Who will win cricket’s broadcast rights
Roar Rookie With both the AFL and NRL securing billion dollar futures, focus has shifted to who will win the cricket broadcasting rights.
My answer is, quite surprisingly, Ten.
They can put the Big Bash League on ONE, sharing coverage with Fox Sports, and broadcast the major Aussie games on Ten.
Nine probably have the strongest desire to win the cricket coverage for the next five years but they may be cash-strapped. Ten reportedly put in an $800 million bid for the NRL rights but got knocked back after Nine and Fox Sports won the rights for $1.25B.
So it would seem Ten would have the most money out of the two free-to-air stations in their sports department at the moment.
Seven are all after the rights as well, but they may not get it because they have the tennis rights, which cross over with the cricket. Cricket Australia would want their game on Seven’s primary channel, not on a low-rating digital channel (7mate) while the tennis is aired.
It is a little surprising Fox Sports want the cricket. I mean, how can they afford it? It’s not like they are billionaires, despite being owned by News Corp.
Regardless, I suspect the lion’s share of the rights will go to Ten as Cricket Australia are aware the exposure for their game will be vastly improved on FTA.
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- Cricket, television rights
January 30th 2013 @ 4:54am
Johnno said | January 30th 2013 @ 4:54am | Report comment
I’d love a change in TV networks. Glen Mcgrath and Micheal Slater are the youngest commentators, and wait for it 42.
Like fox sports did with Brendon Julian and that. All those guys were brought in around the 34-35 year mark. Brett Lee is doing a bit for nine , which is good as Simon O’donnell doesn’t do the cricket show.. Gilly seems to have drifted away, he was a good commentator.
Mcgrath I have really like this year, a fast bowler’s perspective on things, not just hearing batsmen’s form the 90′s,80′s,70.s , view on fast bowling.
I am surprised channel 9, kept all those old blokes going for so long, they simply don’t appeal to a broader wider Australian audience.
Your young 25 yrd old who moved to Australia from India, simply can’t relate to Ian Chappelli’s cricket gaffe’s and dinky di aussy stories from the 1970′s, or Bill Lawry’s ASHES tours when they would still go by boat.
Who ever wins the next tv rights, has an obligation to appeal to a broader, and wider demographic audience in Australia , this is 2013, the 80′s and shoulder pads are gone, the 70′s and free love and woodstock are over, and the swinging 60′s are well and truly dead too. Heck only 2 beatles are still alive .
So the next tv rights who ever wins, needs to really freshen up the commentary, and employ lot of commentators, born between 1975-85, generation X.Y, not all these baby boomers, who don’t appeal to a wider audience.
I like how fox sport did this without he cricket guys, gave them starts around 34-35. Alan Border is the only veteran of the pack, but he also got a start in 1995 at aged 40 , and when he was still playing and AB has like Ritchie Beanud has moved with the times. AB is a very good commentator, I’m surprised channel 9, didn’t try all those years ago to sign AB up.
And one HD has a lot of generation Yer’s who know more about modern cricket than Ian Chappel, and Bill Lawry, actual guys who have played IPL etc. Mgrath is the only commentator on 9, with Brett Lee cameo’s too, who has played IPL.
So the next tv rights, the next lot has to be a lot more 25-35 yrd olds as commentators, like fox sports did with there generation form 2005 when they brought in Brendon julian Damien Fleming, Greg Blewett, and that crew.
I just love the younger energy and more in touch with contemporary society and T20 , One HD and fox sports do than channel 9, who are living in the past.
January 30th 2013 @ 6:41am
AndyMack said | January 30th 2013 @ 6:41am | Report comment
Johnno, u seem a bit harsh on Bill Lawry there mate. How about the worst cricket commentator in history, Michael Slater – he is part of your young brigade. He is introduced to the commentary box, and is already half way through a sentence. And then doesnt stop talking until Bill or Chappelli drag him out at the end of his stint. Give me a break from him and his ilk please.
January 30th 2013 @ 10:47am
Happy Hooker said | January 30th 2013 @ 10:47am | Report comment
No, the worst commentator in history was Nine’s attempt at tokenism, Kate Fitzpatrick.
January 30th 2013 @ 5:39pm
john said | January 30th 2013 @ 5:39pm | Report comment
Wish Bill Lawry was 55 not 75
then he’d still be commentating for another 20 years
So sad that Tony Greig is gone, his voice was electric, his hilarious banters with bill and often inexusable but funny mis-statements. Then there’s Richie Benaud who may not commentate with the new channel.
January 30th 2013 @ 3:30pm
balanced said | January 30th 2013 @ 3:30pm | Report comment
@ johnno, you say about 3-4 times that the broadcaster needs to have commentators that appeal to a WIDER demographic.
