Sky Television is scrapping its specialist rugby channel as it battles to hold on to audience in the face of competition from Spark.
Sky Sports subscribers will no longer need to have the Rugby Channel to watch certain overseas matches. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The pay TV operator said from the end of July it will include all its rugby content with all its other sports content at no extra cost.
The Rugby Channel currently costs nearly $9 a month and has been available to Sky Sports subscribers.
The company said the move is the first of a number of changes to its sports offering in August, although it gave no other detail.
The change comes as Sky is looking to fend off increased competition from telecommunications company Spark, which has the rights to this year's Rugby World Cup.
Spark is streaming its sports coverage on the internet and mobile devices.
Over the past year Spark has acquired rights to formula one motor racing, international hockey, rallying, English Premier League football, and US basketball.