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ANNUAL 
REPORT
2017

SKY NETWORK TELEVISION LIMITED 
ANNUAL REPORT JUNE 2017

SKY AT A GLANCE 

YEAR IN REVIEW
Chairman’s Letter 

Chief Executive’s Letter 

Board of Directors 

IN FOCUS
35th America’s Cup  

DHL Lions Series 

Rio Olympics 

COMMUNITY AND  
SPONSORSHIP 

SKY CHANNELS 

2017 FINANCIALS 
Financial Overview  

Financial Trends 

Directors’ Responsibility  
Statement 

Consolidated Statement of  
Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated Balance Sheet 

Consolidated Statement of  
Changes in Equity 

Consolidated Statement of  
Cash Flows 

Notes to the Consolidated  
Financial Statements 

Independent Auditor’s Report 

OTHER INFORMATION  
Corporate Governance 

Interests Register 

Company and Bondholder  
Information 
Waivers and Information 

Share Market and  
Other Information 

Directory 

02

04

06

10

12

14

16

18

20

24

28

30

31

32

33

34

35

62

66

68

70 
75

76

77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
02  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

SKY AT A GLANCE

CUSTOMERS

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

824,782

SKY TV SUBSCRIPTIONS

$893M

REVENUE

$292M

EBITDA

$116M

NPAT

PEOPLE

INVESTORS

1,223

PERMANENT EMPLOYEES

MORE THAN 

40

NATIONALITIES

TOTAL DIVIDEND

27.5

PER SHARE FOR 2017 YEAR

COMMUNITY

dOWNLOAdING

$1M

DONATED ACROSS 
FIVE CHRISTCHURCH 
COMMUNITY PROJECTS

MORE THAN

500,000

MOVIES AND TV SHOWS

DOWNLOADED MONTHLY

WITH ON DEMAND

MORE THAN

1,000,000

CONTENT DOWNLOADS 

MONTHLY WITH NEON

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  03

CUSTOMERS

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

824,782

SKY TV SUBSCRIPTIONS

$893M

REVENUE

$292M

EBITDA

$116M

NPAT

PEOPLE

INVESTORS

1,223

PERMANENT EMPLOYEES

MORE THAN 

40

NATIONALITIES

TOTAL DIVIDEND

27.5

PER SHARE FOR 2017 YEAR

COMMUNITY

dOWNLOAdING

$1M

DONATED ACROSS 

FIVE CHRISTCHURCH 

COMMUNITY PROJECTS

MORE THAN

500,000

MOVIES AND TV SHOWS
DOWNLOADED MONTHLY
WITH ON DEMAND

MORE THAN

1,000,000

CONTENT DOWNLOADS 
MONTHLY WITH NEON

 
04  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

CHAIRMAN’S 
LETTER

Dear shareholders

The 2017 financial year has again 
proven challenging for the media 
industry with an increasingly 
competitive operating environment. 
In addition, your board and 
management team committed 
a huge amount of effort on the 
eventually unsuccessful bid to 
merge with Vodafone New Zealand.

On February 23 this year, the 
Commerce Commission announced 
their final decision not to approve the 
proposed merger of SKY and Vodafone 
which I believe was flawed. We kept  
our option open to appeal while we 
evaluated our next move, but ultimately 
announced the decision not to pursue 
a favourable ruling given the cost to  
do so coupled with the expiry of 
shareholder approval.

Having heavily focused on the 
transaction for an extended period of 
time and the considerable investment 
in working toward a merger, there is a 
sense of disappointment at the 
outcome. However, this was just one 
strategic option for SKY and we now 
turn our focus to alternative means  
to attract and maintain customers  
of viewing entertainment.

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  05

The 2017 financial year saw SKY 
revenue decrease 3.7% to $893.5 million 
from $928.2 million in the previous 
period. Operating expenses were  
flat at $706.3 million and net profit 
decreased 20.9% to $116.3 million.

Free cash flow available to shareholders 
increased from $142.2 million in 2016  
to $165.6 million in 2017 as a result of 
the decline in capital expenditure in 
2017 which more than offset the 
decline in operating cash flow.

Operating expenses include costs 
relating to the acquisition of Vodafone  
NZ of $2.1 million (prior year $13.4 million). 
Earnings before interest, depreciation 
and amortisation (EBITDA) is 
$292.3 million.

The subscriber story is a mixed one, 
total subscribers were down 27,897 to 
824,782 but average monthly revenue 
per subscriber increased 19 cents to 
$78.82 and gross churn reduced  
1.6% to 15.9%.

Within the operating expenses, 
programming costs increased to  
39.1% of revenue from 35.7% in 2016. 
The Rio Olympics, Golf, Lions Tour, 
America’s Cup, On Demand content 
and new channel VICELAND all 
contributed to the increase.

Capital expenditure decreased  
by $49.1 million. Prior year’s capital 
expenditure was higher than normal 
due to the investment in subscriber 
equipment for the acquisition of  
new internet enabled decoders  
that are replacing all older legacy 
digital decoders.

We now have 50% of SKY decoders 
connected to the internet. SKY 
customers are enjoying an increasing 
amount of content that is delivered by 
streaming. Each month half a million 
movies and TV shows are downloaded 
through SKY On Demand, more than 
half a million hours of SKY GO content 
is viewed and big sporting events 
attract tens of thousands of online 
viewers via SKY GO and FAN PASS.  
In addition NEON the online subscription 
service now exceeds a million content 
downloads each month.

I want to acknowledge Mr John Waller 
who retired from the SKY board in 
September 2016. Sadly John passed 
away in September after serving on 
SKY’s board for seven years. John was  
a consummate professional whose 
leadership and business skills were 
showcased most recently in his role  
as chair of the due diligence 
committee as SKY contemplated a 
proposed merger with Vodafone.

Thank you to chief executive  
John Fellet and all of SKY’s staff and 
contractors for a huge effort over the 
2017 financial year. To all SKY 
shareholders, we appreciate your 
support and are pleased to announce  
a final dividend of 12.5 cents per share.

Peter Macourt 
Chairman

 
 
 
 
06  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

CHIEF 
EXECUTIVE’S 
LETTER

Dear shareholders

It is my pleasure to present to you 
my 16th annual shareholders’ letter. 
The financial statements, as always, 
will present a financial snapshot of 
the business. My goal with this letter 
is to give you an insight into your 
company and the industry it 
operates in. I will attempt to do this 
in a form that will suit the needs of 
the individual investor as well the 
institutional one. 

Because of competitive tensions I 
cannot always go into as much detail 
as I would like, but rest assured 
identifying the problem is only the first 
step for your management team. 
We are firm believers that when the 
winds of change blow, you need to 
build windmills not shelters.

COMMERCE COMMISSION ANd 
VOdAFONE
What a difference a year makes. A year 
ago my letter covered the pending 
merger with Vodafone New Zealand. 
I will not waste time lamenting over 
what I think was a flawed decision by 
the Commerce Commission. It was the 
original desire of both companies to 
legally appeal the decision, despite the 
torturous and expensive appeal process, 

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  07

which would still require another 
shareholder vote after another 
negotiation round over changing 
valuations of the two companies. 
However, as time went by it became 
apparent that we could action many 
of the opportunities and synergies 
through commercial agreements 
without the escalating costs of a 
merger. Some of these are in the 
market now, and you will see further 
proof points of the closer working 
relationship in the foreseeable future. 

EXPLOSION OF CONTENT 
OFFERINGS ANd THE RISE OF 
“PRESTIGE dRAMA”
Our team knows of every scripted 
series produced in English across the 
world. In 2012, 266 series were 
produced. This year the figure reached 
455 series. If every series in planning 
as I write this letter actually gets made, 
the figure should jump to 534 series 
next year. The bulk of this increase has 
been in dramas, and particularly a 
new species of content called 
“Prestige Drama.”

It is hard to define Prestige Drama but 
you know it when you see it. There are 
dramas you can watch while you sit on 

the couch with a laptop answering 
emails. But Prestige Dramas capture 
your undivided attention. They are like 
novels. You wouldn’t start the series in 
episode 3 any more than you would 
start a novel with chapter 3. You want 
to view all the episodes and you want 
to see them in order. These Prestige 
Dramas are attracting the biggest 
Hollywood names. The best writers, 
directors and actors are all attracted to 
these productions which reinvent the 
traditional TV series to a 12 hour movie.

Fortunately we picked up the trend 
of Prestige Drama early and started 
investing on the ground floor before 
anyone else in New Zealand. As a result 
our customers are enjoying excellent 
shows like Game of Thrones, 
Westworld, Fargo, The Americans, 
Billions, Doctor Who, Twin Peaks, 
Big Little Lies, Taboo, Legion, Feud, 
Genius, Homeland, Ray Donovan and 
The Leftovers to name my favourites 
this year.

VIdEO ON dEMANd
Globally, the roll out of broadband and 
the conversion of analogue to digital 
has opened the door to numerous new 
business models. Content is now being 

bundled to sell electricity, internet and 
online delivery services. New entrants 
are attempting to use content to drive 
new business models. They include: 

• 

• 

 Subscription Video on Demand 
(SVOD) where subscribers pay a 
monthly price to access a pool of 
content on demand. These SVOD 
models can be as broad as Netflix 
or as narrow as the WWE Network 
which is for professional wrestling 
aficionados. 

 TVOD or Transactional Video on 
Demand models where you pay an 
amount based on the content you 
watch on a programme by 
programme model. Most often this 
relates to movies, but is also used for 
series and in particular for sports and 
events.

• 

 AVOD or ad-based models that don’t 
require a subscription fee, but you 
pay with your eyeballs viewing ads 
instead of your credit card.

Most of these new models work on two 
new technological advancements – 
abundant, inexpensive and universally 
available fast broadband; and VOD. 

 
08  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

“ PEOPLE ARE WATCHING JUST AS MUCH 
CONTENT AS EVER BEFORE, BUT THEY 
ARE WATCHING IT IN NEW WAYS.”

Unsurprisingly, younger viewers  
are leading the VOD change.  
An  organisation called Thinkbox 
carried out a study called ‘Truth about 
Youth’, comparing 16 to 24 year olds 
with all individuals. 30% of the focus 
groups watched videos, mostly VOD, 
on tablets and smartphones, double 
that of the average person. The study 
included play-back, VOD, live TV, 
online viewing services, DVD’s,  
and SVOD services.

Before I go further, it is worth noting 
that traditional linear viewing is still the 
most dominant way people watch 
television and will remain so for some 
years. Linear TV has been holding 
remarkably steady even as online 
programming manages to capture an 
increasing amount of our time. Clearly, 
then, we’re not witnessing a direct or 
clear-cut shift from linear to online yet. 

But what we are witnessing is a 
transition, and at SKY we are clear that 
VOD is the future. It is already the most 
disrupting force in television viewing, 
for several reasons:

• 

 Linear channels pick up a great deal 
of fortuitous viewing in the “lean 
back” world. Popular shows provide 
great lead-ins for the next show in 
the schedule. In the VOD world 
viewers do not passively stay on 
one channel. They make a deliberate 
choice for their next programme, 
tee it up and start watching.

 In the multichannel world that 
traditional Pay TV platforms have 
operated in, customers tend to 
channel surf, find something 
interesting and watch it. In the VOD 
world, provided curation is done 
correctly, surfing does not exist 
because you have a list of shows 
you want to watch.

• 

 VOD models with strong 
recommendation engines can have 
a competitive edge because you 
can buy far less content than a 
traditional Pay Television platform. 
Using curation and analytical viewing 
statistics you can surface just the 
right content.

 A good example is NEON which is 
one of the most content rich SVOD 
services in New Zealand. As I write 
this, NEON has about 4,000 hours of 
content available to view. By contrast, 
the typical 100 channel Pay TV 
platform has to program channels 
for 24 hours a day 365 days a year, 
meaning hundreds of thousands of 
hours of content a year. Clearly 
SVOD models can purchase far less 
content a year than the traditional 
Pay TV platform. 

VOD will someday replace linear, make 
no mistake about it. But don’t assume 
the decline of linear means the decline 
of viewing, as quite the opposite is 
happening. People are watching just as 
much content as ever before, but they 
are watching it in new ways. 

In spite of what the news media would 
have you believe, no New Zealand 
based media firm has embraced VOD 
more than SKY, from the launch 
of our MY SKY boxes (which allowed 
customers to convert linear content 
to VOD) to the more recent launches 
of our NEON, FAN PASS and SKY On 
Demand services. Right now the 
new platforms are challenging both 
technically and financially. But so was 
the Cable TV industry when I started 
my career. 

While now is not the time for a massive 
conversion of our core business, as 
a significant number of our customers 
still rely on our satellite-delivered 
service for their sports, news and 

entertainment, we are embracing 
the opportunity to compete in new 
media models. 

We are advancing VOD on several 
fronts. Our customers have opted  
to connect 49.6% of our MY SKY 
decoders to their home wi-fi systems. 
This connection gives them access to 
9,000 pieces of content. We call this 
service SKY On Demand and last 
month 775,000 pieces were 
downloaded by customers. Keep in 
mind most of these customers already 
have MY SKY hard drive decoders 
where 143 million hours are recorded 
each month to watch later on demand.

In addition, we have our SVOD service, 
NEON. In the month of July alone we 
had 1.7 million requests for individual 
movies or episodes.

Stratification on content 
When I was a young man growing 
up in the 60s, I was listening to the 
Beatles while my parents listened to 
Frank Sinatra. While we each had our 
music preferences we easily could 
identify each other’s favourite artist as 
well. Today I suspect this would be 
impossible and to a large degree video 
content is much the same way. A good 
example is looking at the weekly list of 
the most downloaded programmes. 
I get two lists, one for our traditional 
satellite subscribers who trend older, 
and NEON which tends to be younger 
viewers. There are exceptions like 
Game of Thrones, which appears high 
on both lists. But reviewing the list you 
can easily determine which list came 
from baby boomers and which list 
came from millennials. You also see 
a wide age split on our different basic 
channels. VICELAND, E!, MTV and 
Comedy Central have our youngest 
viewers while Sport, News Channels 
and UKTV slant older. 

 
 
SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  09

for a legal remedy. This was not an  
easy decision to make. The American 
humourist Mark Twain once said 
“Never pick a fight with people who 
buy their ink by the barrel.” I certainly 
understand this quote now more than 
ever. The media companies in question 
have spent a lot of effort running every 
negative article they can find about 
SKY, some of which sadly are justified, 
but many are not. I suggest that this 
context is worth remembering the next 
time you read an article or opinion 
piece that appears to have a strong 
bias against SKY.

OUTLOOK 
I hope this letter has given you a sense 
of some of the challenges and 
opportunities facing your business and 
our industry. As I said at the outset, your 
management team is committed to 
embracing the changes sweeping 
through the industry, and delivering the 
best entertainment and sport content 
to our customers in the many different 
ways that individuals want it. We are in 
for an exciting year.

Please note in your diaries that the AGM 
will be held on 19 October 2017 at the 
Sofitel Hotel, 21 Viaduct Harbour 
Avenue, Auckland, commencing at 2pm. 
I look forward to talking with you there.

John Fellet 
Chief Executive Officer

Our capabilities to understand our 
customer segments and their personal 
preferences continue to unlock real 
value for your company and over the 
year ahead you will see further 
examples of this work.

who have turned the distribution of 
these devices into a business, 
positioning themselves as alternatives 
to legitimate providers, despite paying 
nothing for the rights to the content 
they are promoting. 

Stratification of DeviceS 
The range of different devices that 
people use to watch TV are almost as 
diverse as the range of content. 
At one time our main concern was 
staying up with the latest and most 
expensive television set in a Media 
Room. Now we have to plan for 
everything from a two metre projection 
screen that is showing an ultra-high 
definition picture to a smart phone.

The younger the viewer the less likely 
it is for them to watch their content 
on a television. Instead they will watch 
their content via an internet delivery 
system. The term for this is OTT or 
“over the top”. 

At SKY we believe we have to offer 
content where and how the customer 
wants it and to this we launched 
FAN PASS which offers our Sports 
tier on an OTT basis for a monthly fee. 
In addition we offer SKY GO which 
delivers a number of our channels on 
an OTT basis to service the viewing 
needs of SKY subscribers who are not 
at home. 

At one time all we worried about was 
getting a picture to a decoder. Now, in 
addition, we deliver to mobile phones, 
iPads, computers, Chromecast, Smart 
TVs, pucks, gaming consoles and 
Apple TVs.

PIRACY 
Piracy has become our biggest 
competitor. I entered the industry in 
1976 and the first meeting I went to was 
on piracy. The industry has played a cat 
and mouse game with pirates since the 
start of pay television. 

However, theft of service has become 
more sophisticated and commonplace 
at the same time. The big problem is 
the increasing ease by which pirated 
content is accessible. Devices pre-
loaded with piracy software enable 
users to access pirated content stored 
on servers overseas, from the comfort 
of their living room. There are people 

There is a lot being done to combat 
piracy globally, with successful 
prosecutions against distributors, 
devices and pirate websites. SKY has 
taken legal action in New Zealand 
as well.

There is an even more subtle form 
of piracy going on by companies who 
should know better. The newspaper 
industry, like all traditional media, is 
facing disruption from the digital world. 
In an attempt to reinvent themselves 
they are developing their online 
presence. This makes perfect sense. 
As more of their customers access their 
news online they can leverage their 
news-gathering to populate their sites 
with stories with their greatest assets 
– their reporters.

But sadly, to save money, there is a 
trend of news media taking clips of the 
best parts of our SKY Sport content and 
placing them on their websites without 
permission. They do this without any 
compensation to the sporting codes or 
SKY. It is common for these sites to clip 
highlights of key sporting events and 
put them online within minutes of them 
happening, almost always with ads (for 
which they receive revenue) wrapped 
around them. This is tantamount to SKY 
starting a 24 hour News Channel and 
instead of hiring reporters or paying for 
the use of a news service, merely 
clipping articles out of the newspapers 
without paying anything for copyright 
and having presenters read them out. 

We support news organisations’ ability 
to use material where reasonably 
necessary to report current events, 
and indeed this can even act as 
promotion of sports events on SKY. 
However, the current conduct by 
news outlets goes much further, and 
is a planned and regular exploitation 
of the content we pay for. 

After months of attempted negotiations 
with the news media, who we believe 
are violating our copyright, we were left 
with no alternative than to go to court 

 
10  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

BOARd OF dIRECTORS

PETER MACOURT
CHAIRMAN 

JOHN FELLET
dIRECTOR ANd CEO

Mr Fellet joined SKY as chief operating 
officer in 1991. He was appointed as 
chief executive in January 2001 and  
as a director of SKY in April 2001.  
Mr Fellet holds a BA degree in 
Accounting from Arizona State 
University and has over 37 years’ 
experience in the pay television 
industry, including ten years’ 
experience with Telecommunications 
Inc. in the United States.

