Nine Entertainment have been cleared to own a pay TV empire and lessen competition for sports rights? The idea of a FTA network that has a streaming sport platform then purchasing the only subscription service like it in Australia (sorry P+), would have made for an interesting hypothetical. I’m sure 7 and Paramount would be not too happy for what it meant for them in the marketplace.
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As the minimum, the final of the Women’s World Cup should also be shown live on Nine or 9Gem. The 2021 World Cup final in New Zealand was streamed on Stan Sport only and not shown on FTA.
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They’ve said it will be.
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Friday 6 June
Crusaders v Reds (Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch, 5.05pm AEST)
Saturday 7 June
Chiefs v Blues (FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 5.05pm AEST)
Brumbies v Hurricanes (GIO Stadium, Canberra, 7.35pm AEST)
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2025 Super Rugby Pacific semi final fixture
Friday, June 13
Crusaders v Blues (Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch (5.05pm AEST)
Saturday, June 14
Chiefs v Brumbies (FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, 5.05pm AEST)
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For the Lions Tour i wonder if they’ll have one stream with Sean Maloney and co and another one with the Sky Sports UK commentary. My guess they’ll take Sky for the Lions’ inaugural match in Ireland against Argentina on June 20. Fox did this in 2013, you could “press red” to hear the Sky commentary.
It will be yet another all-Kiwi Super Rugby grand final next Saturday (June 21), when the Crusaders host the Chiefs in Christchurch. Kick off is at 5.05pm AEST.
It will be the final Super Rugby match at the Apollo Projects Stadium.
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The four-week competition will take place in September, at the same time as AFL and NRL finals, with the final to take place on Sunday October 5, just hours before the NRL Grand Final.
Super Rugby AUS, Super Rugby U19 and Super Rugby U16 will be broadcast live and on-demand on Stan Sport.
With no Australian team in the Super Rugby grand final, I’m somewhat frustrated by Nine/Stan’s decision to run their own commentary rather than taking Sky NZ’s commentary like they do for every other NZ-based game.
It’s painfully obvious the game is being called remotely with the commentators having some difficulty identifying players when their number isn’t in shot.
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Fox didn’t do that in 2007; they took the South African commentary with Hugh Bladen. And they used Sky NZ for Grand Finals when it wasn’t a Aussie side involved. I agree they should have left it to Tony Johnson, Justin Marshall and Jeff Wilson to call it and let the Stan guys prep for the Lions tour.
Have to agree here, given that there was no Australian team in the Super Rugby grand final. But from what i saw Stan had 2 streams of the game- one with their own commentary, the other with NZ commentary.
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Did they? I must have missed the NZ option. I didn’t go looking through the sport section and just took the link to the game on the homepage. I’ll go looking next time…thanks for pointing it out 
PERTH SET TO IGNITE HISTORIC LIONS TOUR AS SIX WEEK RUGBY FESTIVAL SWEEPS THE NATION
The wait is finally over! After twelve years, one of the most iconic teams in world rugby has arrived, as the highly anticipated British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025 kicks off this Saturday, 28 June, with the Western Force hosting the Lions in Perth, 7:15pm AEST.
Fans across the country can catch every moment of the action with the most comprehensive Lions Tour coverage ever, available across Stan Sport, 9Now, and the 9Network.
Saturday’s series opener marks the start of a thrilling six-week rugby festival across Australia with all nine matches of the historic Tour streaming live and on demand on Stan Sport. Viewers will also have the option to enjoy an alternate stream featuring Sky Sports UK coverage of the entire Tour live and exclusive on Stan Sport - perfect for expats and Lions fans seeking a different perspective.
The three Wallabies v The Lions Tests will be streamed in stunning 4K on Stan Sport, broadcast free-to-air on the 9Network and streamed on 9Now.
Returning to Australia for the first time since 2013, The British & Irish Lions Tour is one of the most anticipated events on the global rugby calendar with more than 50,000 international fans set to descend down under.
The visitors bring a star-studded squad aiming to repeat their 2013 triumph and will begin their gruelling tour with matches against the four Australian Super Rugby Pacific clubs in Perth, Brisbane, Sydney and Canberra before taking on an invitational Australia-New Zealand XV in Adelaide. Their attention then turns to three blockbuster Tests against a resurgent Wallabies side at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium (19 July), the Melbourne Cricket Ground (26 July) and Sydney’s Accor Stadium (2 August).
