Spark secures the broadcast rights to Formula 1 in New Zealand

New Zealand telecommunications company Spark will have Formula 1 join their extensive range of motorsport content, after securing the broadcast rights for the next three years.

Starting in 2019, Spark’s range of motorsport content will now include Formula Two, the GP3 Series and Porsche Super Cup Series.

The company has also confirmed further sporting deals will be announced in the coming weeks, as their new over-the-top (OTT) streaming service launches next year.

Head of sport for Spark, Jeff Latch said: “Formula One has a substantial and passionate following in New Zealand.

“This sport is ideally suited to being broadcast on a modern streaming platform, like the one Spark will offer to the New Zealand audience.

“Our streaming service will fit around you, rather than requiring you to schedule your life around when a particular sports event is being shown.”

Earlier this year, Spark also gained the rights to the upcoming 2019 Rugby World Cup as well as English soccer’s Premier League from next August in a three-year deal.

Formula One media rights manager, Michaella Snoeck added: “Our focus is to provide fans with greater accessibility to coverage across all devices which the Spark sports platform will provide and further ways of watching and consuming Formula One content will be rolled in during the course of our agreement.”

Spark’s Formula One coverage clicks into gear at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix in March.