Mr Macourt was appointed as chairman 
of the SKY board in August 2002. He is 
a director of Prime Media Limited, 
Foxtel Management Limited and Virtus 
Limited, and a former director and 
chief operating officer of News Limited 
based in Sydney, Australia. Previously 
Mr Macourt has also served as a 
director of Premier Media, Independent 
Newspapers Limited and a number of 
subsidiaries and associated companies 
of the News Corporation Limited.  
He holds a degree in commerce from 
the University of New South Wales,  
is a member of the Australian  
Institute of Chartered Accountants  
and the Australian Institute of  
Company Directors. 

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 

11

dEREK HANdLEY
dIRECTOR

GERALdINE MCBRIdE
dIRECTOR

SUSAN PATERSON 
dIRECTOR

Mr Handley was appointed to the  
board in September 2013. Mr Handley  
is an entrepreneur who recently 
created the Aera Foundation, a venture 
studio advancing new models that fuse 
social and financial goals. Before that 
he spent two years helping Sir Richard 
Branson set up the B Team, a global 
non-profit leadership collective. In 2001 
at the age of 23, he co-founded The 
Hyperfactory, one of the first agencies 
in the world to recognise the power of 
mobile devices for connecting 
consumers, brands and mass media 
(acquired by NYSE-listed Meredith 
Corporation). Mr Handley has attended 
Massey University, MIT Sloan School of 
Management and Singularity University.

Ms McBride was appointed to the  
board in September 2013. She is a BSc 
Zoology major from Victoria University, 
served as president of SAP North 
America, president of SAP Asia Pacific 
Japan and global vice president of Dell 
Services. Ms McBride is a director of 
Fisher and Paykel Healthcare Limited 
and National Australia Bank Limited  
and is the chief executive and founder 
of MyWave Holdings, a leading edge 
consumer experience and enterprise 
relationship technology company.

Ms Paterson began her career as  
a pharmacist and later completed  
an MBA at London Business School, 
leading to a career in management  
and strategy consulting in New Zealand, 
Europe and the United States of 
America. She is now a professional 
director and a Chartered Fellow of  
the Institute of Directors. Ms Paterson  
is Chair of Steel and Tube Holdings 
Limited and Theta Systems Limited, 
and a director of Goodman NZ,  
Arvida Group and Les Mills NZ Limited. 
She is also a Member of the Electricity 
Authority, Chair of Home of Cycling 
(Avantidrome), and past director or 
Chair of a number of commercial 
infrastructure and growth companies 
and not for profit entities including 
Transpower New Zealand, Abano 
Healthcare, Airways Corporation, 
Housing New Zealand, Auckland 
Hockey, the NZ Eco-Labelling Trust,  
St. Cuthbert’s College and EECA. In 
2015 Ms Paterson was made an Officer 
of the New Zealand Order of Merit for 
her services to corporate governance.

 
12  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

35TH  
AMERICA’S CUP

In May 2017 with the iconic Great Sound as its backdrop, 
Bermuda hosted the 35th America’s Cup. People the world 
over focused on the best sailors and the fastest boats as 
they battled for the oldest trophy in international sport.

For the first time SKY Sport proudly delivered exclusive  
live coverage of the Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Qualifiers  
and the prestigious 35th America’s Cup. Emirates Team  
New Zealand did not disappoint, crushing defending 
champions Oracle Team USA 7 – 1 in the final series to  
bring the Auld Mug home.

Kiwis loved all the action on the water, watching on  
SKY Sport 1, SKY GO, the SKY Sport Highlights App  
and FAN PASS.

  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 

13

1.4M 

PEOPLE WATCHEd
SKY SPORT AND PRIME’S 
COVERAGE OF THE 2017 
AMERICA’S CUP. 

© www.photosport.nz

14  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

dHL  
LIONS SERIES

SKY Sport brought exclusive live coverage of the  
DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017. The SKY Sport 
production team broadcast another world class event.  
All the magic across six weeks, from nine teams,  
played at seven venues and including three test  
matches was shown on SKY Sport.

Even though our All Blacks couldn’t get a win this  
series, the tour was a huge success and a draw was  
the next best thing.

The atmosphere was electric and made for a superb 
televised event as well as memorable experiences in 
stadiums and fan zones across the country.

While all the action was live on SKY Sport and SKY GO  
it was also available on FAN PASS and all test matches  
were seen free-to-air on Prime.

  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 

15

2.0M 

PEOPLE WATCHEd
COVERAGE OF SKY SPORT 
AND PRIME’S COVERAGE OF 
THE 2017 DHL LIONS SERIES

© www.photosport.nz

16  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

RIO OLYMPICS

The 2016 Summer Olympics, officially known as the  
Games of the XXXI Olympiad and commonly known  
as Rio 2016, was a major international event celebrated  
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during August.

SKY Sport presented this prestigious international event  
on 12 SKY channels, free-to-air on Prime and through  
SKY GO, On Demand and a customised SKY Olympic App.

It was a great honour and credit to our outstanding  
sport production crew for SKY to be chosen as the  
producers of the international feeds for three Olympic 
events; the Open Water Swim, Triathlon and the first  
ever Rugby Sevens.

New Zealanders performed valiantly on the world  
stage with so many stand out performances. From then  
19 year old Eliza McCartney claiming bronze in her first  
ever Olympics for the pole vault to Lisa Carrington’s 
continued success in her kayak with another gold for  
the K1 200 and a bronze in the K1 500. Golf made a 
spectacular return to the Olympic stage, with Lydia Ko 
claiming silver. New Zealand took home a bronze for the 
talented women’s rugby sevens team in the sports first year 
of inclusion and Cantabrian Tom Walsh stunned in the shot 
put throwing a bronze winning effort in his first games.

  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 

17

2.8M 

PEOPLE WATCHEd
SKY SPORT AND PRIME’S 
COVERAGE OF THE  
2016 OLYMPICS

© www.photosport.nz

18  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

COMMUNITY ANd  
SPONSORSHIP

With SKY in more than 700,000 New Zealand homes and 1,400 SKY crew countrywide, we touch the lives  
of many Kiwis every day. We are committed to giving back to New Zealand communities and are proud  
to have continued this over the past year through our partnerships with the Starship Foundation and the  
Christchurch Earthquake Appeal Trust.  

STARSHIP
Starship is New Zealand’s National Children’s Hospital.  
Every year, Starship treats 130,000 of New Zealand’s precious 
children. We’re proud to be a Starship Foundation Five Star 
Sponsor and to have supported the Starship Foundation 
since 2001.

We share our love of TV by providing SKY in every patient’s 
room, we host Starship movie nights for sick kids and their 
siblings and even arrange magical visits from the stars of SKY 
shows like SpongeBob, Dora the Explorer and The Powerpuff 
Girls because we know how joy can support recovery.

SKY is the key sponsor of the Starship National Air Ambulance. 
Donations of hundreds of thousands of much needed dollars, 
raised by SKY and our community of customers, have been 
dedicated to this vital service, helping ensure it can respond 
without delay, day or night. And it did just that, with more than 
150 retrievals of Kiwi children in need in the past year alone. 

CHRISTCHURCH EARTHQUAKE 
APPEAL TRUST
SKY pledged $1 million over five years to help repair 
Christchurch, with five $200,000 donations allocated  
for schools and recreational projects to support the health  
and wellbeing of local communities and in particular,  
their young people.

We’re proud to have made a difference funding repairs from 
earthquake damage to:

2013 

2014 

 Garrick Park – repair significant drainage issues 
and enable year round use of fields 

 West Spreydon School Pool – restore the 
community’s much-loved swimming pool

2015  Denton Oval – repair cycling track and facilities

2016  Artificial Turfs (11) – for outdoor school play areas

2017 

 Ngā Puna Wai Sports Hub – electronic 
scoreboards, public address system and  
camera towers

  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017 

19

130,000 

CHILdREN TREATEd
EVERY YEAR SINCE 2001

20  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

SKY CHANNELS

As at 30 June 2017

TYPES OF CHANNELS

KEY

Basic Channels 

Sport Channels 

Specialist Channels 

47

17

9

Movie Channels 

Free-to-air Channels 

Radio Channels 

10

12

7

PPV Event Channels 

PPV Movie Channels 

PPV Adult Channels 

1

9

3

Audio Music Channels 

14

Total 

129

Created and 
produced by SKY

47 BASIC CHANNELS

R

17 SPORT CHANNELS

When available (055)

When available (056) When available (057) When available (058)

Pop-ups when available, 
weekends only (268-270)

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  21

9 SPECIALIST CHANNELS

10 MOVIE CHANNELS

When available

During school holidays

12 FREE-TO-AIR CHANNELS

7 RAdIO CHANNELS

APPS

OTHER

14 Audio Music Channels

1 PPV Event Channel

9 PPV Movie Channels

3 PPV Adult Channels

 
22  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  23

2017 financiaLS

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW 
FINANCIAL TRENDS 
DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME  
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY  
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS  
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS  
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 

24
28
30
31
32
33
34
35
62

24  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

financiaL overvieW

SUMMARY
The net profit after tax for the year ended 30 June 2017 is $116.3 million, a decrease of 20.9% on the previous year’s net profit after tax  
of $147.1 million. 

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (“EBITDA”) decreased by 10.1% to $292.3 million. Operating expenses include  
costs relating to the acquisition of Vodafone NZ of $2.1 million (prior year $13.4 million). 

The results are summarised as follows:

For the years ended 30 June

IN NZD MILLIONS

Financial performance data

Total revenue

Total operating expenses

EBITDA

Less

Depreciation and amortisation

Net finance costs

Net profit before income tax

Income tax expense

Profit after tax

2017

2016

 % inc/(dec)

893.5

601.2

292.3

105.1

19.6

167.6

51.3

116.3

928.2

602.9

325.3

100.2

20.1

205.0

57.9

147.1

(3.7)

(0.3)

(10.1)

4.9

(2.5)

(18.2)

(11.4)

(20.9)

PROFIT

INCOME
TAX

13%

2017

2016

FINANCIAL
EXPENSES

6%

2%

16%

DEPRECIATION AND
AMORTISATION  

12%

6%
2%

11%

INCOME
STATEMENT
CATEGORIES

AS A % OF REVENUE

65%

67%

OPERATING
EXPENSES

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  25

2017

157.2

567.9

82.2

807.3

68.1

18.1

86.2

893.5

2016

160.3

592.8

79.3

832.4

74.0

21.8

95.8

928.2

 % inc/(dec)

(1.9)

(4.2)

3.7

(3.0)

(8.0)

(17.0)

(10.0)

(3.7)

2017

2016

17%

REVENUE
SPLIT

64%

63%

RESIDENTIAL
MY SKY

REVENUE ANALYSIS
SKY’s total revenue decreased to $893.5 million, as follows:

For the years ended 30 June

IN NZD MILLIONS

Residential – Digital

Residential – MY SKY

Other subscription revenue

Total subscription revenue

Advertising

Installation and other revenue

Total other revenue

Total revenue

RESIDENTIAL
DIGITAL

18%

2%

8%

9%

INSTALLATION
AND OTHER
REVENUE

ADVERTISING
REVENUE

2%

8%

OTHER
SUBSCRIPTION 
REVENUE 

9%

Residential subscription revenue decreased by 3.7% to $725.1 million due to fewer satellite customers and a lower uptake of premium 
services (Sports and Movies) and lower pay-per-view buys. 

Other subscription revenue includes commercial revenue earned from SKY subscriptions at hotels, motels, restaurants and bars 
throughout New Zealand, revenue derived from transmission of programming for third parties and revenue from other subscriptions 
services such as NEON, FAN PASS and IGLOO. This revenue increased 3.7% to $82.2 million in 2017 due mainly to an increase in  
subscriber numbers for NEON and FAN PASS. 

Advertising sales revenue decreased by 8.0% to $68.1 million in 2017. Pay television advertising revenues decreased from $49.3 million  
in 2016 to $46.7 million in 2017, a decrease of 5.3% whilst Prime revenues decreased from $24.7 million in 2016 to $21.4 million in 2017.  
Prior year results were higher than normal due to additional revenue from the Rugby World Cup. 

Installation and other revenues decreased by 17.0% to $18.1 million in 2017. This is mainly the result of fewer installations undertaken.

 
26  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

financiaL overvieW (CONTINUEd)

EXPENSE ANALYSIS
A further breakdown of SKY’s operating expenses for 2017 and 2016 is provided below:

IN NZD MILLIONS

Programming

Subscriber related costs

Broadcasting and infrastructure

Other costs

Depreciation and amortisation

Total operating expenses

2017

349.4

100.2

97.6

54.0

105.1

706.3

2017
% of revenue

39.1

11.2

10.9

6.0

11.8

79.0

2016

331.1

106.3

96.0

69.5

100.2

703.1

2016
% of revenue

 % inc/(dec)

35.7

11.5

10.3

7.5

10.8

75.8

5.5

(5.7)

1.7

(22.3)

4.9

0.5

DEPRECIATION AND
AMORTISATION

OTHER
COSTS

8%

2017

2016

15%

10%

14%

14%

EXPENSES
SPLIT

47%

49%

PROGRAMMING

BROADCASTING
AND INFRASTRUCTURE

14%

15%

14%

SUBSCRIBER
RELATED
COSTS 

Programming costs comprise both the costs of purchasing programme rights and also programme operating costs. Programme rights 
costs include the costs of sports rights, pass-through channel rights (e.g. Disney Channel, Living Channel, etc.), movies (including PPV)  
and music rights. Programme operating costs include the costs of producing live sports events, satellite and fibre linking costs and  
in-house studio produced shows.  

SKY’s programming expenses have increased by $18.3 million and equate to 39.1% of revenue in 2017, from 35.7% in 2016. The higher 
programming costs in 2017 included the rights costs of the Summer Olympics, the PGA Golf and Americas Cup in 2017 as well as a  
full year’s impact of the new SANZAAR contract that commenced on 1 January 2016 and costs relating to On Demand content and  
new channels such as “VICELAND”.

A significant proportion of SKY’s programme rights costs are in Australian dollars (AUD-26% of rights costs) and United States dollars  
(USD- 53% of rights costs). This means the NZ dollar cost included in SKY’s accounts is affected by the strength of the NZ dollar during  
a particular year and by SKY’s foreign exchange hedging policy.

The board’s policy is to hedge a minimum of 85% of the forecast exposures over 0 to 12 months, up to 50% of variable exposures over  
13 to 24 months and up to 30% over 25 to 36 months. Fixed price contracts denominated in foreign currencies are fully hedged at the  
time of placing the order.

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  27

EXPENSE ANALYSIS (CONTINUEd)
Subscriber related costs include the costs of servicing and monitoring equipment installed at subscribers’ homes, indirect installation 
costs, the costs of SKY’s customer service department, sales and marketing costs and general administrative costs associated with SKY’s 
provincial offices. 

In 2017, subscriber related costs decreased by 5.7% due to lower employee and contractor costs of supporting a smaller subscriber base 
and lower trouble calls.

Broadcasting and infrastructure costs consist of transmission and linking costs for transmitting SKY and Prime’s television signals from its 
studios in Auckland to other locations in New Zealand and the costs of operating SKY’s television stations at Mt Wellington and Albany. The costs 
of leasing seven transponders on the Optus D1 satellite are included, as is the cost of high definition television broadcasting. Broadcasting and 
infrastructure costs have increased marginally by 1.7% to $97.6 million due to increased internet delivery costs for on demand content and costs 
of supporting SKY’s OTT products (NEON, FAN PASS).

Other costs include advertising costs, the overhead costs relating to corporate management and the affiliated businesses such as FATSO and 
Believe It or Not. These costs have decreased by 22.3% to $54.0 million from $69.5 million in the prior year due mainly to the professional fees 
incurred in relation to the planned acquisition of Vodafone NZ which was announced in June 2016. (Refer note 3 of the financial statements). 

Depreciation and amortisation costs includes depreciation charges for subscriber equipment including, satellite dishes and decoders owned 
by SKY and fixed assets such as television station facilities. Depreciation and amortisation costs have increased by 4.9% to $105.1 million for the 
current year due to depreciation on certain significant projects which have been completed during the current year.

Finance costs have decreased marginally from $20.1 million to $19.6 million. The reduction in interest is due to reduced levels of debt.  
SKY’s weighted average interest rates are as follows:

Bank loans

Bonds

Combined weighted average

Capital expenditure

SKY’s capital expenditure over the last five years is summarised as follows:

IN NZD MILLIONS

Subscriber equipment

Installation costs

Other

Total capital expenditure

2017

19.7

29.3

30.7

79.7

2016

63.8

32.6

32.4

128.8

2015

22.8

29.7

63.0

115.5

Capital expenditure decreased by $49.1 million in 2017 to $79.7 million.

2017

5.36%

6.04%

5.65%

2014

20.6

36.9

35.5

93.0

2016

6.19%

5.33%

5.47%

2013

22.9

40.2

19.3

82.4

Subscriber equipment expenditure decreased by $44.1 million due mainly to the prior year increase of $41.0 million for the acquisition of the new 
internet enabled decoders being rolled out to customers to replace the old legacy digital decoders. 

Installation costs were marginally lower by $3.3 million due to fewer installations. Other capital expenditure of $30.7 million included $16.4 million 
of software additions, $4.2 million of other plant and equipment, as well as $5.2 million of capital work in progress.

 
 
 
28  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

financiaL trenDS

incoMe StateMent – five Year SUMMarY

IN NZD 000

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

For the year ended 30 June

Total revenue

Total operating expenses (1) (4)

EBITDA (2) (4)

Less

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Net interest expense and financing charges

Unrealised (gains)/losses on currency and other

Net profit before income tax (4)

893,485

601,145

292,340

105,148

20,470

(850)

167,572

928,200

602,914

325,286

100,241

19,684

 371 

204,990

927,525

547,756

379,769

119,194

21,696

 –   

238,879

909,001

529,961

379,040

126,143

27,097

1,293

224,507

885,024

531,884

353,140

134,260

29,193

692

188,995

BaLance SHeet – five Year SUMMarY

IN NZD 000

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

As at 30 June
Property, plant, equipment and  
non-current intangibles

Goodwill

Total assets

Total debt and lease liabilities

Working capital (3)

Total liabilities

Total equity

caSH FLoW – five Year SUMMarY

IN NZD 000

As at 30 June

301,008

1,425,331

1,887,200

298,663

(54,035)

559,322

331,157

1,425,331

1,943,564

348,085

(35,230)

612,641

299,243

1,425,331

1,942,021

350,763

(36,285)

604,818

302,929

1,426,393

1,865,369

387,191

(48,325)

624,205

338,002

1,424,494

1,900,293

483,786

(39,790)

718,396

1,327,878

1,330,923

1,337,203

1,241,164

1,181,897

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

Net cash from operating activities

Net cash used in investing activities

Free cash flow available to shareholders

245,261

(79,640)

165,621

275,844

(133,635)

142,209

282,915

(115,416)

167,499

305,314

(93,672)

211,642

290,565

(82,342)

208,223

(1)  Exclusive of depreciation, amortisation and impairment.

