SENZ launch: Hutchy in Auckland with talent from New Zealand sports network

SENZ has pledged to deliver New Zealand’s most devoted and dedicated 24/7 sports coverage ever of national teams as it unveiled Monday July 19 as the start date for SENZ.

Sports Entertainment Network CEO Craig Hutchison hosted the SENZ media event in Auckland at the famous Eden Park stadium, hours after the Blackcaps completed history as inaugural ICC World Champions.

The event was broadcast live on the SENZ app which is already available to New Zealanders. Hutchy said there will be plenty of bonus content coming on the app across the three weeks before the official network launch.

Retired Blackcaps captain Brendon McCullum was in great spirits, off the back of the win last night, and his excitement was echoed by everyone in the room, about the soon-to-be-launched SENZ.

‘’July cannot come soon enough…SENZ is what New Zealand is missing, the New Zealand sporting public are very involved, and we love to punch above our weight and have a say,” McCullum said. He added it was the perfect platform for the country to celebrate its sporting champions.

The July 19 launch, on almost 30 radio stations across New Zealand and the SENZ app, will set the tone days out from the re-scheduled 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

SENZ on air team [L-R]: Mark Stafford, Rikki Swannell, Israel Dagg, Brendon McCullum, Kirstie Stanway, Ian Smith and Stephen Donald 

SENZ will begin with live audio rights for the NZ Warriors, Wellington Phoenix, New Zealand’s cricket tour of Australia, and a raft of global sports. An above-the-line marketing campaign to be launched with ads across TV, outdoor and newspapers.

Hutchison pledged the network would enrich the lives of sports fans each day.

“SENZ is kiwi for sport – and will be a welcome place for all sports fans to engage their passions,” Hutchison said.

“New Zealand deserves its own 24/7 sports platform across radio, streaming, podcast and video.

“We can’t wait until July 19 and celebrate the nation’s great love of its sporting heroes and identities.”

Legendary New Zealand sports broadcaster Ian Smith is looking forward to getting on air as host of mornings.

‘’To be given this opportunity at my age and this point of my career, getting to build something from the ground up, is phenomenal,” Smith said.

SENZ weekday line-up

6am-9am: Brendon McCullum and Israel Dagg ‘’Bazz and Izzy for Breakfast’’

9am-noon: Ian Smith ‘’Mornings with Ian Smith’’

Noon – 4pm: Mark Stafford ‘’Afternoons with Staffy’’

4pm-7pm: Kirstie Stanway and Stephen Donald (Monday – Wednesday, Friday), Rikki Swannell and Stephen Donald (Thursday) ‘’SENZ drive with Kirstie, Beav and Rikki’’

Weeknights: Jason Pine

See also: Hutchy goes global: SEN launches into New Zealand on 28-station network