Sky Television New Zealand will be the host broadcaster for the next Rugby World Cup, to be held in the country in 2011, after agreeing a deal with organisers Rugby World Cup Limited. The deal will see Sky produce coverage of all 48 World Cup matches to be distributed to RWCL's global broadcast partners. Every game will be available in high definition.

The arrangement, negotiated by international agency IMG, is indicative of the new-found support Sky NZ appears to be receiving from the country's government. That could also see Sky-owned Prime TV win the rights to free-to-air broadcasts in New Zealand - Sky NZ will broadcast every match on its own pay-TV channels, but the free-to-air rights are sold separately - with the New Zealand Herald newspaper reporting: 'Indications are that the present government would be relaxed with a Sky/Prime deal and Sky increasing its all-pervasive dominance of free to air rights. Earlier this week the government announced that it has hastened the scrapping of proposals that called for regulation of Sky - including shutting Sky out of some iconic sports rights for them to be set aside for free-to-air television.'

The International Rugby Board claims that the World Cup is the third most watched sporting event in the world, behind only the Fifa World Cup and the Olympic Games. The last World Cup, held in France in 2007, was screened in more than 200 countries worldwide, and attracted a cumulative audience of more than four billion.

"Rugby World Cup Limited is delighted to be working with Sky Television New Zealand," said RWCL managing director Mike Miller. "Sky NZ is a proven world leader in rugby broadcasting. The appointment is wonderful news for rugby fans in New Zealand who will be able to see every RWC 2011 match live. The appointment of the host broadcaster is a major element of the delivery of a world-class sporting event and we are confident that SKY NZ’s professionalism, in-depth Rugby knowledge and high level of production skills will enhance the enjoyment of what promises to be a spectacular tournament for billions of fans around the world."

As well as its live coverage, Sky NZ will offer a comprehensive number of replays of every match and magazine programmes. It will also provide an International Broadcast Centre in Auckland for other licenced broadcasters to process RWC footage.

"We are honoured to have been appointed and I am confident that we will deliver excellent coverage of all the games, which will be seen by an estimated four billion television viewers worldwide," said Sky NZ chief executive John Fellet. "Sky is excited to be involved in what promises to be the biggest sporting event ever to be staged in New Zealand and will deliver live coverage of all 48 Rugby World Cup games to its subscribers. To undertake the role of Host Broadcaster is also an exciting challenge and a testament to the knowledge and operational skills that our production teams have shown in their coverage of national and international sports events since Sky began broadcasting in New Zealand in May 1990."