(2)  Net profit before income tax, interest expense, depreciation and amortisation, unrealised gains and losses on currency and interest rate swaps.

(3)  Working capital excludes current borrowing, bonds and derivative financial instruments.

(4)   Exclusion of Vodafone acquisition costs of $2,145,000 (30 June 2016: $13,371,000) (refer note 3) would result in a normalised adjusted EBITDA  

of $294,485,000 (30 June 2016: $338,657,000) and adjusted net profit before income tax of $169,717,000 (30 June 2016: $218,361,000).

 
 
 
 
 
SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  29

dEPRECIATION ANd CAPITAL EXPENdITURE

IN NZD 000

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

Capital expenditure

2017

105,148

79,700

2016

100,241

128,800

2015

119,194

115,500

2014

126,143

93,000

2013

134,260

82,400

HISTORY OF dIVIdENd PAYMENTS

BY CALENDAR YEAR IN CENTS PER SHARE

Interim dividend (paid in March)

Final dividend (paid in September)

Total ordinary dividend

2017

15.0

 –   

15.0

2016

15.0

15.0

30.0

SUBSCRIBER BASE
The following operating data has been taken from the Company records and is not audited.  

Total subscribers

Average monthly revenue per residential  
subscriber  (1)

Gross churn  (2)

2017

824,782

78.82

15.9%

2016

852,679

78.63

17.5%

2015

15.0

15.0

30.0

2015

851,561

79.54

14.5%

2014

14.0

15.0

29.0

2014

865,055

77.52

13.2%

2013

12.0

12.0

24.0

2013

855,898

75.83

14.4%

(1)  Years 2017 and 2016 include IGLOO, NEON and FAN PASS not included in earlier periods.  

(2)  Gross churn refers to the percentage of residential subscribers over the 12-month period ended on the date shown who terminated their satellite pay  

TV subscription net of existing subscribers who transferred their service to new residences during the period.

 
 
 
 
 
30  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

dIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT

The directors of Sky Network Television Limited (the Group) are responsible for ensuring that the financial statements of the Group present  
fairly the financial position of the Group as at 30 June 2017 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the year ended on that date.

The directors consider that the financial statements of the Group have been prepared using appropriate accounting policies, consistently 
applied and supported by reasonable judgements and estimates and that all relevant financial reporting and accounting standards have  
been followed.

The directors believe that proper accounting records have been kept which enable, with reasonable accuracy, the determination of the  
financial position of the Group and facilitate compliance of the financial statements with the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

The directors consider they have taken adequate steps to safeguard the assets of the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and  
other irregularities.

The directors have pleasure in presenting the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 30 June 2017.

The board of directors of Sky Network Television Limited authorise these financial statements for issue on 21 August 2017.

For and on behalf of the board of directors

Peter Macourt
Chairman

Susan Paterson
Director

21 August 2017

 
 
CONSOLIdATEd STATEMENT
OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

For the year ended 30 June 2017

IN NZD 000

Total revenue

Expenses

Programming

Subscriber related costs

Broadcasting and infrastructure

Depreciation and amortisation

Other costs

Operating profit

Finance costs, net

Profit before tax

Income tax expense

Profit for the year

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Earnings per share

Basic and diluted earnings per share (cents)

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Profit for the year

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss

Cash flow hedges

Gain on available for sale investments

Income tax effect

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of income tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to:

Equity holders of the Company

Non-controlling interest

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  31

Notes

2

2017

893,485

 2016

928,200

3

4

5

349,426

100,161

97,578

105,148

53,980

706,293
187,192

19,620

167,572

51,228

116,344

116,026

318

116,344

331,050

106,340

96,040

100,241

69,484

703,155

225,045

20,055

204,990

57,867

147,123

146,718

405

147,123

13

29.82

37.70

13

1

116,344

147,123

(5,486)

2,147

935

(2,404)

113,940

113,622

318

113,940

(49,989)

–

13,997

(35,992)

111,131

110,726

405

111,131

 
32  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

CONSOLIdATEd BALANCE SHEET 

As at 30 June 2017

IN NZD 000

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Programme rights inventory

Derivative financial instruments

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Available for sale investment

Derivative financial instruments

Total assets

Current liabilities

Bonds

Trade and other payables

Income tax payable

Derivative financial instruments

Non-current liabilities

Bank loans

Bonds

Deferred tax

Derivative financial instruments

Total liabilities

Equity

Share capital

Hedging reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Company

Non-controlling interest

Total equity

Total equity and liabilities 

Peter Macourt 
Chairman

Susan Paterson 
Director

For and on behalf of the board 21 August 2017

Notes

2017

 2016

6

7

12

8

9

1

12

11

10 

12 

11 

11 

5 

12 

13 

13 

5,444

69,475

79,003

176

22,863

70,030

79,765

2,982

154,098

175,640

238,066

1,488,273

6,552

211

1,733,102

1,887,200

 –

186,187

21,770

9,038

216,995

199,685

98,978

37,683

5,981

342,327

559,322

283,316

1,473,172

4,832

6,604

1,767,924

1,943,564

199,912

200,817

7,071

9,670

417,470

49,468

98,705

36,047

10,951

195,171

612,641

577,403

(9,062)

758,247

577,403

(5,112)

757,417

1,326,588

1,329,708

1,290

1,327,878

1,887,200

1,215

1,330,923

1,943,564

 
 
SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  33

CONSOLIdATEd STATEMENT 
OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the year ended 30 June 2017

                                                                                          ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF THE PARENT

IN NZD 000

For the year ending 30 June 2017

Balance at 1 July 2016

Profit for the year

Gain on available for sale investment, net of tax

Cash flow hedges, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

1

13

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners

Dividend paid

Supplementary dividends

Foreign investor tax credits

Balance at 30 June 2017

For the year ending 30 June 2016

Balance at 1 July 2015

Profit for the year

Cash flow hedges, net of tax

13

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Transactions with owners in their capacity as owners

Dividend paid

Supplementary dividends

Foreign investor tax credits

Balance at 30 June 2016

Notes

Share 
capital

Hedging 
reserve

Retained 
earnings

Non-
controlling 
interest

Total

Total 
equity

577,403

(5,112)

757,417

1,329,708

1,215

1,330,923

–   

–

–   

 –

–

–

–   
 –

–

–

(3,950)

116,026

116,026

318

116,344

1,546

–   

1,546

(3,950)

–   

–   

1,546

(3,950)

(3,950)

 117,572 

 113,622 

 318 

 113,940 

 –   

–

–   
–   

(116,742)

(116,742)

(243)

(116,985)

(15,330)

(15,330)

15,330

15,330

–   

–   

(15,330)

15,330

(116,742)

(116,742)

(243)

(116,985)

577,403

(9,062)

758,247

1,326,588

1,290

1,327,878

577,403   

30,880

727,441

1,335,724

1,479

1,337,203

–   

 –  

 –   

–  

–   

–  

 –   

–   

146,718

146,718

(35,992)

 –  

(35,992)

405

 –

147,123

(35,992)

(35,992)

 146,718 

 110,726 

 405 

 111,131 

–

–

–   

–

(116,742)

(116,742)

(669)

(117,411)

(14,965)

(14,965)

 14,965 

14,965

–   

–   

(14,965)

14,965

(116,742)

(116,742)

(669)

(117,411)

577,403

(5,112)

757,417

1,329,708

1,215

1,330,923

 
34  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

CONSOLIdATEd STATEMENT 
of caSH FLoWS 

For the year ended 30 June 2017

IN NZD 000

Cash flows from operating activities

Profit before tax

Adjustments for:

Depreciation and amortisation 

Unrealised foreign exchange loss

Interest expense

Bad debts and movement in provision for doubtful debts

Amortisation of bond issue costs 

Other non-cash items

Movement in working capital items:

Increase in receivables

(Decrease)/increase in payables

Decrease/(increase)  in programme rights

Cash generated from operations

Interest paid

Income tax paid

Net cash from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

Acquisition of property, plant, equipment and intangibles

Acquisition of available for sale investment 

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Repayment of borrowings – bank loan

Advances received – bank loan

Repayment of borrowings – bond

Payment of finance lease liabilities

Payment of bank facility fees

Dividend paid to minority shareholders

Dividends paid

Net cash used in financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Notes

2017

2016

167,572

204,990

3

4

4

3

4

1

 11

11

105,148

(212)

21,010

1,732

361

54

(2,204)

(7,749)

762

286,474

(22,704)

(18,509)

245,261

42 

(79,682)

 –   

(79,640)

(111,000)

261,000 

(200,000)

 –   

(725)

(243)

(132,072)

(183,040)

(17,419)

22,863 

5,444 

100,241

305

20,379

2,427

573

419

(2,736)

23,576

(6,952)

343,222

(20,920)

(46,458)

275,844

  –   

(128,803)

(4,832)

(133,635)

(103,000)

103,000 

  –   

(3,294)

(1,571)

(669)

(131,707)

(137,241)

4,968 

17,895 

22,863 

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  35

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS

For the year ended 30 June 2017

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

This section sets out the Group’s accounting policies that relate to the financial statements as a whole. Where an accounting policy  
is specific to one note, the policy is described in the note to which it relates. 

SKY Network Television Limited (SKY) is a Company incorporated and domiciled in New Zealand. The address of its registered office  
is 10 Panorama Road, Mt Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand. The consolidated financial statements of the Group for the year ended  
30 June 2017 comprise the Company, Sky Network Television Limited and its subsidiaries. 

SKY is a company registered under the Companies Act 1993 and is a reporting entity under Part 7 of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013.

The Group’s primary activity is to operate as a provider of multi-channel, pay television and free-to-air television services in New Zealand.

These financial statements were authorised for issue by the Board on 21 August 2017.

Basis of preparation

The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Practice in 
New Zealand (NZ GAAP). The Group is a for-profit entity for the purpose of complying with NZ GAAP. The consolidated financial statements 
comply with New Zealand equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (NZ IFRS), other New Zealand accounting standards and 
authoritative notices that are applicable to entities that apply NZ IFRS. The consolidated financial statements also comply with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).

Accounting policies applied in these financial statements comply with NZ IFRS effective for the year beginning 1 July 2016, as applicable to  
SKY as a profit-oriented entity. The Group financial statements are in compliance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 

These financial statements are prepared on the basis of historical cost except where otherwise identified.

The financial statements are presented in New Zealand dollars.

Group structure 

The Group has a majority share in the following subsidiaries, all of which are incorporated in and have their principal place of business in  
New Zealand:

Name of Entity

Principal Activity 

Parent

Interest held

SKY DMX Music Limited

SKY Ventures Limited

Media Finance Limited

Outside Broadcasting Limited 

Screen Enterprises Limited

Igloo Limited (1)

Believe It Or Not Limited

(1) Ceased trading during the current year

Commercial Music

Investment

Non-trading

Broadcasting services

Online DVD rental

Multi-channel pay television

Entertainment quizzes

SKY

SKY

SKY

SKY

SKY

SKY

SKY

2017

50.50%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

51.00%

2016

50.50%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

100.00%

51.00%

In the prior year Cricket Max Limited was renamed SKY Ventures Limited and given a mandate by the Board to undertake minority equity 
investments in certain early stage companies which are aligned to the Group’s strategic objectives. In March 2016 SKY Ventures acquired a 
15.79% interest in 90 Seconds Pty Limited (a cloud video production company) for a cost of $4.8 million. In the current year the investment was 
diluted to 13.54%. This investment is classified as an available for sale financial asset, recognised initially and subsequently at fair value, with 
changes in fair value recognised in other comprehensive income. The fair value as at 30 June 2017 was $6.6 million (30 June 2016: $4.8 million). 

Basis of consolidation

The Group financial statements consolidate the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries.

The acquisition method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries and businesses by the Group. The consideration 
transferred in a business combination is measured at fair value, which is calculated as the sum of the acquisition date fair value of the assets 
transferred and the liabilities incurred. Each identifiable asset and liability is generally measured at its acquisition date fair value except if another 
NZ IFRS requires another measurement basis. The excess of the consideration of the acquisition and the amount of any non-controlling interest 
in the acquired company, less the Group’s share of the net of the acquisition date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities 
assumed is recognised as goodwill. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred.

 
 
36  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

1. GENERAL INFORMATION (CONTINUEd)
Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities that are controlled, either directly or indirectly, by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to,  
or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns from its power over the entity. 
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date on  
which control ceases.

Intragroup balances and any unrealised gains and losses or income and expenses arising from intragroup transactions, are eliminated  
in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealised losses are eliminated in the same way as are unrealised gains unless the 
transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred.

Transactions with non-controlling interests

Transactions with non-controlling interests that do not result in loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions – that is,  
as transactions with the owners in their capacity as owners. The difference between fair value of any consideration paid and the  
relevant share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded in equity. Gains or losses on disposals to  
non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.

New standards, amendments and interpretations

The Group is currently assessing the impact of the following new standards on its financial position, performance and cash flows:

NZ IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments” (effective date: 1 January 2018)

NZ IFRS 9 simplifies the model for classifying and recognising financial instruments and aligns hedge accounting more closely with  
common risk management practices. Changes in own credit risk in respect of liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss  
can now be presented within OCI. This change can be adopted early without adopting NZ IFRS 9. The new impairment model requires  
the recognition of impairment provisions based on expected credit losses (ECL) rather than only incurred credit losses as it the case  
under NZ IAS 39. It is likely that this will result in earlier recognition of impairment losses.

NZIFRS 9 will impact the classification and measurement of the Group’s financial instruments and will require certain additional  
disclosures and amended hedge documentation. The changes to recognition and measurement of financial instruments and  
changes to hedge accounting rules are not currently considered likely to have any major impact on the Group’s current accounting  
treatment or hedging activities.

NZ IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” (effective date: 1 January 2018)

NZ IFRS 15 deals with revenue recognition and establishes principles for reporting useful information to users of financial statements about  
the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from an entity’s contracts with customers. Revenue is recognised 
when a customer obtains control of a good or service and has the ability to direct the use and obtain the benefits from the good or service.  
The standard is effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018 and earlier application is permitted. The standard permits  
either a full retrospective or a modified retrospective approach for the adoption. The Group intends to adopt NZ IFRS 15 on its effective  
date with full retrospective application.

The Group has carried out a preliminary review of its current sources of revenue with a view to determining whether the requirements of  
NZ IFRS 15 will result in changes to the Group’s current reporting practices, whether those changes will affect the Group’s current reporting 
systems and whether any reclassifications will be required. The Group has identified several sources of revenue which may be affected,  
all of which are unlikely to have a significant effect on the Group’s reported revenue or net results. These include installation revenue,  
customer acquisition costs and discounted services. In addition a review of the agency versus principle considerations in certain third  
party contracts indicates there is a potential increase in revenue, offset by an increase in expenses with no effect on the net result,  
due to reclassification of discounts or commission where the Group is determined to be the principle. 

No significant changes to existing systems and processes have been identified as necessary to comply with NZ IFRS 15. The analysis is  
based on current revenue streams and values and ongoing reassessment of issues and materiality is required, including review of the  
accounting for new offerings. 

NZ IFRS 16 “Leases” (effective date: 1 January 2019)

NZ IFRS 16 will primarily change lease accounting for lessees; lease agreements will give rise to the recognition of an asset representing the 
right to use the leased item and a loan obligation for future lease payables. Lease costs will be recognised in the form of depreciation of the 
right to use asset and interest must be recognised on the lease liability. The new standard will be substantively different for current operating 
leases where rental charges are currently recognised on a straight-line basis and no lease asset or lease obligation is recognised. The standard 
is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019. Early adoption is permitted but only in conjunction with NZ IFRS 15 

“Revenue from Contracts with Customers and the Group intends to adopt the standard from 1 July 2018. 

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  37

The Group has assessed the impact of applying NZ IFRS 16 and determined the adjustments to recognise right of use assets and corresponding 
lease liabilities are likely to be significant. Most of this value relates to the Optus transponder lease which is currently treated as an operating 
lease for accounting purposes. The estimated ratio of net liabilities to total assets would fall from approximately 3.2 to 2.9. 

The adoption of NZ IFRS 16 will not have any significant effect on the Group’s banking covenants since adjustment is already in place to treat 
Optus as if it was a finance lease contract.

Other than NZ IFRS 9 “Financial Instruments’, NZ IFRS 15 “Revenue from contracts with customers” and NZ IFRS 16 “Leases”, there are no new 
standards, amendments or interpretations that have been issued and effective, or not yet effective, that are expected to have a significant  
impact on the Group.

Goods and services tax (GST)

The statement of comprehensive income and statement of cash flows have been prepared so that all components are stated exclusive of GST. 
All items in the balance sheet are stated net of GST, with the exception of receivables and payables, which include GST invoiced.

Segmental reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to SKY’s group of executive directors who are the 
chief operating decision-makers. SKY’s group of executive directors is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the 
operating segments. SKY operates in a single business segment; the provision of multi-channel television services in New Zealand.

2. REVENUE

IN NZD 000

Residential satellite subscriptions

Other subscriptions

Advertising

Other revenue

2017

725,066

82,247

68,084

18,088

2016

753,115

79,286

74,046

21,753

893,485

928,200

Revenue comprises the fair value of the sales of goods and services, net of goods and services tax and is recognised as follows:

Subscription revenue – over the period to which the subscription relates; Unearned subscriptions and deferred revenues are revenues  
that have been invoiced relating to services not yet performed, principally subscriptions paid in advance (refer note 10);

Advertising revenue – over the period in which the advertising is screened;

Other revenue – when the product has been delivered to the customer or retailer or in the accounting period in which the actual  
service is provided. Other revenue comprises revenues received from installation of decoders and other non-subscriber related revenue. 

 
38  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

3. OPERATING EXPENSES
Profit before tax includes the following separate expenses/(credits): 

IN NZD 000

Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (1)

Amortisation of intangibles

Total depreciation and amortisation

Bad and doubtful debts

Movement in provision

Net write-off

Total bad and doubtful debts

Fees paid to external auditors 

Audit fees paid to principal auditors (2)

Other services by principal auditors

Audit of regulatory returns

Other services (3)

Agreed upon procedures (4)

Advisory services by principal auditors

Treasury

Consulting services (5)

Total fees to external auditors 

Professional fees in relation to acquisition of Vodafone NZ

Employee costs (6)

KiwiSaver employer contributions

Donations

Operating lease and rental expenses

Related party transactions

Remuneration of key personnel (included in employee costs)

Directors’ fees

Total related party transactions

Notes

2017

2016

8

9

6

87,570

17,578

89,086

11,155

105,148

100,241

165

1,732

1,897

(218)

2,427

2,209

336

264

3

17

 – 

27

 – 

383

2,145

97,040

2,251

413

37,939

11,949

555

12,504

6

1

 6 

27

 8 

312

 13,371 

100,674

2,244

366

37,265

12,172

626

12,798

(1) The majority of depreciation and amortisation relates to broadcasting assets (refer note 8 and 9).

