Live internet stream for Plunket Shield

The rest of the Plunket Shield will be covered via an internet live stream in addition to the regular updates provided on Radio Sport. New Zealand Cricket and Radio Sport announced there would be a live stream on blackcaps.co.nz and radiosport.co.nz that would alternate between the three games played simultaneously in each round. Four rounds of matches in the Plunket Shield have been completed; another six remain.

Radio Sport's decision to replace live commentary of Plunket Shield matches with intermittent updates caused a stir among fans in New Zealand, and an online petition was started to change the network's mind. The live internet stream will appease the fans, according to David White, the CEO of NZC. "Cricket fans have a strong emotional attachment to the Plunket Shield and they want to be able to remain connected to the matches throughout each day's play," he said. "We believe this will provide fans with choice and it will certainly increase the channels by which fans can follow their teams."

Dallas Gurney, general manager of talk programming for The Radio Network, said the response from fans to the decision to scrap live commentary had influence the move to provide a live stream. "There was a strong amount of passion and we are delighted to be working with NZC to respond to that passion with this initiative," Gurney said.