Coverage of the Tour will be presented by a world-class expert lineup including some legends of the game. Hosts Michael Atkinson and Nick McArdle will be joined by former Wallabies greats including Michael Hooper (2013 Lions Tour), Tim Horan (1989 Lions Tour), Matt Burke (2001 Lions Tour), Justin Harrison (2001 Lions Tour) and Morgan Turinui as well as All Blacks legend Sonny Bill Williams (2017 Lions Tour), triple international Allana Ferguson and Aussie 7s gold medallist Alicia Lucas (née Quirk). Experienced caller Sean Maloney will breakdown all the action in commentary.
Offering insight from the touring side’s camp, former Lions and Rugby World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson will provide expert analysis across the three Wallabies v The Lions matches.
Coverage will also feature a specialised Raptor Cam, elevating the experience to another level by taking fans right into the heart of the action, with dynamic zooms and pans around the stadiums. Cutting-edge augmented reality graphics will also enhance the spectacle, delivering a premium viewing experience.
In addition to live and on-demand matches, viewers on Stan Sport can enjoy a huge lineup of shows throughout the week featuring the best analysis, match reviews and previews and the biggest unfolding storylines on and off the field.
Stan Sport’s exclusive lineup of daily shows includes:
Between Two Posts - Monday from 6pm AEST
Unpack the weekend’s action with our experts.
Lions Central - Tuesday from 6pm AEST
Lions update from on the ground as the Tour travels around the country.
Inside Lion - Wednesday 6pm AEST
Key analysis of the biggest stories on and off the field during the Tour.
Rugby Heaven: Lions Tour Edition - Thursday 6pm AEST
The Stan team comes to town to soak up all the atmosphere ahead of the next game.
Captain’s Run - Friday 6pm AEST
One last look previewing the teams for the next day’s match.
British & Irish Lions Tour to Australia 2025 Match Schedule:
Western Force v The Lions
Optus Stadium, Perth
Saturday, 28 June
Live & Exclusive on Stan Sport from 7:15pm AEST
Queensland Reds v The Lions
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wednesday, 2 July
Live & Exclusive on Stan Sport from 7:30pm AEST
New South Wales Waratahs v The Lions
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, 5 July
Live & Exclusive on Stan Sport from 7:30pm AEST
ACT Brumbies v The Lions
GIO Stadium, Canberra
Wednesday, 9 July
Live & Exclusive on Stan Sport from 7:30pm AEST
AUNZ Invitational XV v The Lions
Adelaide Oval
Saturday, 12 July
Live & Exclusive on Stan Sport from 7:30pm AEST
Wallabies v The Lions
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Saturday, 19 July
Live in 4K on Stan Sport & Live on 9Now and the 9Network from 7:00pm AEST
First Nations & Pasifika XV v The Lions
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
Tuesday, 22 July
Live & Exclusive on Stan Sport from 7:30pm AEST
Wallabies v The Lions
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Saturday, 26 July
Live in 4K on Stan Sport & Live on 9Now and the 9Network from 7:00pm AEST
Wallabies v The Lions
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Saturday, 2 August
Live in 4K on Stan Sport & Live on 9Now and the 9Network from 7:00pm AEST
The Lions Tour forms part of a blockbuster lineup of sport on Stan in the coming months including Wimbledon (30 June - 13 July), All Blacks v France Test Series (5, 12 & 19 July), the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 in England (23 August - 28 September) and the UEFA Super Cup (13 August) streaming live and on demand on Stan Sport as well as an epic boxing showdown, SBW v Paul Gallen live and exclusive on Stan Pay-Per-View on 16 July.
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SHUTE SHIELD on FTA from round 14 on 9Gem in Sydney
Saturday 12 July 3:00 PM
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Glad that the Sydney Shute Shield is back on air.
This is Round 14 of the current competition. I have to wonder why 9Gem always starts its coverage of this comp half way though the season?
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I am one of the Camera Operators for Shute Shield.
Its been another fun season covering it again for Stan Sport
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