(2) The audit fee includes the fee for both the annual audit of the financial statements and the review of the interim financial statements.

(3) Other services comprise reporting on trust deed requirements and on matters related to the proposed acquisition of Vodafone NZ.

(4) Agreed upon procedures were undertaken in relation to the Special Shareholders Meeting.

(5) Consulting services in relation to the economic contribution of the NZ film and TV sector.

(6) All employee costs are short-term employee benefits.

Leases under which all the risk and benefits of ownership are substantially retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases. 
Operating lease payments are recognised as an expense in the periods the amounts are payable. 

Employee entitlements to salaries and wages and annual leave, to be settled within 12 months of the reporting date represent present 
obligations resulting from employees’ services provided up to the reporting date, calculated at undiscounted amounts based on 
remuneration rates that the Group expects to pay.

Bonus plans are recognised as a liability and an expense for bonuses based on a formula that takes into account the economic  
value added by employees during the reporting period. The Group recognises this provision where contractually obliged or where  
there is a past practice that has created a constructive obligation.

4. finance coStS, net

IN NZD 000

Finance income

Interest income

Finance expense

Interest expense on bank loans

Interest expense on bonds

Finance lease interest

Amortisation of bond costs 

Bank facility finance fees

Total interest expense

Unrealised exchange loss/(gain) – foreign currency payables

Unrealised exchange (gain)/loss – foreign currency hedges

Realised exchange gain – foreign currency payables

Realised exchange loss – foreign currency hedges

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  39

2017

2016

(540)

(540)

10,663

9,064

 – 

361

922

21,010

812

(1,024)

(648)

10

(695)

(695)

2,127

15,995

31

573

1,653

20,379

(4,962)

5,267

(484)

550

19,620

20,055

Interest income is recognised on a time-proportion basis using the effective interest method, which is the rate that exactly discounts 
estimated future cash flow receipts through the expected life of the financial asset to that asset’s net carrying amount.

Borrowing costs directly attributable to acquisition, construction or production of an asset that takes a substantial period of time to 
prepare for its intended use are capitalised as part of the cost of the respective assets. All other borrowing costs are expensed in the  
period in which they are incurred. Borrowing costs consist of interest and other costs that the Group incurs with the borrowing of funds.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction. Non-monetary  
items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated to New Zealand dollars at the rates prevailing on the 
date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not  
re-translated. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of foreign currency transactions and from the translation at 
the year-end exchange rate of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in profit and loss except 
where hedge accounting is applied and foreign exchange gains and losses are deferred in other comprehensive income.

 
40  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

5. TAXATION
Income tax expense

The total charge for the year can be reconciled to the accounting profit as follows:

IN NZD 000

Profit before tax

Prima facie tax expense at 28%

Non deductible expenses

Prior year adjustment

Income tax expense

Allocated between

Current tax payable

Deferred tax

Income tax expense

Imputation credits

IN NZD 000

Imputation credits available for subsequent reporting periods based on a tax rate of 28%

2017

167,572

46,920

771

3,537

51,228

48,658

2,570

 51,228 

2016

204,990

57,397

585

(115)

57,867

56,261

1,606

 57,867 

2017

 80,158 

2016

 77,347 

The above amounts represent the balance of the imputation account as at the end of the reporting period adjusted for:

•  Imputation credits that will arise from the payment of the amount of the provision for income tax.

•  Imputation debits that will arise from the payment of dividends (excluding the final dividend announced in August).

 Availability of these credits is subject to continuity of ownership requirements. 

Current income tax expense

Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax, except to the extent that it relates to items 
recognised directly in other comprehensive income, in which case the tax expense is also recognised in other comprehensive income.  
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in profit and loss because  
it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable  
or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using the rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the 
balance date.

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  41

Deferred tax liabilities and (assets)

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets and the movements thereon during the current and prior reporting periods.

IN NZD 000

For the year ended 30 June 2017

At 1 July 2016

NZ IAS 39 hedging adjustment recognised through  
other comprehensive income 
Revaluation of available for sale investment recognised 
through other comprehensive income

13

1

(Credited)/charged to profit and loss

Balance at 30 June 2017

Deferred tax reversing within 12 months

Deferred tax to reverse after more than 12 months

Notes

Fixed 
assets

Leased 
assets

Other

Recognised 
directly  
in equity

11,916

31,117

(4,997)

– 

 – 

4,252

16,168

701

15,467

16,168

– 

– 

(3,420)

27,697

(6,950)

34,647

27,697

– 

– 

1,738

(3,259)

(3,140)

(119)

(3,259)

(1,989)

(1,535)

601

– 

(2,923)

(1,404)

(1,519)

(2,923)

Total

36,047

(1,535)

601

2,570

37,683

(10,793)

48,476

37,683

For the year ended 30 June 2016

At 1 July 2015

NZ IAS 39 hedging adjustment credited direct to other 
comprehensive income 

(Credited)/charged to profit and loss

Balance at 30 June 2016
Deferred tax reversing within 12 months

Deferred tax to reverse after more than 12 months

9,028

28,978

(1,576)

12,008

48,438

13

– 

– 

– 

(13,997)

(13,997)

2,888

11,916

2,610

9,306

11,916

2,139

31,117

(5,348)

36,465

31,117

(3,421)

(4,997)

(4,997)

– 

(4,997)

– 

(1,989)

(721)

(1,268)

(1,989)

1,606

36,047

(8,456)

44,503

36,047

Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset as allowed under NZ IAS 12 where there is a legally enforceable right to set off current 
tax assets against current tax liabilities and where the deferred tax assets and liabilities are levied by the same taxation authority.

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets 
and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the financial statements. Deferred income tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial 
recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction, other than a business combination, that at the time of the transaction neither affects 
accounting nor taxable profit or loss. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted 
by the balance date and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability 
is settled. Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against 
which the temporary differences can be utilised.

Key estimates and assumptions

Deferred tax assets are recognised for unused tax losses and other deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable 
that taxable profit will be available against which the losses and other deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Significant 
management judgement is required to determine the amount of deferred tax assets that can be recognised based upon the likely timing 
and level of future taxable profits. No deferred tax asset has been recognised in relation to Igloo Limited’s (IGLOO) accumulated losses of 
$12,150,000 (30 June 2016: $12,150,000). Those tax losses can be carried forward for use against future taxable profits of IGLOO subject 
to meeting the requirements of the income tax legislation including shareholder continuity. 

 
42  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

6. TRAdE ANd OTHER RECEIVABLES

IN NZD 000

Trade receivables

Less provision for impairment of receivables

Trade receivables – net

Other receivables 

Prepaid expenses

Balance at end of year

Deduct prepaid expenses

Balance financial instruments 

IN NZD 000

Residential subscribers

Commercial subscribers

Wholesale customers

Advertising

Commercial music

Other

Notes

2017

 61,529 

(926)

 60,603 

 2,739 

 6,133 

2016

 62,120 

(763)

 61,357 

 678 

 7,995 

 69,475 

 70,030 

14

(6,133)

63,342

(7,995)

62,035

  2017

  2016

Gross

34,390

5,217

9,860

9,219

107

2,736

61,529

Impairment

380

38

 – 

61

37

410

926

Gross

36,435

5,269

10,190

7,057

129

3,040

62,120

Impairment

244

54

 – 

103

17

345

763

Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest 
method, less provision for impairment. Collectability of trade receivables is reviewed on an on-going basis. Debts which are known to be 
uncollectible are written off. A provision for impairment of trade receivables is established when there is objective evidence, such as default 
or delinquency in payments, that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivables. 
The amount of the provision is the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows, 
discounted at the effective interest rate. The amount of the provision is expensed in profit and loss.

As at 30 June, the ageing analysis of trade receivables is as follows:

IN NZD 000

Not past due

Past due 0-30 days

Past due 31-60 days

Past due 61-90 days

Greater than 90 days

Neither 
past due nor 
impaired

54,013

–

–

–

–

54,013

2017

Past due  
but not 
impaired

–

5,344

897

203

 146 

6,590

Neither 
past due nor 
impaired

53,359

– 

–

– 

– 

53,359

Impaired

–

80

23

197

626

926

2016

Past due  
but not 
 impaired

– 

5,863

1,005

331

 799 

7,998

Impaired

 11 

65

40

215

432

763

Accounts receivables relating to advertising sales are individually impaired when it is clear that the debt is unlikely to be recovered. Impairment 
for all other trade receivables is calculated as a percentage of overdue subscribers in various time buckets based on historical performance of 
subscriber payments.

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  43

Movements in the provision for impairment of receivables were as follows:

IN NZD 000

Opening balance

Charged during the year

Utilised during the year

Closing balance

Notes

3

2017

 763 

 1,897 

(1,734)

 926 

2016

 981 

 2,209 

(2,427)

 763 

The creation and release of the provision for impaired receivables has been included in subscriber related costs in profit and loss. Amounts 
charged to the allowance account are generally written off when there is no expectation of receiving additional cash. The maximum  
exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the fair value of each class of receivable. The Group holds collateral in the form of deposits  
for commercial customers.

7. PROGRAMME RIGHTS INVENTORY

IN NZD 000

Opening balance

Acquired during the year

Charged to programming expenses

Balance at end of year

2017

79,765

286,278

(287,040)

79,003

2016

72,813

278,610

(271,658)

79,765

Programme rights are recognised at cost, as an asset in the balance sheet provided the programme is available and the rights period has 
commenced at the balance date. Long-term sports rights are executory contracts as the obligation to pay for the rights does not arise 
until the event has been delivered. Most sports rights contracts are, however, payable in advance and as such, are recognised only to the 
extent of the portion not yet utilised. Rights are expensed over the period they relate to on a proportionate basis depending on the type 
of programme right and the expected screening dates, generally not exceeding twelve months. Any rights not expected to be utilised are 
written off during the period.

 
44  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

8. PROPERTY, PLANT ANd EQUIPMENT

20,478

 2,244 

135,611

8,325

389,194

32,634

319,746

35,767

Disposals

(28)

(20,949)

(143,071)

(126,638)

Balance at 30 June 2017

Net book value at 30 June 2017

22,694

41,577

122,987

278,757

228,875

16,799

74,161

77,371

IN NZD 000

For the year ended 30 June 2017

Cost 

Balance at 1 July 2016

Transfer between categories

Transfer to software assets

Additions

Disposals

Balance at 30 June 2017

Accumulated depreciation

Balance at 1 July 2016

Depreciation for the year

For the year ended 30 June 2016

Cost

Balance at 1 July 2015

Transfer between categories

Transfer to software assets

Additions

Disposals

Balance at 30 June 2016

Accumulated depreciation

Balance at 1 July 2015

Depreciation for the year

Disposals

Balance at 30 June 2016

Net book value at 30 June 2016

Land, 
buildings and 
leasehold 
improvements

Broadcasting 
and studio 
equipment

Decoders and 
associated 
equipment

Capitalised 
installation 
costs

Other  
plant and 
equipment

Projects 
under 
development

Total

 63,589 

 155,268 

 480,382 

 403,530 

 81,551 

 18,655 

1,202,975

– 

 – 

 711 

(29)

 2,043 

 – 

– 

– 

 –

– 

 3,457 

 15,929 

 29,355 

(20,982)

(143,393)

(126,639)

 380 

 – 

 4,234 

(4,534)

(2,423)

– 

(16,232)

(16,232)

 5,228 

58,914

–

(295,577)

64,271

139,786

352,918

306,246

81,631

5,228

950,080

54,630

8,600

(4,529)

58,701

22,930

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

919,659

87,570

(295,215)

712,014

5,228

238,066

 78,241 

 2,043 

 38,553 

1,212,998

(4,530)

 – 

 –

(26,023)

(26,023)

 158,539 

 452,128 

 427,338 

– 

– 

 –

 –

 58,199 

 2,409 

– 

 2,986 

(5)

 78 

 –

 703 

(4,052)

 67,292 

(39,038)

 32,559 

(56,367)

 2,039 

(772)

 10,655 

116,234

 – 

(100,234)

63,589

155,268

480,382

403,530

81,551

18,655

1,202,975

18,213

 2,266 

(1)

20,478

43,111

130,152

9,501

(4,042)

398,063

30,169

336,924

39,189

(39,038)

(56,367)

135,611

389,194

319,746

19,657

91,188

83,784

47,427

7,961

(758)

54,630

26,921

 – 

 – 

– 

 – 

930,779

89,086

(100,206)

919,659

18,655

283,316

Land, buildings and leasehold improvements at 30 June 2017 includes land with a cost of $8,820,000 (30 June 2016: $8,820,000).

Depreciation related to broadcasting assets (including decoders and capitalised installation costs) of $76,726,000 (30 June 2016: $78,859,000) 
accounts for the majority of the total depreciation charge. Due to immateriality of the remaining depreciation, no allocation has been made 
across expense categories in profit and loss. 

 
SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  45

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses except land which is shown  
at cost less impairment. Cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Capitalised installation costs 
are represented by the cost of satellite dishes, installation costs and direct labour costs. Where parts of and item of property, plant and 
equipment have different useful lives, they are accounted for as separate items of property, plant and equipment.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable 
that the future economic benefits embodied within the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably.  
The cost of additions to plant and other assets constructed by the Group consist of all appropriate costs of development, construction  
and installation, comprising material, labour, direct overhead and transport costs. For qualifying assets directly attributable interest  
costs incurred during the period required to complete and prepare the asset for its intended use are capitalised as part of the total cost.  
All other costs are recognised in profit and loss as an expense as incurred. Additions in the current year include $954,000 of capitalised 
labour costs (30 June 2016: $575,000).

Costs may also include transfers from equity of any gains or losses on qualifying cash flow hedges of foreign currency purchases  
of property, plant and equipment.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and recognised in other costs  
in profit and loss.

Depreciation

Property, plant and equipment are depreciated using the straight-line method so as to allocate the costs of assets to their residual  
values over their estimated useful lives as follows:

Assets

Leasehold improvements

Buildings

Broadcasting and studio equipment

Decoders and associated equipment

Other plant and equipment

Capitalised installation costs

Time

5 – 50 years

50 years

5 – 10 years

4 – 5 years

3 – 10 years

5 years

Projects under development are not depreciated until commenced.

The assets’ residual values and useful lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at each balance date.

Key estimates and assumptions

The estimated life of technical assets such as decoders and other broadcasting assets is based on management’s best estimates.  
Changes in technology may result in the economic life of these assets being different from that estimated previously. The board and 
management regularly review economic life assumptions of these assets as part of management reporting procedures.

 
 
46  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

9. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

IN NZD 000

For the year ended 30 June 2017

Cost 

Balance at 1 July 2016

Transfer from projects under development

Additions

Disposals

Balance at 30 June 2017

Accumulated amortisation

Balance at 1 July 2016

Amortisation for the year

Disposals

Balance at 30 June 2017

Net book value at 30 June 2017

For the year ended 30 June 2016

Cost

Balance at 1 July 2015

Transfer from projects under development

Additions

Disposals

Balance at 30 June 2016

Accumulated amortisation

Balance at 1 July 2015

Amortisation for the year

Disposals

Balance at 30 June 2016

Net book value at 30 June 2016

Software

Broadcasting 
rights

Other 
intangibles

Indefinite life 
goodwill

Total

 133,593 

 16,232 

 16,447 

(30,582)

135,690

 86,607 

 16,812 

(30,582)

 72,837 

62,853

 96,849 

 26,023 

 15,949 

(5,228)

 2,185 

 3,167 

 1,426,293 

 1,565,238 

–

–

 – 

– 

– 

 – 

– 

– 

 – 

 16,232 

 16,447 

(30,582)

2,185

3,167

1,426,293

1,567,335

 1,419 

 766 

– 

 2,185 

–

 3,078 

 –

 – 

 3,078 

 962 

 –

 – 

 962 

 92,066 

 17,578 

(30,582)

 79,062 

89

1,425,331

1,488,273

 2,185 

 3,167 

 1,426,293 

 1,528,494 

–

–

– 

– 

– 

 – 

– 

– 

 – 

 26,023 

 15,949 

(5,228)

133,593

2,185

3,167

1,426,293

1,565,238

 81,535 

 10,300 

(5,228)

 86,607 

46,986

 564 

 855 

– 

 1,419 

766

 3,078 

– 

 – 

 3,078 

 962 

– 

 – 

 962 

 86,139 

 11,155 

(5,228)

 92,066 

89

1,425,331

1,473,172

The majority of the amortisation and impairment charge relates to broadcasting intangibles. Consequently no allocation has been made across 
expense categories in profit and loss.

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the net identifiable assets, liabilities  
and contingent liabilities of the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition and the fair value of the non-controlling interest in the 
acquiree. The goodwill balance is allocated to the Group’s single operating segment. The majority of the goodwill ($1,422,115,000) arose as 
a result of the acquisition of SKY by Independent Newspapers Limited (INL) in 2005. Subsequent acquisitions have resulted in immaterial 
increases to goodwill.

Broadcasting rights, consisting of UHF spectrum licences are recognised at cost and are amortised on a straight-line basis over the lesser 
of the period of the licence term and 20 years.

Software development costs recognised as assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives (three to  
five years).

Direct costs associated with the development of broadcasting and business software for internal use are capitalised where it is probable 
that the asset will generate future economic benefits. Capitalised costs include external direct costs of materials and services consumed 
and direct payroll-related costs for employees (including contractors) directly associated with the project and interest costs incurred during 
the development stage of a project. Additions in the current year to software include $8,304,000 of accumulated capitalised labour costs, 
$4,580,000 of which were incurred in the current year.

 
 
 
SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  47

Key estimates and assumptions

Assets that are subject to amortisation and depreciation are tested for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances 
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying 
amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value-in-use. 

Assets that have an indefinite useful life, for example goodwill, are not subject to amortisation and are tested at each reporting date for 
impairment and whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

The Group operates as a single business segment and monitors goodwill for the business as a whole. If the testing indicates the carrying 
value exceeds the recoverable amount, goodwill is considered to be impaired. The recoverable amount of the cash generating unit (CGU) 
as at 30 June 2017, which is classified within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy has been determined based on fair value less cost of disposal 
calculations. This is different from the previous year’s value-in-use calculation as it includes the benefits of proposed changes to the cost 
structure of the business as SKY leverages new technologies and adapts its operating model, some of which would be excluded from a 
value-in-use calculation.

