SKY SPORT NZ faced backlash from viewers on Friday night after the broadcaster cut to a gambling advert as Jai Arrow walked out for his 100th game for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, marking an emotional milestone in his battle with motor neuron disease.
STUFF SPORTS NZ reports that Arrow’s journey had been well publicized during the NRL season as the 31-year-old shared his devastating battle with MND, bringing league coaches, players and fans together in support for the veteran.
South Sydney and the NRL announced last month they would grant him special dispensation to take the field for the opening kickoff two final times with the Rabbitohs for him to reach 100 caps.
League fans in New Zealand were left outraged however, as the Sky Sport broadcast only showed the beginning and very end of Arrow’s emotional walkout, instead cutting to a Betcha gambling commercial discussing the match’s betting odds.
The reaction was swift and extensive over social media with many fans saying they would be submitting a Broadcasting Standards Authority complaint, and/or cancelling their Sky Sport subscription.
Facebook user Mike joined the social media chorus on one of Sky Sport’s own posts saying “Use should be ashamed Sky Sport NZ to put an advertisement on in the middle of jai arrows send off is disrespectful and disgusting behaviour.”
Dean wrote to Stuff to express his family’s disapproval.
“My family was wanting to watch the Jai Arrow walk on for the Rabbitohs game tonight’s and Sky Sport showed a betting ad instead of showing the walk on.
Completely missed this emotional and record setting moment just for kids to see a betting advert. Not happy at all.“
Richard was more blunt with his assessment, telling Stuff, it was “a totally insensitive and insulting act by Sky NZ.”
Another viewer Nick called it “unbelievably lazy” from Sky, adding, it “makes you think the people running the sport channel don’t really care about sport.”
Conor joined the sentiment saying “this is especially sour because they posted this on their own Facebook page ‘Some things are bigger than footy’.
“But obviously the profits they make from gambling ads are ‘bigger than footy.“
Viewer Sam told Stuff that he believes Sky NZ should publish an apology to accompany a large donation to MND, “after the absolute disgraceful behaviour of changing to an ad for gambling during Jai’s final walk out.”
He described the moment as “not only extremely disgraceful, but jolting, harsh and in completely poor taste.”
Sky Sport NZ has apologized for the interrupted moment, in a statement telling Stuff that it was the result of a scheduling error.
“We apologize to fans who missed part of Jai Arrow’s pre-match celebration during our coverage and share their disappointment. The ad break that played over the celebration was the result of a scheduling error and was not deliberate.
We know how important this moment was to fans and we regret that the full celebration wasn’t shown live,“ it said.
Sky Sport NZ has since shared the full moment via its social media channels.
“We know we missed a big moment, and we’re really sorry you didn’t get to see it live,” the caption said.
Before medically retiring, Arrow played 178 NRL matches including 24 games across two seasons for the Brisbane Broncos, 56 games for the Gold Coast Titans, then finally 98 games for South Sydney.
