The uncertainty and quality of internet services in New Zealand is the biggest turn-off for Otago-based English Premier League fans after plans were unveiled for the league's coverage in New Zealand next season.
The successful bidder for the rights to show the league in New Zealand, Coliseum Sports Media Management, will offer an online-only season pass starting from $149 for the season.
Match passes will be available for $24.90 each.
Delayed coverage of one match a week will be shown on TVNZ, along with a one-hour highlights package on Monday nights.
Dunedin man Paul Le Comte, a loyal Everton fan, is a convert to online TV content, but has little faith in New Zealand's broadband infrastructure to deliver a good product.
''I'm a football nut and will watch two to three games on a Sunday morning with my boys, but that's on MySky recorded content from the night before on a 41-inch high definition TV,'' Le Comte said.
''The new rights owner is talking about how they're big on mobile devices. Who watches sport - the best friend of 41-inch-plus HD TVs - on a four-inch mobile screen, with their mates?''Mosgiel man Warren Ramsay, a supporter of Manchester United, plans to stick with the TV One weekly replay for the time being.
He has no great interest in watching games on his computer, but is investigating how to run the internet feed through to his television if he does decide to spend $149 on a season pass.
''Looking at getting it off the TV, you've got to get that HDMI cord and connect it to your TV, which I guess is not the end of the world,'' Ramsay said.
The one game a week on TV One will be a teaser for Ramsay as he makes his mind up whether to shell out the cash for the season.
''That's the Saturday game in England and a lot of the good games are played on a Sunday in England,'' he said.
''But it's good they're going to show something free-to-air, which is good for some people.''
Ramsay believes the Coliseum initiative could be an intruiguing test case for New Zealand sports coverage.
''It'll be interesting to see how many people pick up the $149 pass,'' he said.
''Knowing a lot of football people, I'd say a lot will be disappointed but they'll probably think they'll go with TV One for a start and see if they can survive on that.
''I'm betwixt and between. I'm not sure at this stage. I've got two months to work it out.''
FootballSouth general manager Bill Chisholm said from his organisation's perspective, he hoped the league would still be accessible to football fans in Otago, especially with the emphasis on an internet service.
The absence of the Premier League from Sky would make him reconsider his own subscription.
Paul Dennison, a Spurs fan, echoed Le Comte's concerns about the capabilities of the New Zealand broadband network to deliver high-quality vision and audio for live sports events.
While the money would not be the driving factor for him to cancel his Sky subscription, a lack of alternative viewing options on Sky - ''like the Kardashians'' - would perhaps have the greater say.