Key assumptions used in fair value less cost of disposal calculations

Key assumptions are subscriber numbers, churn rates, foreign exchange rates, expected changes to revenue and costs, ability to secure  
key content and a discount rate based on current market rates adjusted for risks specific to the business. Growth rates are based on 
expected forecasts and changes in prices and direct costs based on past practice and expectations of future changes in the market. 

The fair value less cost of disposal calculation is based on estimated future cash flows, approved by the board, derived from budgets  
for financial year 2018 and forecasts for the next four years prepared for the impairment model.

SKY’s fair value less cost of disposal calculation exceeds the $1.46 billion carrying value of goodwill by over $130 million. The key 
assumptions used in SKY’s calculation are;

•  A decrease in satellite subscribers of 7.8% over five years

•  A decrease in satellite ARPU of 2.7% over five years

•  A decrease in operating costs of 16.8% over five years

•  A 0% terminal growth assumption

•  A 9.0% after tax (12.5% pre-tax) discount rate

The Group also compares the net book value of equity with the market capitalisation value at the balance date. The share price at  
30 June 2017 was $3.45 (prior year $4.77) equating to a market capitalisation of $1.34 billion. This market value excludes any control 
premium and may not reflect the value of 100% of SKY’s equity. 

Sensitivity of recoverable amounts

The assessment of fair value less cost of disposal is most sensitive to subscriber numbers, future average revenue per user (ARPU),  
the NZD cost of programming rights, future cost saving initiatives, terminal growth rate and the discount rate. 

The following changes in key assumptions or combinations of these factors would cause the fair value less cost of disposal calculation  
to be less than the carrying amount.

•  A decrease in satellite subscriber numbers of more than 10% over five years

•  A decrease in satellite ARPU by more than 5.0% over five years

•  A terminal growth rate assumption of lower than -1.0%

•  A decline in operating costs of less than 14% over five years 

•  An increase in the after tax discount rate above 1.0% 

 
48  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

10. TRAdE ANd OTHER PAYABLES

IN NZD 000

Trade payables

Unearned subscriptions and deferred revenue

Employee entitlements

Accruals

Balance at end of year

Less

Unearned subscriptions and deferred revenue

Balance financial instruments 

Notes

2017

 80,731 

 64,250 

 15,559 

 25,647 

2016

 84,302 

 66,175 

 15,353 

 34,987 

 186,187 

 200,817 

14

(64,250)

121,937

(66,175)

134,642

Trade and other payables are initially measured at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective 
interest method.

11. BORROWINGS

IN NZD 000

Bank loans

Bonds

Repayment terms

IN NZD 000

Less than one year

Between one and five years

More than five years

Bank Loans

2017

2016

Current

Non-current

Total

Current

Non-current

– 

 199,912 

 199,912 

 49,468 

 98,705 

 148,173 

 – 

–

 –

 199,685 

 98,978 

 298,663 

 199,685 

 98,978 

 298,663 

2017

 – 

 298,663 

– 

 298,663 

Total

 49,468 

 298,617 

 348,085 

2016

 199,912 

 49,468 

 98,705 

 348,085 

The Group has a revolving credit bank facility expiring 17 July 2020 from a syndicate of banks comprising ANZ National Bank Limited,  
Bank of New Zealand, Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Westpac Bank. In June 2016, the facility limit was increased to $350 million.  
Interest is charged on drawings under the facility at a rate between 1.45% and 2.15% per annum above the average bid rate for the purchase  
of bank accepted bills of exchange. There is a commitment fee payable on the undrawn balance of the facility of between 0.64% and 0.96%  
per annum. There are no required repayment tranches of the facility. The facility can be partially or fully cancelled at SKY’s discretion.  
In July 2016 the bank facility limit was decreased to $300 million. Cash balances held with the Bank of New Zealand are subject to a netting 
arrangement. Bank overdrafts of $5,701,000 (30 June 2016: $2,744,000) have been set off against the cash balances.

Interest-bearing borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, 
interest-bearing borrowings are stated at amortised cost with any difference between cost and redemption value being recognised in profit 
and loss over the period of the borrowings, using the effective interest method. Arrangement fees are amortised over the term of the loan 
facility. Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at 
least 12 months after the balance date.

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits with maturities of three months or less. Bank overdrafts that are 
repayable on demand and which form an integral part of the Group’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash 
equivalents for the purpose of the statement of cash flows.

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  49

Bonds

On 16 October 2006, the Group issued bonds for a value of $200 million which were fully subscribed (Bond A). These bonds were repaid on  
16 October 2016. Repayment was effected by a drawdown on the Group’s bank facility. 

On 31 March 2014 the Group issued bonds for a value of $100 million which were fully subscribed (Bond B).

Terms and conditions of outstanding bonds are as follows:

Nominal interest rate

Market yield

Issue date

Date of maturity

IN NZD 000

Carrying amount

Fair value

Face value

2017

Bond B

6.25%

4.92%

31-Mar-14

31-Mar-21

 98,978 

 104,529 

 100,000 

Bond A

3.38%

4.97%

16-Oct-06

16-Oct-16

 199,912 

 199,000 

 200,000 

2016

Bond B

6.25%

4.01%

31-Mar-14

31-Mar-21

 98,705 

 109,644 

 100,000 

Bonds are recognised initially at fair value less costs of issue. Costs of issue are amortised over the period of the bonds. Subsequent to initial 
recognition, bonds are stated at amortised cost with any difference between cost and redemption value being recognised in profit and loss 
over the period of the bonds, using the effective interest method. Bonds are classified in the balance sheet as non-current liabilities unless 
settlement of the liability is due within twelve months after the balance date.

Bond A was repaid on the due date of 16 October 2016 and replaced with bank debt.

The difference between carrying amount and fair value has not been recognised in the financial statements as the bonds are intended to be 
held until maturity.

12. Derivative financiaL inStrUMentS 

IN NZD 000

Notes

Assets

Liabilities

Notional 
amounts

Assets

Liabilities

Notional 
amounts

2017

2016

Interest rate swaps – cash flow hedges

Interest rate swaps – fair value through profit and loss

Total interest rate derivatives
Forward foreign exchange contracts – cash flow 
hedges

Forward foreign exchange contracts – dedesignated

Total forward foreign exchange derivatives

Analysed as:

Current

Non-current

Derivatives used for hedging – cash flow hedges 

At fair value through profit or loss

14

14

 – 

 46 

46

324

 17 

341

387

176

 211 

387

324

 63 

387

(5,298)

 188,000 

 – 

 10,000 

(5,298)

 198,000 

 –

 105 

105

(9,663)

 198,000 

 – 

 10,000 

(9,663)

 208,000 

(8,100)

 421,797 

9,481

(7,594)

 478,778 

(1,621)

 46,584 

 – 

(3,364)

 55,057 

(9,721)

 468,381 

(15,019)

 666,381 

9,481

9,586

(10,958)

 533,835 

(20,621)

 741,835 

(9,038)

(5,981)

361,286

305,095

(15,019)

666,381

(13,398)

609,797

(1,621)

 56,584 

2,982

 6,604 

9,586

9,481

 105 

(9,670)

279,281

(10,951)

462,554

(20,621)

741,835

(17,257)

676,778

(3,364)

65,057

(15,019)

666,381

9,586

(20,621)

741,835

 
50  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

12. Derivative financiaL inStrUMentS (CONTINUEd) 

Exchange rates

Foreign exchange rates used at balance date for the New Zealand dollar are:

USD

AUD

GBP

EUR

JPY

2017

0.7315

0.9530

0.5623

0.6402

2016

0.7091

0.9544

0.5276

0.6385

81.9792

72.7466

Forward foreign exchange contracts

The hedged highly probable forecast transactions denominated in foreign currency are expected to occur at various dates during the  
next 36 months. Gains and losses recognised in the hedging reserve in equity (note 13) on forward exchange contracts as of 30 June 2017 
are recognised in profit and loss in the period or periods during which the hedged forecast transaction affects profit and loss. Generally,  
the gain or loss is recognised as a basis price adjustment for the purchase of programme rights, and is written off to profit and loss over  
the rights’ period.

Credit risk – derivative financial instruments

The maximum exposure to credit risk on the derivative financial instruments is the value of the derivative assets’ receivable portion of  
$387,000 (2016: $9,586,000).

Exposure to currency risk

The Group’s exposure to foreign currency risk that has been covered by forward foreign exchange contracts is as follows:

IN NZD 000

Foreign currency payables 

Dedesignated forward exchange contracts

Net balance sheet exposure

Forward exchange contracts (for forecasted transactions)

273,746

147,082

Total forward exchange contracts

303,667

163,746

2017

2016

USD

AUD

Other

USD

AUD

Other

(28,822)

(22,275)

29,921

1,099

16,664

(5,611)

 –

– 

 – 

968

968

(26,592)

(24,542)

34,251

7,659

20,806

(3,736)

326,853

151,248

361,104

172,054

–

– 

 –

677

677

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  51

Sensitivity analysis

A 10% strengthening or weakening of the NZD against the following currencies as at 30 June would have resulted in changes to equity (hedging 
reserve) and unrealised gain/losses (before tax) as shown below. Based on historical movements, a 10% increase or decrease in the NZD is 
considered to be a reasonable estimate. This analysis assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, remain constant. The analysis  
is performed on the same basis for the prior year.

IN NZD 000 gain/(loss)

As at 30 June 2017

Foreign currency payables

USD 

AUD

Foreign exchange hedges

USD

AUD

Other

As at 30 June 2016

Foreign currency payables

USD 

AUD

Foreign exchange hedges

USD

AUD

Other

Interest rates

10% rate increase 
stronger NZD

10% rate decrease 
weaker NZD

Equity

Profit 
or loss

Equity

Profit 
or loss

– 

– 

(23,707)

(12,936)

(85)

2,622

2,025

(1,725)

(1,475)

– 

– 

– 

(3,205)

(2,475)

29,048

15,822

103

2,110

1,803

– 

(36,728)

1,447

44,973

(1,767)

– 

– 

(29,112)

(13,018)

(62)

(42,192)

2,417

2,230

(2,812)

(1,843)

– 

(8)

– 

– 

(2,954)

(2,726)

35,582

15,911

75

51,568

3,437

2,253

– 

10

During the year ended 30 June 2017, interest rates on borrowings varied in the range of 3.2% to 6.5% (2016:3.2% to 6.5%).

The Group’s interest rate structure is as follows:

IN NZD 000

Assets

2017

2016

Effective 
interest rate

Notes

Current Non-current

Effective 
interest rate

Current Non-current

Cash and cash equivalents

2.31%

5,444

 –

2.02%

22,863

 – 

Liabilities

Bank loans

Bonds

Derivatives

Floating to fixed interest rate swaps

Fixed to floating interest rate swaps

11

11

5.36%

6.04%

 –

 – 

(199,685)

6.19%

 – 

(49,468)

(98,978)

5.33%

(199,912)

(98,705)

 108,000 

80,000

 – 

 10,000 

 – 

 –

198,000

 10,000 

113,444

(208,663)

(177,049)

59,827

Gains and losses recognised in the hedging reserve in equity (note 13) on interest rate hedges as at 30 June 2017 will be continuously released  
to profit and loss within finance cost until the repayment of the bank borrowings and bonds. On 16th October 2016 the revolving credit facility 
was utilised to repay the bond.

 
52  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

12. Derivative financiaL inStrUMentS (CONTINUEd) 

Sensitivity analysis for interest-bearing instruments

A change of 100 basis points in interest rates on the reporting date, would have increased/(decreased) equity (hedging reserve) and profit or loss 
(before tax) by the amounts shown below. Based on historical movements a 100 basis point movement is considered to be a reasonably possible 
estimate. The analysis is performed on the same basis for the prior year. This analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant.

IN NZD 000 gain/(loss)

As at 30 June 2017

Variable rate instruments – bank loans

Interest rate hedges – cash flow

As at 30 June 2016

Variable rate instruments – bank loans

Interest rate hedges – cash flow

100 BP increase

100 BP decrease

Equity

Profit 
and loss

Equity

Profit 
and loss

 – 

(1,938)

 –

1,938

1,710

1,710

 – 

3,507

3,507

 –

(1,938)

(1,762)

(1,762)

 – 

1,938

(266)

 – 

(266)

 – 

(3,633)

(3,633)

266

 – 

266

Derivative financial instruments are used to hedge the Group’s exposure to foreign exchange and interest rate risks. The Group does not 
hold or issue derivatives for trading purposes. However derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting are accounted for as trading 
instruments. Derivative financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are re-
measured at their fair value at subsequent reporting dates. The method of recognising the resulting gain or loss depends on whether  
the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument and, if so, the nature of the item being hedged. 

 At inception the Group documents the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management 
objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. This process includes linking all derivatives designated as hedges to 
specific assets and liabilities or to specific firm commitments or forecast transactions. The Group also documents its assessment, both at 
hedge inception and on an on-going basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting 
changes in cash flows of hedged items.

Derivatives consist mainly of currency forwards and interest rate swaps. The fair value is recognised in the hedging reserve within equity 
until such time as the hedged item will affect profit and loss. The amounts accumulated in equity are either released to profit and loss 
or used to adjust the carrying value of assets purchased. For example, when hedging forecast purchase of programme rights in foreign 
currency, the gains and losses previously deferred in equity are transferred from equity and included in the initial measurement of the  
cost of the programme rights. The deferred amounts are ultimately recognised in programme rights’ expenses in profit and loss. 

Amounts accumulated in the hedging reserve in equity on interest rate swaps are recycled in profit and loss in the periods when the 
hedged item affects profit and loss (for example when the forecast interest payment that is hedged is made). The gain or loss relating to any 
ineffective portion is recognised in profit and loss as “interest rate swaps - fair value” in finance costs. The gain or loss relating to interest rate 
swaps which do not qualify for hedge accounting is recognised in profit and loss within the interest expense charge in “finance costs, net”.

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or 
loss existing in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognised when the forecast transaction is ultimately recognised in profit and 
loss. When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately 
transferred to profit and loss. Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are 
recognised immediately in profit and loss.

13. EQUITY

Share capital

Shares on issue at 30 June 2017 and 30 June 2016

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  53

Number of shares 
(000)

Share capital 
(NZD 000)

389,140

577,403

Ordinary shares are fully paid and have no par value. The shares rank equally, carry voting rights and participate in distributions. 

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number of 
ordinary shares in issue during the year.

Profit after tax attributable to equity holders of Parent (NZD 000)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares on issue (thousands)

Basic earnings per share (cents)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Issued ordinary shares at beginning of year

Issued ordinary shares at end of year 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Diluted earnings per share

2017

116,026

389,140

29.82

2016

146,718

389,140

37.70

Number

Number

389,139,785

389,139,785

389,139,785

389,139,785

389,139,785

389,139,785

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average of ordinary shares outstanding to assume conversion of all dilutive 
potential ordinary shares. SKY had no dilutive potential ordinary shares during the current or prior period. 

Hedging reserve

IN NZD 000

Balance at 1 July

Cash flow hedges

Unrealised gains/(losses) during the year

Transfer to basis price adjustment programme rights inventory

Transfer to operating expenses

Deferred tax 

Balance at end of year

Notes

5

2017

(5,112)

(11,189)

4,712

992

1,535

(3,950)

(9,062)

2016

30,880

(44,681)

(3,865)

(1,443)

13,997

(35,992)

(5,112)

 
54  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

14. financiaL riSK ManaGeMent

Financial risk management objectives

The Group undertakes transactions in a range of financial instruments which include cash and cash deposits, receivables, payables, derivatives 
and various forms of borrowings including bonds and bank loans.

These activities result in exposure to financial risks that include market risk (currency risk, fair value interest rate risk, cash flow interest rate risk 
and price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group seeks to minimise the effects of currency and interest rate risks by using derivative financial instruments to hedge these risk 
exposures. The use of financial derivatives is governed by the Group’s policies approved by the board of directors, which provides written 
principles on foreign exchange risk, interest rate risk, credit risk, the use of financial derivatives and non-derivative financial instruments,  
and the investment of excess liquidity. The Group does not enter into or trade financial instruments, including derivative financial instruments,  
for speculative purposes.

The Corporate Treasury function reports monthly to the board of directors. The board has an audit and risk committee which is responsible  
for developing and monitoring the Group’s risk management policies.

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates will affect the Group’s income or the 
value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within 
acceptable parameters, while optimising the return on risk.

The Group buys and sells derivatives in the ordinary course of business, and also incurs financial liabilities, in order to manage market risks.  
All such transactions are carried out within the guidelines set by the board. Generally the Group seeks to apply hedge accounting in order  
to manage income statement volatility.

a) Foreign exchange risk

The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising from various currency exposures primarily with respect to the Australian dollar and the 
United States dollar in relation to purchases of programme rights and the lease of transponders on the satellite. Foreign exchange risk arises 
when purchases are denominated in a currency that is not the entity’s functional currency. The net position in each foreign currency is managed 
by using forward currency contracts and foreign currency options and collars to limit the Group’s exposure to currency risk.

The Group’s risk management policy is to hedge foreign capital expenditure (Capex) and foreign operating expenditure (Opex) in accordance 
with the following parameters. Approximately 90% of anticipated transactions in each major currency qualify as ‘highly probable’ forecast 
transactions for hedge accounting purposes.

Capex

Capex order greater than NZD $250,000

Time of issuing order

100%

100%

Period

Minimum 
hedging

Maximum 
hedging

Opex

Fixed commitments

Opex

Variable commitments

Up to 3 years

> 3 years

0-12 months

13-24 months

25-26 months

100%

0%

85%

0%

0%

100%

100%

95%

50%

30%

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  55

b) Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk

The Group’s interest rate risk arises from long-term borrowings. Borrowings issued at variable rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate 
risk. Borrowings issued at fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk. Group policy is to maintain its borrowings in fixed rate 
instruments as follows:

Variable rate borrowings

Period

1-3 years

3-5 years

5-10 years

Minimum 
hedging

Maximum 
hedging

20%

20%

0%

80%

60%

30%

The Group manages its cash flow interest rate risk by using floating-to-fixed interest rate swaps. Such interest rate swaps have the economic 
effect of converting borrowings from floating rates to fixed rates. Under the interest rate swaps, the Group agrees with other parties to exchange, 
at specified intervals (quarterly), the difference between fixed contract rates and floating rate interest amounts calculated by reference to the 
agreed notional principal amounts. The Group also enters into fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps to hedge fair value interest rate risk arising 
where it has borrowed at fixed rates.

c) Price risk

The Group does not have any price risk exposure. 

Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual obligations 
and arises from cash and cash equivalents, deposits with banks, derivative financial instruments and the Group’s receivables from customers.

The Group has no significant concentrations of credit risk. 

