Spark Sport Pay Per View: Shutdown, Costs & Sky Alternatives

Spark Sport’s sports streaming service abruptly ended New Zealand UFC pay-per-view access in late 2022, with the telecom giant’s sports streaming arm announcing its shutdown on December 26, 2022, and the service going fully offline by mid-2023. The $39.95 NZD you once paid per UFC card now routes through Sky Sport Now — and the monthly subscription that once gave you flexibility now sits at $40. This guide lays out exactly what happened, why it happened, and what your options look like today for catching live sports PPV in New Zealand.

Spark Sport Launch: 2019 · Shutdown Announced: Dec 26, 2022 · UFC PPV Price: NZD$39.95 · Sky Sport Now Monthly: $40

Why did Spark Sport shut down?

Spark New Zealand officially announced on December 26, 2022, that its sports streaming service would cease operations, with full shutdown completing in the second half of 2023. The company cited “escalating content rights costs and a broader range of investment opportunities across the business” as the primary drivers behind the decision, according to Sportcal (media rights industry outlet). The platform had built its service around premium sports content — including rugby, cricket, and UFC — but the economics of competing against established broadcasters proved unsustainable.

Cost of content rights

New Zealand sports broadcasting rights carry significant price tags, particularly for marquee properties like the Rugby World Cup and UFC pay-per-view events. Spark Sport entered the market in 2019 specifically to challenge Sky Sport’s near-monopoly on pay TV sports rights, initially securing broadcast rights to the 2019 Rugby World Cup as a launch centerpiece, per Wikipedia. However, the cumulative cost of maintaining a diverse sports portfolio — combined with technical infrastructure expenses through the iStream Planet platform — created unsustainable financial pressure that ultimately forced the exit.

Market competition from Sky

Sky New Zealand held a dominant market position throughout Spark Sport’s operating years. While Spark briefly secured a shared UFC rights arrangement that ended Sky’s exclusivity, the competitive pressure of maintaining a challenger service against an established broadcaster with deeper sports rights relationships proved difficult. Sky subsequently strengthened its position by acquiring Formula 1 rights from Spark beginning in 2023, per Sportcal. The result: after Spark’s exit, Sky gained consolidated access to both UFC PPV and F1 — the two highest-profile motorsport properties globally.

Does Spark Sport still exist?

No. Spark Sport fully ceased operations in 2023, with the TVNZ takeover of most rights taking effect July 1, 2023. The service is no longer accepting new subscriptions, and existing subscribers have been migrated or refunded. Any UFC pay-per-view purchases made through Spark Sport prior to shutdown remain tied to that platform and cannot transfer to Sky Sport Now.

Current status

As of 2024 and into 2026, Spark Sport exists only as a historical reference. The streaming apps and websites are offline. New Zealand viewers seeking live sports streaming must now turn to Sky Sport Now for UFC PPV content, TVNZ for cricket and select Rugby properties, or Sky’s traditional pay TV service. No revival or spin-off service has been announced by Spark New Zealand.

Retired terms and access

Spark Sport retired its terms of service following the shutdown announcement. Purchased content — including any UFC events bought on a per-event basis — became inaccessible when the platform went dark. Unlike some streaming services that offer account portability during transitions, Spark Sport subscribers received no automatic pathway to Sky Sport Now. The iStream Planet platform’s discontinuation for third-party use, per Sportcal, prevented even a technical workaround for maintaining access.

What is pay per view in sports?

Pay-per-view (PPV) is a purchasing model where viewers pay a one-time fee to access a specific live event rather than committing to a monthly subscription. In combat sports, UFC numbered events represent the most prominent PPV product globally, with individual cards often priced between $39.95 and $79.95 depending on the market and marquee value of the fight. This model allows promoters to monetize major events without requiring fans to maintain ongoing subscriptions — a key revenue stream for organizations like UFC that operate a regular calendar of premium content.

PPV definition

PPV differs fundamentally from subscription streaming because the transaction is event-specific rather than time-based. When you purchase a UFC PPV through Sky Sport Now, you pay NZD$39.95 for access to that particular card — the fight event and its main card, typically comprising four to five bouts. You do not receive a recurring subscription; instead, you gain access to the live broadcast and any replay availability for 48 to 72 hours post-event, depending on the platform’s terms.

How PPV works for events like UFC

For UFC specifically, every numbered event (UFC 300, UFC 301, etc.) operates as a PPV. The pricing in New Zealand has remained consistent at NZD$39.95 whether purchased through Spark Sport during its operational period or through Sky Sport Now today. Major UFC cards — those featuring title fights or high-profile rivalries — typically generate the strongest PPV buy rates globally. Sky NZ confirmed in its official renewal announcement that fight fans “can continue to enjoy marquee UFC events live via Pay-Per-View,” per Sky NZ Official.

