Black Caps fans will miss out on seeing their team renew their rivalry with South Africa, which was last played out when Grant Elliot hit the winning runs against his home nation in last year's World Cup semifinal at Eden Park.

If the Black Caps play in South Africa, but no New Zealand fan sees it, then did it really happen?

That's the prospect facing Black Caps fans after Sky TV was unable to secure the television rights to the series ahead of the opening Twenty20 international in Durban on Friday (Saturday 4am NZ time).

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Sky TV spokeswoman Kirsty Way confirmed negotiations with the agent working on behalf of South Africa Cricket have so far proven unsuccessful, but Sky would "keep trying" as the series went on.

"We'll keep negotiating even after the first T20, but we haven't secured them at this point in time."

It was the second time in a month Sky TV has had issues securing rights for Black Caps matches after a late change of agent for the Zimbabwe tour meant coverage was confirmed just the day before the first match.

As of 5pm on Friday, no last-minute deal had been reached, with the high price of the rights believed to be the sticking point.

With the majority of games to be played in the middle of the night (NZ time), the tour was unlikely to attract high viewership and was not believed to be worth the high price.

Sky TV would inform customers through social media, emails and online screen guides if further negotiations were successful and coverage was to go ahead.

The five-match series includes a second T20 at Johannesburg on Sunday night, before three one-dayers at Johannesburg, Potchefstroom and Durban.