Credit risk with respect to trade receivables is limited due to the large number of subscribers included in the Group’s subscriber base. In addition, 
receivables balances are monitored on an on-going basis with the result that the Group’s exposure to bad debts is not significant. The Group 
establishes an allowance for impairment that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of trade receivables. The main components of 
this allowance are a specific loss component that relates to individually significant exposures, and a collective loss component established for 
groups of similar assets in respect of losses that have been incurred but not yet identified. The collective loss allowance is determined based on 
historical data of payment statistics for similar financial assets. The maximum exposure is the carrying amount as disclosed in note 6. 

Derivative counterparties and cash transactions are limited to high credit quality financial institutions. The Group has policies that limit the 
amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution. 

Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. Prudent liquidity risk management implies 
maintaining sufficient cash and cash equivalents, the availability of funding through an adequate amount of committed credit facilities and the 
ability to close out market positions. The Group aims to maintain flexibility in funding by keeping committed credit lines available.

Management monitors the Group’s cash requirements on a daily basis against expected cash flows based on a rolling daily cash flow forecast  
for at least 90 days in advance. In addition the Group compares actual cash flow reserves against forecast and budget on a monthly basis.

The Group had an undrawn facility balance of $100,000,000 (June 2016: $300,000,000) that can be drawn down to meet short-term working 
capital requirements. In July 2016, the facility limit was decreased to $300,000,000, from $350,000,000. 

 
56  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd  
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

14. financiaL riSK ManaGeMent (CONTINUEd)

The table below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining period from the balance date 
to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted cash flows, including interest payments in 
respect of financial liabilities and the net settled interest rate derivatives that are in a loss position at balance date. Balances due within 12 months 
equal their carrying value as the impact of discounting is not significant. 

IN NZD 000

At 30 June 2017

Non derivative financial liabilities

Secured bank loans 

Bonds

Trade and other payables

Derivative financial liabilities
Forward exchange contracts used  
for hedging – net outflow/inflow (1)

Interest rate swaps (1)

At 30 June 2016

Non derivative financial liabilities

Secured bank loans 

Bonds

Trade and other payables

Derivative financial liabilities
Forward exchange contracts used  
for hedging – net outflow/inflow (1)

Interest rate swaps (1)

Notes

Carrying 
amount

Contractual 
cash flows

Less than 
one year

1-2 years

2-5 years

11

11

10

12

12

11

11

10

12

12

199,685 

(221,204)

98,978 

(123,438)

(6,960)

(6,250)

121,937 

(121,937)

(121,937)

(6,960)

(6,250)

 –

(207,284)

(110,938)

 – 

9,721 

5,298 

(9,911)

(6,598)

(2,279)

(1,034)

(5,242)

(3,534)

(1,257)

(451)

435,619

(481,732)

(145,279)

(16,746)

(319,707)

49,468 

(57,688)

(1,900)

298,617 

(333,068)

(209,630)

134,642 

(134,642)

(134,642)

(1,900)

(6,250)

 – 

(53,888)

(117,188)

– 

10,958 

(11,159)

(9,041)

(1,440)

(678)

9,663 

(8,867)

(4,325)

(3,099)

(1,443)

503,348

(545,424)

(359,538)

(12,689)

(173,197)

(1) The table excludes the contractual cash flows of the interest rate swaps and forward exchange contracts which are included in assets..

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  57

The table below analyses the Group’s foreign exchange derivative financial instruments which will be settled on a gross basis into relevant 
maturity groupings based on the remaining period at the balance date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table  
are the contractual undiscounted cash flows. Inflows have been calculated using balance date spot rates. 

Contractual 
cash flows 
foreign 
exchange 
amount

Exchange 
rate

Contractual 
cash flows

Less than 
one year

1-2 years

3-5 years

(303,668)

(163,746)

(636)

293,062

160,778

599

(13,611)

(361,104)

(172,054)

(677)

354,994

166,577

678

(11,586)

(151,636)

(100,682)

(636)

146,340

98,857

599

(7,158)

(163,481)

(105,123)

(677)

160,715

101,777

678

(6,111)

(73,242)

(43,218)

 – 

70,684

42,435

 – 

(78,790)

(19,846)

 – 

76,038

19,486

 – 

(3,341)

(3,112)

(76,474)

(47,279)

–

75,180

45,774

 –

(121,149)

(19,652)

 – 

119,099

19,026

 – 

(2,799)

(2,676)

0.7315

0.9530

81.9792

 214,375 

 153,221 

 49,084 

0.7091

0.9544

72.7466

 251,727 

 158,981 

 49,329 

IN NZD 000

At 30 June 2017

Forward foreign exchange contracts 

Outflow (at FX hedge rate)

USD

AUD

YEN

Inflow (at year end market rate)

USD

AUD

YEN

At 30 June 2016

Forward foreign exchange contracts 

Outflow (at FX hedge rate)

USD

AUD

YEN

Inflow (at year end market rate)

USD

AUD

YEN

Capital risk management

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns  
for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital. The Group’s  
overall strategy for capital risk management remains unchanged from 2016.

The capital structure of the Group consists of debt which includes the borrowings disclosed in note 11, cash and cash equivalents and equity 
attributable to equity holders of the Parent comprising share capital, hedging reserve and retained earnings as disclosed in note 13. 

The board reviews the Group’s capital structure on a regular basis. The Group has a facility agreement in place with a syndicate of banks and  
a retail bond issue as described in note 11.

 
58  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

14. financiaL riSK ManaGeMent (CONTINUEd)

The gearing ratio at the year-end was as follows:

IN NZD 000

Debt 

Cash and cash equivalents

Net debt

Equity

Net debt to equity ratio

Notes

11

2017

 298,663 

(5,444)

 293,219 

 1,327,878 

22%

2016

 348,085 

(22,863)

 325,222 

 1,330,923 

24%

The Group’s bank loan facility is subject to a number of covenants, including interest and debt cover ratios, calculated and reported quarterly, 
with which it has complied for the entire year reported (2016: complied). 

Fair value estimation

The methods used to estimate the fair value of financial instruments are as follows:

Level 1:  Quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2:    Inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly (that is,as prices)  

or indirectly (that is, derived from prices).

Level 3:   Inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is unobservable inputs), for example discounted  

cash flow.

SKY’s financial assets and liabilities carried at fair value are valued on a level 2 basis other than the available for sale investment (refer note 1)  
that is valued on a level 3 basis. 

IN NZD 000

Assets measured at fair value

Trading derivatives – dedesignated or not hedge accounted

Derivatives used for hedging – cash flow hedges

Available for sale investment

Total assets 

Liabilities measured at fair value

Trading derivatives – dedesignated or not hedge accounted

Derivatives used for hedging – cash flow hedges

Total liabilities

Notes

2017

2016

12

12

1

12

12

 63 

324

6,552

6,939

(1,621)

(13,398)

(15,019)

 105 

9,481

4,832

14,418

(3,364)

(17,257)

(20,621)

The fair value of financial instruments that are not traded in an active market is determined by using valuation techniques. These valuation 
techniques maximise the use of observable market data where it is available and rely as little as possible on entity specific estimates. If all 
significant inputs required to fair value an instrument are observable, the instrument is included in level 2.

The Group uses a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions existing at each balance date. Techniques, such as 
estimated discounted cash flows, are used to determine the fair value of financial instruments. The fair value of forward exchange contracts is 
based on market forward foreign exchange rates at year end. The fair value of interest rate swaps is the estimated amount that the Group would 
receive or pay to terminate the swap at the reporting date, taking into account current interest rates, observable yield curves and the current 
creditworthiness of the swap counterparties. 

 
SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  59

Fair value of financial instruments carried at amortised cost

IN NZD 000

Financial assets 

Loans and receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Trade and other receivables

Total assets

Financial liabilities held at amortised cost

Bank loans 

Bonds 

Trade and other payables 

Total liabilities

2017

2016

Notes

Carrying 
Amount

Fair 
Value

Carrying 
Amount

Fair 
Value

6

11

11

10

5,444

63,342

68,786

199,685

98,978

121,937

420,600

5,444

63,342

68,786

198,037

104,529

121,937

424,503

22,863

62,035

84,898

49,468

298,617

134,642

482,727

22,863

62,035

84,898

44,366

308,644

134,642

487,652

The fair values of financial assets and financial liabilities are determined as follows:

Cash and short-term deposits, trade and other receivables carried at amortised cost, trade and other payables, and other current liabilities 
approximate their carrying amounts largely due to the short-term maturities of these instruments.

The fair value of quoted notes and bonds is based on price quotations at the reporting date being a level 1 basis. The fair value of loans from 
banks and lease liabilities is estimated on a level 3 basis by discounting future cash flows using rates currently available for debt on similar terms, 
credit risk and remaining maturities. The fair value of related party receivables is estimated on a level 3 basis by discounting future cash flows 
using rates currently available for deposits on similar terms.

Classification

Financial assets are classified in the following categories: at fair value through profit or loss, or loans and receivables. The classification 
depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets  
at initial recognition and re-evaluates this designation at each reporting date.

All purchases and sales of financial assets are recognised on the trade date, which is the date that the Group commits to purchase the 
assets. Purchases or sales of financial assets are sales or purchases that require delivery of assets within the period generally established  
by regulation or convention in the marketplace.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss are financial assets held for trading. A financial asset is classified in this category if 
acquired principally for the purpose of selling in the short-term. Derivatives are categorised as held for trading unless they are designated 
as hedges. Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value of the “financial assets at fair value through profit or loss” category are 
recognised in profit and loss.

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market.  
They are included in current assets, except for those assets with maturities greater than 12 months after the balance date when they are 
classified as non-current assets. The Group’s loans and receivables comprise trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents  
in the balance sheet. Gains or losses are recognised in profit or loss when the loans and receivables are derecognised or impaired as well  
as through the amortisation process.

Impairment of financial assets

The Group assesses at each balance date whether there is objective evidence, such as default or delinquency in payment, that a financial 
asset or group of financial assets is impaired. If there is objective evidence that an impairment loss on assets carried at amortised cost 
has been incurred, the amount of the loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of 
estimated future cash flows discounted at the financial asset’s original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced 
through use of an allowance account with the amount of the loss being recognised in profit or loss.

 
 
60  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIdATEd 
financiaL StateMentS (CONTINUEd)

For the year ended 30 June 2017

15. COMMITMENTS

IN NZD 000

Operating leases – future minimum lease payments:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Later than five years

Contracts for transmission services:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Contracts for future programmes:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Later than five years

Capital expenditure commitments:

Property, plant and equipment

Year 1

Other services commitments:

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

2017

2016

35,134

33,873

33,285

33,170

14,006

72

35,978

34,323

33,413

33,140

33,102

14,049

149,540

184,005

4,697

539

245

 – 

6,428

2,951

539

245

5,481

10,163

202,415

181,110

146,953

83,361

33,391

19,331

187,787

184,703

155,257

115,457

66,366

30,449

666,561

740,019

8,813

8,813

7,508

1,562

978

970

193

16,197

16,197

7,190

2,650

526

–

–

11,211

10,366

The Group has entered into a contract with Optus Networks Pty Limited (Optus) to lease transponders on the D1 satellite which was launched 
in October 2006 and commissioned in November 2006. The contract is for a period of 15 years from the time of commissioning with monthly 
payments in Australian dollars. This contract is accounted for as an operating lease. Non-cancellable operating lease payments, including Optus 
lease payments, are included in operating leases above.

SKY is currently utilising seven transponders, six of which are on a long-term lease. Access to the seventh transponder was negotiated,  
effective from 1 April 2011, to enable the launch of additional channels. The cost of leasing the seventh transponder for the first three years  
to 31 March 2014 is based on a revenue share of certain specified SKY channels. Payments thereafter are for a fixed amount. 

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  61

16. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

The Group has undrawn letters of credit at 30 June 2017 of $650,000 (30 June 2016: $650,000), relating to Datacom Employer Services  
for SKY executive and Screen Enterprises Limited payroll liabilities in the current year.

The Group is subject to litigation incidental to their business, none of which is expected to be material. No provision has been made in the 
Group’s financial statements in relation to any current litigation and the directors believe that such litigation will not have a significant effect  
on the Group’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

17. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On 21 August 2017 the Board of Directors announced that it will pay a fully imputed dividend of 12.5 cents per share with the record date  
being 5 September 2017. A supplementary dividend of 2.2059 cents per share will be paid to non-resident shareholders subject to the  
foreign investor tax credit regime.

 
62  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

INdEPENdENT AUdITOR’S REPORT

To the shareholders of SKY Network Television Limited

The consolidated financial statements comprise:

•  the consolidated balance sheet as at 30 June 2017;

•  the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year then ended;

•  the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year then ended;

•  the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended; and

•  the notes to the consolidated financial statements, which include significant accounting policies.

OUR OPINION 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements of SKY Network Television Limited (SKY or the Company), including its subsidiaries (the 
Group), present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Group as at 30 June 2017, its financial performance and its cash flows 
for the year then ended in accordance with New Zealand Equivalents to International Financial Reporting Standards (NZ IFRS) and International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS). 

BASIS FOR OPINION 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (New Zealand) (ISAs NZ) and International Standards on 
Auditing (ISAs). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the consolidated 
financial statements section of our report. 

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 

We are independent of the Group in accordance with Professional and Ethical Standard 1 (Revised) Code of Ethics for Assurance Practitioners 
(PES 1) issued by the New Zealand Auditing and Assurance Standards Board and the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants’  
Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (IESBA Code), and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with  
these requirements. 

Our firm carries out other services for the Group in the areas of assurance over regulatory and trustee reporting, treasury advisory services 
and matters related to the proposed acquisition of Vodafone NZ. In addition, certain partners and employees of our firm may subscribe to SKY 
services on normal terms within the ordinary course of the trading activities of the Group. The provision of these other services has not impaired 
our independence.

OUR AUdIT APPROACH

Overview

An audit is designed to obtain reasonable assurance whether the financial statements are free from  
material misstatement.

For the purpose of our audit, we applied a threshold of overall group materiality of $8.5 million, which represents 5%  
of profit before tax, adjusted to exclude non-recurring costs of $2.1 million in relation to the acquisition of Vodafone NZ.

We chose adjusted profit before tax as the benchmark because, in our view, it is the benchmark against which the 
performance of the Group is most commonly measured by users, and is a generally accepted benchmark..

Key audit matter

•  Carrying value of goodwill

Materiality

The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. 

Based on our professional judgement, we determined certain quantitative thresholds for materiality, including the overall Group materiality for 
the consolidated financial statements as a whole as set out above. These, together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the 
scope of our audit, the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually and in 
aggregate on the consolidated financial statements as a whole.

PricewaterhouseCoopers, 188 Quay Street, Private Bag 92162, Auckland 1142, New Zealand 
T: +64 (9) 355 8000, F: +64 (9) 355 8001, www.pwc.com/nz

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  63

Audit scope

We designed our audit by assessing the risks of material misstatement in the consolidated financial statements and our application of materiality. 
As in all of our audits, we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls including among other matters, consideration of 
whether there was evidence of bias that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.

We tailored the scope of our audit in order to perform sufficient work to enable us to provide an opinion on the consolidated financial statements 
as a whole, taking into account the structure of the Group, the accounting processes and controls, and the industry in which the Group operates.

The Group’s finance function is centralised at the Head Office in Auckland. All audit work in respect of the consolidated financial statements was 
performed by the Group engagement team. 

KEY AUdIT MATTERS 
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated financial 
statements of the current year. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements as a whole, 
and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

Key Audit Matter

Carrying value of goodwill 

The Group has a goodwill balance of $1,425 million at 30 June 2017 
that arose on the acquisition of SKY by Independent Newspapers 
Limited in 2005. No impairment charge has been recorded against 
this balance in previous financial years. SKY’s business is affected by 
digital disruption in the media industry and this increases the risk  
of impairment.

The carrying value of goodwill is dependent on future cash flows 
and there is risk that if these cash flows do not meet the Group’s 
expectations that goodwill will be impaired. 

To assess whether or not there is an impairment in the carrying value 
of goodwill management utilised a fair value less costs of disposal 
methodology to determine the value of the business, including 
goodwill, using discounted cash flows. The estimated future cash 
flows used in the model were based on the budget for the next 
financial year and forecast cash flows for the following four years 
prepared for the purposes of the impairment model.

In prior years management used a value in use methodology.  
The forecasts in the current model include the benefit of cost 
savings expected in response to the changes in SKY’s business and 
the marketplace, some of which would be excluded under a value 
in use methodology. Consequently, at 30 June 2017 management 
considered the recoverable amount using the fair value less costs  
of disposal methodology as being the most appropriate approach.

The cash flow forecasts used in the model involve subjective 
estimates about future business performance. Certain assumptions 
made by management in the impairment review are key estimates, 
including subscriber numbers and churn rates, average revenue 
per user (ARPU), ability to continue to secure key content, foreign 
exchange rates, expected changes to revenue and costs, overall 
long-term growth rates and discount rates used. Adverse changes in 
these assumptions might lead to an impairment in the carrying value 
of goodwill. 

In their assessment management determined that the model was 
most sensitive to changes in the assumptions relating to subscriber 
numbers, ARPU, reductions achieved in operating expenses, the 
discount rate and the long term growth rate.

How our audit addressed the key audit

We obtained management’s fair value less costs of disposal model 
used to assess the carrying value of goodwill at 30 June 2017.

Our audit procedures included the following:

Assessing management’s processes and controls over preparing  
the model.

Assessed the appropriateness of using a fair value less costs of 
disposal approach against the applicable accounting standard.

Tested the calculation of the valuation model, including the inputs 
and the mathematical accuracy and comparison to the relevant net 
assets of the business.

Assessed the key estimates and assumptions made by management. 
Our procedures included the following:

•   Ensured that the impairment model used by management to assess 

the impairment of goodwill was approved by the Board.

•   Considered the reasonableness of key assumptions, including 
movements in subscriber numbers, ARPU, foreign exchange  
rates, expected revenue and costs in the next 5 years and the  
long-term growth rate with reference to SKY’s performance 
historically, particularly in recent periods, analysis of subscriber 
tenure and churn, key initiatives being taken and comparison to 
available broker reports. 

•   We engaged our own expert to review the structure of the model, 
to recalculate the weighted average cost of capital used as the 
discount rate in the model and to review external evidence for  
the rate used for cost of disposal. We determined that the rates 
used by management are within a reasonable range given 
estimation uncertainty.

•   We reviewed management’s secondary assessment of fair value 
less costs of disposal based on market capitalisation at balance 
date. We used our own expert to assess the control premium 
against historical market data and determined that it is within an 
acceptable range given estimation uncertainty.

 
64  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

INdEPENdENT AUdITOR’S REPORT (CONTINUEd)

To the shareholders of SKY Network Television Limited

Key Audit Matter

How our audit addressed the key audit

Management also considered market capitalisation at balance  
date as a secondary assessment of fair value less costs of disposal, 
taking into account that market capitalisation does not include any 
control premium.

