Sideline Sid Sports correspondent & historian www.sunlive.co.nz

The news that Spark Sport was dumping its foray into the sport streaming market was the perfect holiday season gift for this forever sports fan.

Spark Sport went head to head with Sky Television, on the back of securing New Zealand broadcast rights to various world rugby events, including the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

They then brought the rights to several other iconic world sports including Formula 1 motor racing and the EPL (English Premier League). This meant that many Kiwi sports fans were then forced to shell out their hard earned dollars, for two, pay to view sports subscriptions.

Following the 2019 RWC, Spark Sport secured a six-year broadcast deal with NZ Cricket to stream all domestic and international cricket played within New Zealand.

This action, heated up the war between Spark Sport and Sky Sport who had held the cricket screening rights for 25 years.

For the past three years, New Zealand cricket fans have been in the middle of a ridiculous situation, where to watch the Black Caps in New Zealand required a Spark Sport subscription, while when they toured overseas. The games were shown on Sky Sport.

While the Sport Spark departure won't happen until the middle of 2023, there is already light at the end of the tunnel. With much of this seasons NZ Cricket Super Smash, being televised live by TVNZ this summer.

This telegraphs, the change of televised cricket from a subscription service back to free to air viewing, on TVNZ.

It was interesting to note the Spark CEO corporate speak on the death of Spark Sport." It has been challenging to reach the scale we aspired to across the Spark Sport platform."

"No new venture is without risk and we recognise that this news will be disappointing for our valued customers and partners and dedicated Spark Sport team."

These were weasel words – which really meant, that we didn't sell enough Spark Sport subscriptions and that we lost a truck load of money.

The phrase of 'stick to your knitting' which translates to, people or organisations that continue to do something that they are experienced at and do not try to do something different about which they know every little - comes to mind when describing the Spark Sport fiasco.

The Dream 11 Super Smash kicks off this Friday (23 December 2022) at the Bay Oval. with a double header, where the Northern Brave Men's and Women's teams take on their Canterbury counterparts.

The good news for Western Bay cricket fans, that can't be at Blake Park to catch the live action, is that both games will be shown live on TVNZ.

Another Super Smash double header from the Bay Oval will be screened on the 22nd January 2023, with many of the Super Smash games available on TV1 or Duke Channels.

The bad news is that the 2023 Super Smash playoffs, will be off limits to all but Spark Sport subscribers, however all that will change next New Zealand cricket season when cricket arrives permanently back on free-to-air television.