Spark Sport made free amid coronavirus cancellations

A view from outside Goodison Park, home of Everton Football Club, following Friday's announcement...
A view from outside Goodison Park, home of Everton Football Club, following Friday's announcement that the Premier League has suspended all matches until Saturday April 4. Photo: Getty Images
Spark Sport has been made free for all New Zealanders until May.

The streaming service has seen its signature content - Formula 1 racing, English Premier League football and NBA basketball - hit by coronavirus-related cancellations and postponements, decimating its live content, although the telco says it does have more than 1200 pieces of archive and documentary content.

Spark says existing users won't be charged. Those with suspended accounts can reactivate them.

Newbies should click on the "7-day" trial option, that now, despite the working, will run through until May. Credit card details are required, but with the option to cancel before the May billing cycle.

Spark shares have held up relatively well amid the market carnage, helped by an upgrade from influential Jarden analyst Arie Dekker, who along with colleague Grant Lowe, said its recent fall had put it inline - for the first time in five years - with their valuation.

Yesterday the telco - which earns a relatively tiny portion of its revenue from sport - saw its shares rise 2 per cent to 4.15.

Streaming rival Sky, which has much broader exposure to sport, saw its shares dive 22 per cent yesterday to an all-time low of 30.5c amid sports cancellations, entertainment companies putting productions on-hold and a slowdown in the ad market.

Across the Tasman, Premier League streaming rights holder Optus has been issuing refunds.

A spokeswoman for Sky had no comment on free offers and refunds being offered by the company's peers.