As a result of the impairment review, the Directors have identified  
that whilst there is no impairment in the carrying value of goodwill 
at 30 June 2017, there are reasonably possible changes in key 
assumptions that could result in impairment, as disclosed in note 9. 

•   We obtained and evaluated management’s sensitivity analyses to 
ascertain the impact of reasonably possible changes. For each of 
the scenarios we tested the mathematical accuracy of the model, 
assessed whether the changes were reasonably possible and tested 
the impact of those changes on the valuation. 

We reviewed the disclosures in note 9 to the financial statements to 
ensure they are compliant with the requirements of the accounting 
standards.

No significant issues arose from undertaking these procedures.

inforMation otHer tHan tHe financiaL StateMentS anD aUDitor’S rePort
The Directors are responsible for the annual report. Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information 
included in the annual report and we do not, and will not, express any form of assurance conclusion on the other information. 

In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider 
whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or 
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed on the other information that we obtained prior to the 
date of this auditor’s report, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.  
We have nothing to report in this regard except that not all other information was available to us at the date of our signing.

reSPonSiBiLitieS of tHe DirectorS for tHe conSoLiDateD financiaL StateMentS
The Directors are responsible, on behalf of the Company, for the preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements 
in accordance with NZ IFRS and IFRS, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of 
consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern, 
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to 
liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

aUDitor’S reSPonSiBiLitieS for tHe aUDit of tHe conSoLiDateD financiaL StateMentS
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements, as a whole, are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of 
assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs NZ and ISAs will always detect a material misstatement when 
it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial statements. 

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located at the External Reporting Board’s website at: 

https://xrb.govt.nz/Site/Auditing_Assurance_Standards/Current_Standards/Page1.aspx

This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 

WHO WE REPORT TO
This report is made solely to the Company’s shareholders, as a body. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state those matters 
which we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or 
assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s shareholders, as a body, for our audit work, for this report or for the 
opinions we have formed.

The engagement partner on the audit resulting in this independent auditor’s report is Leopino (Leo) Foliaki.

For and on behalf of: 

Chartered Accountants 
21 August 2017

Auckland

  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  65

OTHER  
INFORMATION

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
INTERESTS REGISTER 
COMPANY AND BONDHOLDER INFORMATION 
WAIVERS AND INFORMATION 
SHARE MARKET AND OTHER INFORMATION  
DIRECTORY  

66
68
70
75
76
77

66  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

This section includes a summary of SKY’s corporate governance 
practices, policies and procedures. SKY has a more detailed 
corporate governance statement available online at  
https://www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations, which provides the  
required disclosures and compliance statements under the  
ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations  
and the NZX Corporate Governance Best Practice Code as at  
21 August 2017. That corporate governance statement has  
been approved by the board. 

BOARd OF dIRECTORS
Membership and Committees 

SKY’s board is elected or appointed by the shareholders of SKY  
by ordinary resolution. SKY’s constitution provides for a minimum  
of three directors and a maximum of ten directors. The actual number 
of directors may be changed by resolution of the board. As at  
30 June 2017, the board consisted of five directors whose relevant 
skills, experience and expertise are outlined in their biographies on 
pages 10 and 11 and in the detailed corporate governance statement 
on SKY’s website. The nomination and remuneration committee has  
a formal process by which it assesses the overall skills, experience 
and diversity required on the board and works with the board to 
ensure that diversity remains one of the key criteria when evaluating 
potential board candidates. The aim of the board is to have a mix of 
skills represented on the board that are relevant to SKY’s business.

The board may appoint directors to fill casual vacancies that occur 
or add persons to the board up to the maximum number prescribed 
by the constitution. At each annual meeting all directors appointed 
by the board must retire and one third of the other directors must 
retire, although they can offer themselves for re-election if they wish. 
Directors’ fees have been set at a maximum amount of $950,000  
per annum since October 2015.

The board operates two permanent board committees,  
namely the audit and risk committee and the nomination and  
remuneration committee. The members of both committees are 
Susan Paterson (Chair), Peter Macourt and Derek Handley.  
A copy of the board charter and both committee charters are 
available on SKY’s website at www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations.

Independent and Executive Directors

At 30 June 2017 all of the directors of SKY other than John Fellet were 
considered to be independent directors. John Fellet is currently the 
only executive director on the board. In determining independence, 
the board applies the materiality thresholds set out in the NZX and 
ASX Listing Rules.

POLICIES, PRACTICES ANd PROCESSES
SKY has a number of policies, practices and processes that establish 
guidelines and practices to be followed in certain circumstances or 
in relation to certain matters. These policies, practices and processes 
are under regular review by management and the board. Further 
information is also set out in the corporate governance statement 
available online at www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations.

Audit and Risk Committee Charter and Audit Independence Policy 

SKY has in place an audit and risk committee charter to govern 
the operation of the audit and risk committee as well as an audit 
independence policy to ensure that SKY’s relationship with its auditors 
is appropriate. The audit and risk committee charter is posted on 
SKY’s website at www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations. The audit and risk 
committee focuses on internal controls and risk management and 
particular areas of emphasis include:

•  adequacy, appropriateness and effectiveness of accounting and 

operating controls;

•  extent of compliance with SKY policies and procedures;

•  accuracy of, and security over, data and information;

•  accountability for SKY’s assets to safeguard against loss;

•  ensuring an effective internal control environment is fostered; and

•  economy and efficiency with which resources are employed.

The audit independence policy is designed to ensure that there is no 
perception of conflict in the independent role of the external auditor. 
It restricts and monitors the types of services that the external auditor 
can provide to SKY, prohibits contingency-type fees and requires 
audit partner rotation every five years. 

Code of Ethics

SKY has a code of ethics which outlines SKY’s policies in respect  
of conflicts of interest, corporate opportunities, confidentiality, insider 
trading and dealing with corporate assets, in addition to encouraging 
compliance with applicable laws and regulations. The code of ethics 
is posted on SKY’s website: www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations.

Investor Communication and Continuous Disclosure

SKY has an investor communication policy and a continuous 
disclosure policy designed to keep both the market and SKY’s 
shareholders properly informed. These policies are designed to 
ensure compliance with SKY’s continuous disclosure obligations 
and include posting press releases, annual reports and other  
investor-focused material on its website. These policies are  
overseen by SKY’s Chief Executive and Chief Financial Officer.  
A copy of these policies are available on SKY’s website at  
www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations.

Diversity Policy

Diversity of gender, skill, age, ethnicity, experience and beliefs 
are valued by SKY. SKY recognises the value of diversity and the 
organisational strength, problem solving ability and innovative 
approach that it brings. The provision of equal opportunities for  
all employees is fundamental to the way in which SKY functions  
as a business. SKY established a diversity policy during 2012  
(updated in 2015) and has posted this on SKY’s website at  
www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations. The board acknowledges there 
is a lot of focus on gender diversity both on boards and within 
companies, and as noted in SKY’s diversity policy, this is one of the 
diversity characteristics that is considered when evaluating new 
director candidates. As at 30 June 2017, SKY’s board had two female 
directors and three male directors (compared to two female directors 
and four male directors as at 30 June 2016). 

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  67

SKY takes a holistic approach to diversity. SKY’s measurable objectives 
for achieving diversity are that: 

•  share a vision and commitment to a safety culture that  
drives continual improvement and resilience at all levels  
within the company.

•  Each year, the board actively considers the composition of the 
board and any opportunities for new directors to join the board 
with diversity (including gender diversity) being one of the key 
criteria when considering new appointments.

•  Each year the board compares the number of female and male 

employees at SKY to the previous financial year’s figures to ensure 
that SKY is maintaining a strong level of female participation at all 
levels of the organisation.

•  Each year the board considers the extent of age diversification  
at SKY by comparing the number of employees aged over and 
under 45 years to the previous financial year’s figures, in order to 
ensure SKY is benefiting from a mix of experience and new ways  
of thinking. 

For the year ended 30 June 2017, the board is satisfied that SKY 
achieved its gender diversity objectives and other measureable 
diversity objectives as follows:

•  The board considered opportunities for new directors to join  

the board with diversity (including gender diversity) in mind for  
new appointments.

•  There was almost equal representation of male and female 

employees across SKY (45% of SKY’s 1,223 staff are female as  
at 30 June 2017, compared to 47% of a total 1,302 staff at 
30 June 2016).

•  The Company had good female participation at all levels of the 

organisation, including 31 female senior executives compared to 
43 male senior executives as at 30 June 2017 (there were 28 female 
senior executives and 47 male senior executives at 30 June 2016)(1).

Insider Trading Policy

SKY has a formal policy in relation to insider trading which is posted 
on SKY’s website at www.sky.co.nz/investor-relations . The policy 
provides that directors, officers and employees of SKY may not buy or 
sell securities in SKY, nor may they tip others, while in the possession 
of inside information. SKY’s policy affirms the law relating to insider 
trading contained in the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 and 
complies with ASX Listing Rule 12.9.

Independent Advice

SKY has a procedure for board members to seek independent  
legal advice at SKY’s expense. 

Remuneration Policy and Performance Monitoring

SKY has policies in place to ensure that it remunerates fairly and 
responsibly. All executives and employees receive a portion of  
their salary based on individual and company wide performance.  
The executive incentive scheme is based on the concept of 
economic value added, and is described in greater detail under  
the heading Senior Executive Remuneration on page 71. 

The performance of key executives is monitored on a continual basis 
by the board and Chief Executive but principally as part of annual 
salary reviews.

Regulatory Policy

SKY has policies and procedures in place to ensure compliance with 
relevant laws, regulations and the NZX and ASX Listing Rules.

Treasury Policy

SKY has a formalised treasury policy that establishes a framework for:

•  There continues to be appropriate participation at senior levels of 

•  foreign exchange risk management;

the organisation of employees under the age of 45 years (including 
39% of senior executives as at 30 June 2017 compared to 40% at 
30 June 2016), compared to employees over the age of 45 years 
(61% of senior executives as at 30 June 2017 compared to 60%  
at 30 June 2016). 

•  SKY also embraces ethnic diversity with a recent staff survey 
highlighting that there are over 40 nationalities represented  
on our staff.

Health and Safety 

SKY has an occupational health and safety policies and procedures 
manual and a group health and safety management committee to 
ensure that SKY fully complies with its health and safety obligations.

SKY’s strategic approach to health and safety is to:

•  provide a safe workplace for all;

•  fulfil all safety obligations within the business, in line with  
the strategic intent, corporate objectives and legislative 
requirements; and

•  interest rate risk management;

•  borrowing, liquidity and funding risk;

•  cash management;

•  counterparty credit risk;

•  operational risk and dealing procedures; and

•  reporting and performance management.

The objective of the policy is to reduce, spread and smooth interest 
rate and foreign exchange risk impacts on financial results over a 
multi-year period, reduce volatility in financial performance and 
ensure appropriate debt and liquidity arrangements for the business.

(1)  ‘Senior executives’ are executives at one and two levels below the Chief Executive in terms of reporting lines. For the year ended 30 June 2017, 4 out of 12 senior 

executives one level below the Chief Executive were female and 27 out of 62 senior executives two levels below the Chief Executive were female.

 
 
68  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

INTERESTS REGISTER

dISCLOSURES OF INTEREST – GENERAL NOTICES
Directors have given general notices disclosing interests in various entities pursuant to section 140(2) of the Companies Act 1993. Those notices 
which remain current as at 30 June 2017 are as follows:(1)

Director

John Fellet

Derek Handley

Peter Macourt

Geraldine McBride

Susan Paterson
ONZM(2)

Entity 

Media Finance Limited

Outside Broadcasting Limited

SKY Ventures Limited

Igloo Limited

Aera Limited

Aera Foundation

Iliad Management Limited

Virtus Health Limited 

Prime Media Limited

Foxtel Management Pty Ltd and its subsidiaries

My Wave Holdings Limited

My Wave Limited

Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Corporation Limited

National Australia Bank Limited

Theta Systems Limited

Les Mills Holdings Limited

Goodman (NZ) Limited and associated companies

Arvida Group Limited

Steel and Tube Holdings Limited

New Zealand Golf

The Electricity Authority

Tertiary Education Commission

The Home of Cycling Charitable Trust 

Relationship

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Trustee

Director

Director/Chair

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director/Chair

Director

Director

Director

Chair

Board Member

Board Member

Commissioner

Chair

(1)  John Waller retired from the board on 20 September 2016.

(2)  Ms Paterson resigned as Chair of Airways Corporation and its associated companies on 31 October 2016.

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  69

dISCLOSURES OF INTEREST – AUTHORISATION  
of reMUneration anD otHer BenefitS 

SKY’s board did not authorise any additional payments of annual 
directors’ fees during the year to 30 June 2017. 

SKY SUBSIdIARIES’ INTERESTS REGISTERS 
The directors of SKY’s subsidiaries have given notices disclosing 
interests in the various entities pursuant to section 140 of the 
Companies Act 1993. Those notices which remain current as at  
30 June 2017 are set out below:

dISCLOSURES OF INTEREST – PARTICULAR 
TRANSACTIONS/USE OF COMPANY INFORMATION 
During the year to 30 June 2017, in relation to SKY:

Screen Enterprises Limited: George McFarlane and Jason Hollingworth 
have each given a general notice disclosing interests arising from 
being employees of SKY.

•  no specific disclosures were made in the Interests Register under 

section 140(1) of the Companies Act 1993; and

•  no entries were made in the Interests Register as to the use of 
company information under section 145(3) of the Companies  
Act 1993.

dISCLOSURES OF RELEVANT INTERESTS  
IN SECURITIES 
During the year to 30 June 2017, in relation to SKY’s directors,  
officers and senior managers, the following disclosures were made  
in the Interests Register as to dealing in SKY’s shares under section  
148 of the Companies Act 1993 and section 297 of the Financial 
Markets Conduct Act 2013:

•  John Fellet made an ongoing disclosure in relation to the on-market 

acquisition of 10,000 ordinary shares on 1 March 2017. 

INSURANCE ANd INdEMNITIES
SKY has in place directors’ and officers’ liability insurance to cover risks 
normally covered by such policies arising out of acts or omissions of 
SKY directors or employees in that capacity.  

SKY has entered into a deed of indemnity pursuant to which it has 
agreed to indemnify directors, senior management and officers of  
SKY against liability incurred from acts or omissions of such directors, 
senior management or officers, subject to certain exceptions which  
are normal in such indemnities. 

Outside Broadcasting Limited: John Fellet and Jason Hollingworth 
have given notices disclosing interests arising from being employees 
of SKY and, in John Fellet’s case, a director of SKY.

SKY DMX Music Limited: Martin Wrigley and Grant McKenzie have 
each given a general disclosure notice disclosing interests arising  
from being senior employees of SKY and, in Martin Wrigley’s case,  
a shareholder of SKY.

Igloo Limited: John Fellet, Jason Hollingworth, Michael Watson, and 
Matthew Orange have given notices disclosing interests arising from 
being employees of SKY and, in John Fellet’s case, a director of SKY.

Believe It Or Not Limited: Grant McKenzie and Eggherick Van Der Plank 
have given notices disclosing interests arising from being employees 
of SKY. Brendan Lochead has given a general notice disclosing his 
interest arising from being a shareholder of Believe It Or Not Limited 
and a director of Mad If You Don’t Limited. Annabelle Lochead has 
given a general notice disclosing her interest arising from being the 
wife of Brendan Lochead (who is a shareholder of Believe It Or Not 
Limited) and a director and shareholder of Mad If You Don’t Limited.

SKY Ventures Limited: John Fellet and Jason Hollingworth have given 
notices disclosing interests arising from being employees of SKY and, 
in John Fellet’s case, a director of SKY. 

 
 
 
70  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

COMPANY ANd BONdHOLdER 
INFORMATION 

DirectorS HoLDinG anD ceaSinG office
John Fellet 

Derek Handley

Peter Macourt

Geraldine McBride

Susan Paterson, ONZM 

dIRECTORS OF SUBSIdIARIES

Subsidiary

Director

SKY DMX Music Limited

Grant McKenzie

Martin Wrigley

Steven Hughes

Kenneth Eissing Jr 

Screen Enterprises Limited

Jason Hollingworth

George McFarlane

John Waller (retired 20 September 2016)

Outside Broadcasting Limited

John Fellet

SUBSIdIARIES
At 30 June 2017, SKY had the following subsidiary companies:

Igloo Limited

Jason Hollingworth

John Fellet

Jason Hollingworth

Michael Watson

Mathew Orange

SKY DMX Music Limited, Screen Enterprises Limited, Outside 
Broadcasting Limited, Igloo Limited, Believe It Or Not Limited,  
SKY Ventures Limited and Media Finance Limited. During the  
year to 30 June 2017, SKY DMX Music Limited operated the  
SKY DMX music business, Screen Enterprises Limited operated 
the FATSO DVD and blu-ray rental business, Outside Broadcasting 
Limited provided mobile on-site broadcasting facilities and services, 
Igloo Limited delivered a low-cost pay television service over a digital 
terrestrial network and via broadband (but ceased transmission  
on 1 March 2017). Believe It Or Not Limited provided quizzes for the 
hotel entertainment industry, and SKY Ventures Limited provided 
investment and sponsorship in the field of information and broadcast 
technology, including by holding a 13.54% investment in 90 Seconds 
Pty Limited (a cloud video production company). Media Finance 
Limited did not trade during that year.

Believe It Or Not Limited

Anabelle Lochead

Brendan Lochead

Grant McKenzie

Eggherick Van der Plank

SKY Ventures Limited  

John Fellet

Jason Hollingworth

Media Finance Limited

John Fellet

The remuneration of SKY’s employees acting as directors of 
subsidiary companies is disclosed in the relevant banding for 
employee remuneration on page 74 or in the case of John Fellet,  
his remuneration is disclosed below under the heading of 
“Remuneration of Directors”.

No director of any subsidiary company received directors’ fees or 
extra benefits by virtue of the fact that they are acting as directors 
of subsidiary companies.

STATEMENT OF dIRECTORS’ INTERESTS
For the purposes of NZX Listing Rule 10.4.5(c), the following table sets 
out the equity securities (shares in SKY) in which each director had a 
relevant interest as at 30 June 2017*:

Relevant interests

John Fellet 

Derek Handley

Peter Macourt

Geraldine McBride

Susan Paterson

Shares

166,300

4,000

–

–

17,800

*  John Waller retired on 20 September 2016. Mr Waller held a relevant interest 

in 15,000 SKY shares. 