How much did Spark Sport cost?

Spark Sport’s pricing structure consisted of two components: a monthly subscription for general sports content and per-event charges for UFC pay-per-view cards. The monthly subscription cost $25, providing access to live streams across multiple sports properties including rugby, cricket, basketball, and motorsport. UFC PPV events were charged separately at NZD$39.95 per event — the same price point charged by Sky Sport at the time, per NZ Herald.

Monthly subscription

At $25 per month, Spark Sport undercut Sky Sport’s traditional pay TV pricing significantly. However, the monthly model excluded UFC PPV events, which required an additional one-time payment per card. This two-tier approach — base subscription plus PPV surcharges — meant serious fight fans could end up paying substantially more than the headline $25 monthly rate when major UFC cards occurred. The pricing model effectively subsidized casual sports viewers while extracting premium payments from the UFC-engaged audience.

PPV event pricing

The NZD$39.95 PPV price point applied consistently to UFC numbered events throughout Spark Sport’s operational period. When Spark and Sky announced their UFC rights sharing arrangement, NZ Herald reported that “Spark Sport will charge $39.95 for UFC pay-per-view events — the same price currently charged by Sky Sport and its streaming app Sky Sport Now.” This price consistency across providers suggests UFC’s global pricing influence extends to the New Zealand market without significant local markup.

Sky Sport Now as Spark Sport alternative for PPV?

Sky Sport Now inherited the UFC PPV rights that Spark Sport once shared, and today it represents the primary — and essentially sole — avenue for New Zealand viewers seeking live UFC pay-per-view events. The service operates as Sky’s direct-to-consumer streaming app, offering both monthly and weekly subscription options without requiring long-term contracts. UFC events at $39.95 per numbered card remain available through the platform, per Sky NZ Official.

Pricing and trials

Sky Sport Now subscription tiers break down as follows: a monthly pass at $40, a weekly pass at $20, or annual packages offering modest discounts for commitment. Importantly, these subscriptions cover regular Sky Sport programming (live sports across multiple codes) but do not include UFC PPV events — those still require the NZD$39.95 one-time payment per card. This structure mirrors what fight fans experienced with Spark Sport, except the base subscription costs $15 more per month. The precise current availability of free trial periods requires direct verification on the Sky Sport Now website, as promotional offers fluctuate.

How to subscribe for one month

Signing up for Sky Sport Now involves creating an account on the Sky NZ website or downloading the Sky Sport Now app (available on iOS, Android, and major smart TV platforms). The registration process requires payment details even for free-tier exploration. For viewers interested in UFC PPV events specifically, the workflow is: subscribe to Sky Sport Now ($40/month or $20/week), then purchase individual UFC event PPVs at $39.95 when cards occur. No annual commitment is required, which provides flexibility for fans who only want to tune in for specific fight events.

How to access sports PPV in New Zealand today

For New Zealand viewers seeking UFC or other premium sports PPV events, the pathway is now more consolidated than during the Spark Sport era. Sky Sport Now serves as the default destination for UFC numbered events, while TVNZ+ handles cricket and certain rugby properties. The following steps outline the practical process for accessing live sports PPV in New Zealand as of 2026.

1. Determine your sport of interest — UFC PPV routes through Sky Sport Now; Cricket and some Rugby through TVNZ+; Formula 1 through Sky Sport Now or Sky TV.
2. Create a Sky Sport Now account — Visit sky.co.nz or download the app. Registration requires email and payment method.
3. Choose subscription tier — $40/month, $20/week, or annual packages. Select the shortest commitment if you’re unsure about ongoing interest.
4. Purchase individual PPV events — UFC cards are listed separately in the app. Each numbered event costs NZD$39.95. Payment processes at checkout.
5. Access live broadcast — PPV purchases unlock the live stream and replay window (typically 48-72 hours). No additional hardware required beyond smart TV, streaming device, or mobile.
6. For Cricket via TVNZ — Download TVNZ app or visit tvnz.co.nz. Some cricket content remains free; premium cricket packages may apply.

“Spark has cited ‘escalating content rights costs and a broader range of investment opportunities across the business’ as key factors behind this decision.”

— Spark New Zealand, official company statement via Sportcal

“New Zealand fight fans across New Zealand can continue to enjoy marquee UFC events live via Pay-Per-View.”

— Sky NZ, official statement via Sky NZ Official

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