   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  71

REMUNERATION OF dIRECTORS 
Directors’ remuneration and value of other benefits received by directors of SKY during the year 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 were as follows:

Name

John Fellet(1) 

Derek Handley 

Peter Macourt (Chair)

Geraldine McBride 

Susan Paterson

John Waller (retired 30 September 2016)

Board 
Fees

Audit and Risk 
Committee

Nomination and 
Remuneration 
Committee

Other

Total 
remuneration 

–   

98,096 

170,000 

100,000 

100,000 

31,250 

499,346 

–   

9,000 

9,000 

–

18,000 

–

36,000 

–   

1,965,741 

1,965,741 

5,000 

2,500 

–   

12,000 

–

–   

–   

–   

–

–

112,096 

181,500 

100,000 

130,000 

31,250

19,500 

1,965,741 

2,520,587

SENIOR EXECUTIVE REMUNERATION 
SKY has operated the same bonus scheme for the last 16 years. There are 20 executives who participate in the scheme and the remuneration 
committee allocates the annual bonus payment amongst these executives based on performance and achievement of individual KPI’s. These 
KPI’s reflect specific factors that contribute to business performance and over which the executive has control and for example could include net 
gain, churn, viewing hours, etc. Salaries are also reviewed each year by the remuneration committee and adjustments are made based on market 
movements as confirmed by third party advisers.

The SKY board believes that the value of the company is determined by the level of net cash flow returned to shareholders over time and wants 
to incentivise management to increase the level of cash generation having regard for the level of capital employed in the business. The higher 
the cash earnings and the lower the capital employed, the better the returns to shareholders and the higher the SKY share price. The board 
believes the deferral method detailed below results in executives making effective judgements about short term and long term gains and over 
time rewards long term maintainable returns.

The bonus is paid in cash in September each year. A bonus amount is calculated based on financial performance for the prior financial year 
ended 30 June and this is added to a pool of deferred bonus payments, with one third of the total bonus pool paid being out in the year, and two 
thirds of the pool being deferred. This deferral of part of the annual bonus is to provide an LTI component to the scheme as the extent to which it 
is paid will be dependent on the future performance of the business. There is no entitlement to the deferred bonus on resignation or retirement 
of an executive. The board may consider the individual circumstances in determining how much if any of the deferred bonus will be paid on 
retirement.

The annual bonus calculation is based on two factors;

•  The absolute rate of return on capital employed

•  The year on year movement in the rate of return capital employed

The absolute rate of return on capital employed is calculated as earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) divided by the 
cumulative capital investment over the previous five years. This rate of return generates a bonus amount calculated as a fixed dollar amount 
per point of return. The higher the rate of return, the higher the bonus payment. The scheme also looks at the year on year change in this rate of 
return and a fixed dollar amount is paid for each percentage point change in the rate of return. This fixed dollar amount is two times the dollar 
amount paid in the rate of return calculation. If the rate of return decreases compared to the previous year this element of the calculation will 
result in a negative value being deducted from the bonus pool causing the pool to reduce and the bonus payments to reduce. 

Mr Fellet has been the CEO of SKY for 16 years and an employee of SKY for 25 years. His remuneration over the last five years, separated between 
base salary and performance related remuneration is as follows;

Base salary 

STI/LTI

Total Remuneration

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013 

1,406,130   

1,375,262   

1,333,750   

1,287,500 

1,230,000 

559,611 

627,988

575,346

518,593

455,000 

1,965,741 

2,003,250 

1,909,096 

1,806,093 

1,685,000 

Mr Fellet’s 2017 STI/LTI payment relates to the board’s assessment of SKY’s 2016 performance and was paid to Mr Fellet in September 2016. 

The 2017 bonus scheme payments, including Mr Fellet’s 2017 STI/LTI bonus will be considered by the nomination and remuneration committee 
over coming weeks and will be paid in September 2017.

(1)  John Fellet is also SKY’s Chief Executive and a director of SKY Ventures Limited, Media Finance Limited, Outside Broadcasting Limited and Igloo Limited.  

He did not receive any directors’ fees during the above period. His remuneration, as specified above, comprises salary and performance based remuneration.

 
72  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

COMPANY ANd BONdHOLdER 
INFORMATION (CONTINUEd)

SUBSTANTIAL SECURITY HOLdERS 
According to notices given to SKY under the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013 the following persons were substantial security holders 
in SKY as at 30 June 2017 and 11 August 2017 (as indicated below):

Entity

Kiltearn Partners LLP 

Perpetual Limited and subsidiaries

UBS Group AG and its related bodies corporate

Harris Associates L.P. 

BlackRock, Inc and its related bodies corporate 

Lazard Asset Management Pacific Co 

Commonwealth Bank of Australia 

Entity

Kiltearn Partners LLP

Perpetual Limited and subsidiaries

UBS Group AG and its related bodies corporate

Harris Associates L.P. 

BlackRock, Inc and its related bodies corporate 

Lazard Asset Management Pacific Co 

Commonwealth Bank of Australia 

The total number of issued voting securities of SKY as at 30 June 2017 and 11 August 2017 was 389,139,785.

TWENTY LARGEST SHAREHOLdERS AS AT 11 AUGUST 2017 

Holder name

HSBC Nominees (New Zealand) Limited 

HSBC Custody Nominees (Australia) Limited 

JP Morgan Nominees Australia Limited 

Citibank Nominees (New Zealand) Limited 

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA NZ Branch

Citicorp Nominees Pty Limited 

Accident Compensation Corporation 

BNP Paribas Nominees Pty Ltd 

BNP Paribas Nominees (NZ) Limited 

ANZ Custodial Services New Zealand Limited 

UBS Nominees Pty Limited 

Tea Custodians Limited 

ANZ Wholesale Australasian Share Fund 

National Nominees New Zealand Limited 

BNP Paribas Noms Pty Ltd 

Guardian Nominees No 2 A/C Westpac W/S Enhanced Cash Trust 

FNZ Custodians Limited 

HSBC Nominees A/C NZ Superannuation Fund Nominees Limited 

National Nominees Limited 

RBC Investor Services Australia Nominees Pty Limited

Securities as at 30 June 2017

27,377,256 

51,476,566

22,617,355

23,714,100 

47,815,425

28,357,802

19,541,140

Securities as at 11 August 2017

33,303,626

42,727,975 

22,617,355

23,714,100

47,815,425

28,357,802

19,541,140

Percentage  
(to 2 d.p.)

42.55

11.16

5.48

5.40

5.07

4.45

3.06

2.94

2.05

1.07

0.93

0.92

0.92

0.87

0.87

0.82

0.59

0.59

0.53

0.39

Holding

165,561,790

43,428,154

21,320,830

21,014,462

19,738,413

17,320,920

11,891,624

11,459,851

7,959,770

4,159,238

3,620,939

3,597,654

3,568,581

3,392,179

3,369,342

3,208,503

2,313,917

2,294,464

2,061,364

1,530,000

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  73

dISTRIBUTION OF ORdINARY SHARES ANd SHAREHOLdINGS AS AT 11 AUGUST 2017

1 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 100,000

100,001 and over

Total

No. of 
shareholders

Percentage 
(to 2 d.p.)

No. of 
shares

Percentage 
(to 2 d.p.)

2,377

2,985

710

445

57

36.16

45.40

10.80

6.77

0.87

1,413,824

7,708,937

5,269,087

11,136,723

363,611,214

6,574

100.00

389,139,785

0.36

1.98

1.35

2.87

93.44

100.00

NON MARKETABLE PARCELS OF SHARES
As at 11 August 2017, 336 shareholders in SKY had non-marketable parcels of shares for the purposes of ASX Listing Rule 4.10.8.

OTHER INFORMATION
For the purposes of ASX Listing Rules 4.10.14, 4.10.18 and 4.10.21, as at 11 August 2017:

•  SKY had no restricted securities or securities subject to voluntary escrow on issue;

•  there was no on-market buy back; and

•  SKY was not subject to s611 of the Corporations Act 2001.

VOTING RIGHTS ATTACHEd TO SHARES
Each share entitles the holder to one vote.

dISTRIBUTION OF BONdS ANd BONdHOLdINGS AS AT 11 AUGUST 2017

SKTO20 Bonds

1 – 1,000

1,001 – 5,000

5,001 – 10,000

10,001 – 100,000

100,001 and over

Total

No. of 
bondholders

Percentage  
(to 2 d.p.)

No. of bonds

Percentage  
(to 2 d.p.)

–

122

241

620

66

–

11.63

22.97

59.11

6.29

–

610,000

2,324,000

21,493,000

75,573,000

–

0.61

2.32

21.50

75.57

1,049

100.00

100,000,000

100.00

VOTING RIGHTS ATTACHEd TO BONdS
Each bondholder is entitled to one vote for every dollar of principal outstanding on their bonds at meetings of bondholders. Bondholders do not 
have the right to attend or vote at shareholders’ meetings.

 
74  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

COMPANY ANd BONdHOLdER 
INFORMATION (CONTINUEd)

EMPLOYEE REMUNERATION 
The number of employees or former employees of SKY and its subsidiaries (excluding directors of SKY but including employees of SKY holding 
office as directors of subsidiaries, other than the Chief Executive(1)) whose remuneration and benefits was within specified bands for the year to 
30 June 2017 is as follows: 

Remuneration ($)

100,000 – 110,000

110,001 – 120,000

120,001 – 130,000

130,001 – 140,000

140,001 – 150,000

150,001 – 160,000

160,001 – 170,000

170,001 – 180,000

180,001 – 190,000

190,001 – 200,000

200,001 – 210,000

210,001 – 220,000

220,001 – 230,000

230,001 – 240,000

240,001 – 250,000

250,001 – 260,000

260,001 – 270,000

300,001 – 310,000

310,001 – 320,000

320,001 – 330,000

340,001 – 350,000

360,001 – 370,000

400,001 – 410,000

420,001 – 430,000

480,001 – 490,000

500,001 – 510,000

510,001 – 520,000 

520,001 – 530,000

540,001 – 550,000

560,001 – 570,000

860,001 – 870,000

No. of employees

73

56

43

29

11

11

8

11

13

3

7

3

3

1

2

2

1

3

1

1

1

1

3

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

dONATIONS
During the year 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017, SKY made cash donations totalling $413,000. SKY’s subsidiaries did not make any donations.

AUdITORS
The auditors of SKY and its subsidiaries were PricewaterhouseCoopers. The amount paid to PricewaterhouseCoopers by SKY and its subsidiaries 
in the year to 30 June 2017 for statutory audit services and for other services was: 

IN NZD 000

SKY

Statutory audit services

Other services 

336

47

SKY’s subsidiaries did not pay PricewaterhouseCoopers any fees. 

(1)  The remuneration of SKY’s Chief Executive John Fellet is not included in the above table as he is also a director of SKY. His remuneration is disclosed under the 

heading “Remuneration of Directors” on page 71.

WAIVERS ANd INFORMATION

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  75

CURRENT ANd ONGOING WAIVERS
The following is a summary of all waivers granted in favour of SKY 
which were relied upon by SKY in the 12-month period preceding  
the date two months before the date of publication of this report. 
These were:

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

 A waiver from ASX Listing Rule 7.3.2 to the extent necessary to 
permit the notice of meeting seeking shareholder approval for  
the issue of shares representing 51% of the post-issue shares in 
SKY to Vodafone Europe B.V. not to state that those shares will 
be issued no later than 3 months after the date of the meeting 
(subject to certain conditions); 

 A waiver to permit SKY to lodge its half yearly and final reports in 
the form of an NZX Appendix 1 instead of an ASX Appendix 4D 
and ASX Appendix 4E, on the condition that SKY provides any 
additional information required by the ASX Appendices as an 
annexure to the NZX Appendix 1;

 A waiver from ASX Listing Rule 6.10.3 to the extent necessary 
to permit SKY to set the “specified time” to determine whether 
a security holder is entitled to vote at a shareholders’ meeting 
in accordance with the requirements of relevant New Zealand 
legislation;

 A waiver from ASX Listing Rule 15.7 to permit SKY to provide 
announcements simultaneously to both ASX and NZX;

 A waiver from ASX Listing Rule 14.3 to the extent necessary  
to allow SKY to receive director nominations between the  
date three months and the date two months before the  
annual meeting;

 Confirmation that the rights attaching to SKY shares set out in 
SKY‘s constitution are appropriate and equitable for the purpose  
of ASX Listing Rule 6.1 and comply with ASX Listing Rule 2.1;

 Confirmation that ASX will accept financial accounts  
prepared in accordance with New Zealand GAAP and  
New Zealand Auditing Standards, and denominated in  
New Zealand dollars; and

8. 

 Confirmation that SKY can provide substantial holder information 
provided to it under the New Zealand Securities Markets Act  
(now the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013).

aDMiSSion to tHe officiaL LiSt of tHe 
AUSTRALIAN STOCK EXCHANGE 
In connection with SKY’s admission to the official list of the ASX,  
the following information is provided:

1.  SKY is incorporated in New Zealand.

2. 

 SKY is not subject to Chapters 6, 6A, 6B and 6C of the  
Australian Corporations Act 2001 dealing with the acquisition  
of shares (such as substantial holdings and takeovers).

3. 

 Limitations on the acquisition of the securities imposed  
by New Zealand law are as follows: 

(a)   In general, SKY securities are freely transferable and  

the only significant restrictions or limitations in relation  
to the acquisition of securities are those imposed by  
New Zealand laws relating to takeovers, overseas investment 
and competition.

(b)   The New Zealand Takeovers Code creates a general rule 
under which the acquisition of more than 20% of the  
voting rights in SKY or the increase of an existing holding  
of 20% or more of the voting rights in SKY can only occur  
in certain permitted ways. These include a full takeover offer 
in accordance with the Takeovers Code, a partial takeover 
offer in accordance with the Takeovers Code, an acquisition 
approved by an ordinary resolution, an allotment approved 
by an ordinary resolution, a creeping acquisition (in certain 
circumstances) or compulsory acquisition if a shareholder 
holds 90% or more of SKY shares.

(c)   The New Zealand Overseas Investment Act 2005 (and 

associated regulations) regulates certain investments in  
New Zealand by overseas persons. In general terms, the 
consent of the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office 
is likely to be required where an ‘overseas person’ acquires 
shares or an interest in shares in SKY that amount to more 
than 25% of the shares issued by SKY or, if the overseas 
person already holds 25% or more, the acquisition increases 
that holding.

(d)   The New Zealand Commerce Act 1986 is likely to prevent  

a person from acquiring SKY shares if the acquisition would 
have, or would be likely to have, the effect of substantially 
lessening competition in a market.

 
 
 
 
 
76  SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017

SHARE MARKET ANd  
OTHER INFORMATION

NEW ZEALANd
SKY’s ordinary shares are listed on the main board of the NZX and 
trade under the symbol SKT. SKY’s bonds are listed on the NZDX 
and trade under the symbol SKT020. SKY’s International Security 
Identification Number issued for the Company by the NZX is 
NZSKTE0001S6.

ANNUAL MEETING
The next annual meeting of Sky Network Television Limited  
will be held at the Sofitel Hotel Auckland, Boulevard Room,  
21 Viaduct Harbour Avenue, Auckland, on 19 October 2017, 
commencing at 2.00 pm.

NZX Limited 
Level 1, NZX Centre 
11 Cable Street 
Wellington 6011, New Zealand

Mailing address: 
PO Box 2959 
Wellington 6140, New Zealand

Tel: +64 4 472 7599 Fax: +64 4 496 2893 
Website: nzx.com

AUSTRALIA
SKY’s ordinary shares are also listed on the ASX and trade under  
the symbol SKT.

ASX Limited 
Exchange Centre 
20 Bridge Street, Sydney 
NSW 2000, Australia

Mailing address: 
PO Box H224 
Australia Square, Sydney 
NSW 1215, Australia

Tel: +61 2 9338 0000 Fax: +61 2 9227 0885 
Website: asx.com.au

dIRECTORY

REGISTRARS
Shareholders should address questions relating to share certificates, 
notify changes of address or address any administrative questions  
to SKY’s share registrar as follows:

NEW ZEALAND ORDINARY SHARE REGISTRAR

Computershare Investor Services Limited
Level 2, 159 Hurstmere Road 
Takapuna, North Shore City 0622
New Zealand

Mailing address: 
Private Bag 92119
Auckland Mail Centre 
Auckland 1142, New Zealand

Tel: +64 9 488 8700 Fax: +64 9 488 8787
Email: enquiry@computershare.co.nz

AUSTRALIAN BRANCH REGISTER

Computershare Investor Services Pty Limited
Yarra Falls, 452 Johnston Street
Abbotsford, VIC 3067
GPO Box 2975EE
Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Freephone: 1300 850 505 (within Australia)
Tel: +61 3 9415 5000 Fax: +61 3 9473 2500
Email: enquiry@computershare.co.nz

BONDHOLDER TRUSTEE

The New Zealand Guardian Trust Company Limited
Level 6, 191 Queen Street  
Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Mailing address: 
PO Box 274, Shortland Street
Auckland 1140, New Zealand

Tel: 0800 683 909 Fax: +64 9 377 7470
Email: ct-auckland@nzgt.co.nz

SKY ANNUAL REPORT 2017  77

DIRECTORS

John Fellet  
Derek Handley
Peter Macourt  
Geraldine McBride
Susan Paterson ONZM 
John Waller 

EXECUTIVES
John Fellet  
Jason Hollingworth  
Travis Dunbar  
Richard Last  
Chris Major  
Rawinia Newton  
Cathryn Oliver  
Michael Watson  
Tex Texeira 
Julian Wheeler 
Martin Wrigley  

Chief Executive

Chairman

(Retired 20 September 2016)

Director and Chief Executive
Chief Financial Officer
Director of Entertainment Programming
Director of Sport 
Director of Government Relations
Director of Advertising Sales
Chief of Staff
Director of Marketing
Director of Broadcast and Media
Director of Technology
Director of Operations

NEW ZEALAND REGISTERED OFFICE
10 Panorama Road, Mt Wellington,  
Auckland 1060, New Zealand

Tel: +64 9 579 9999 Fax: +64 9 579 8324 
Website: sky.co.nz

AUSTRALIAN REGISTERED OFFICE

c/- Allens Arthur Robinson Corporate Pty Limited
Level 4, Deutsche Bank Place
126 Philip Street
Sydney, NSW 2000, Australia

Tel: +61 2 9230 4000 Fax: +61 2 9230 5333

AUDITORS TO SKY

PricewaterhouseCoopers 
PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower, 
188 Quay Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Tel: +64 9 355 8000 Fax: +64 9 355 8001

SOLICITORS TO SKY

Buddle Findlay
PricewaterhouseCoopers Tower,
188 Quay Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand

Tel: +64 9 358 2555 Fax: +64 9 358 2055

 
SKY NETWORK  
TELEVISION LIMITED

PO Box 9059 
Newmarket 
Auckland 1149 
New Zealand

10 Panorama Road 
Mt Wellington 
Auckland 1060  
New Zealand

sky.co.nz