Then you say you want commentators born between 1975 and 1985? And in case we missed it, “the next lot has to be more 25-35 year olds”? Sounds like you don’t want commentators spread across a wide demographic at all, but rather a very narrow demographic, as long as it’s yours.
Ch 9 at present have commentators ranging from their 30s to their 80s, a span of about 50 years. That in fact IS a very wide spread. Sure they don’t have anyone who is 25, but anyone who is 25 with sufficient expertise is still playing the game, surely?
January 30th 2013 @ 6:45am
AndyMack said | January 30th 2013 @ 6:45am | Report comment
While I fear for cricket if it goes exclusively to pay tv, i can see the positive effect this can have. Living in the UK, i have seen sky sports do great things for cricket, including showing all international cricket, at all hours of the day/night. Without the need for commercial breaks during the match (or during overs as channel 9 has seen fit to do). And I must say the coverage by UK Sky is about 10 times greater than the coverage by channel 9 (im using my own scale of course…)
True sports fans have pay tv in most cases, and most would love to see cricket (instead of a current affair blocking out the first 8 overs of a run chase in the ODI’s….)
January 30th 2013 @ 8:45am
Matt F said | January 30th 2013 @ 8:45am | Report comment
It can’t happen due to the anti-siphoning laws. The best Foxtel could get would be to simulcast the matches with an FTA network, similar to what they do with the AFL
January 30th 2013 @ 11:18am
AndyMack said | January 30th 2013 @ 11:18am | Report comment
The UK has the same laws in that regard, its just test cricket was dropped from the list of protected sports. It can happen, whether or not any govt in aust would want to do that is another story.
January 30th 2013 @ 1:25pm
Matt F said | January 30th 2013 @ 1:25pm | Report comment
True, though I can’t see it happening for a very, very long time. It can happen if no FTA network is interested but that won’t happen either.
By the time the government even started to consider removing cricket from the anti-siphoning list (the Australian summer at least) sport broadcasting might very well have moved onto the internet anyway.
January 30th 2013 @ 3:00pm
Brian said | January 30th 2013 @ 3:00pm | Report comment
Certainly won’t happen until Sep 14 at least.
January 30th 2013 @ 3:14pm
Jason said | January 30th 2013 @ 3:14pm | Report comment
Won’t happen afterwards either given the shadow of that cricket loving battler John Howard that will be cast over the next government.
January 30th 2013 @ 3:47pm
balanced said | January 30th 2013 @ 3:47pm | Report comment
“True sports fans have Pay-TV in most cases”, says andymack.
Yes, I’m alright Jack, who am I to care in the slightest about people who might like their sports but can’t afford Pay-TV?
I have pay-tv also, AndyMack, but unlike you I like to think that cricket is a national sport that everyone should be able to watch, not just those with the money to spend. And unlike you who “fears for cricket if it goes exclusively to PayTV” I worry more about those people who wouldn’t be able to watch it. I think the situation in England is a disgrace, with football – the religion of that country – only being available on PayTV and the FTA networks there not even being allowed to show one second of highlights footage until 3 days after the event.
But that’s just me. Obviously, sparing a thought for others in the community is so passe.
January 30th 2013 @ 4:22pm
Don Corleone said | January 30th 2013 @ 4:22pm | Report comment
@balanced
I agree. Cricket exclusively on pay TV would alienate a huge proportion of cricket lovers and potential fans.
It would be a disgrace if Australian kids were watching Nascar, NBL, MLB and NFL on One HD while cricket was on pay.
January 30th 2013 @ 6:36pm
sheek said | January 30th 2013 @ 6:36pm | Report comment
I’m a FoxSports subscriber, but I haven’t quite worked out yet whether I’m smart, or just a sucker.
I certainly don’t believe for one second that I’m getting value for money as a subscriber for pay-TV in Australia.
But I keep paying my “hostage” fee every month…..
January 30th 2013 @ 6:51pm
Jason said | January 30th 2013 @ 6:51pm | Report comment
The Kids channels are great. Cheaper than a babysitter.
January 30th 2013 @ 9:58pm
AndyMack said | January 30th 2013 @ 9:58pm | Report comment
Hold your horses there Balanced.
My point is, that having a half-arsed version of cricket coverage on channel 9 isnt really helping anyone. Given the decline in coverage over recent years, if this continues, who is going to want to watch it anyway. Just one long commercial with a bit of cricket thrown in. That is my concern.
PS: you dont really know me, so to suggest I dont care about people is a bit rough.
January 30th 2013 @ 7:02am
Tenash said | January 30th 2013 @ 7:02am | Report comment
fox sports cannot have cricket rights
international games have to be shown on FTA as per the Australian Government mandate
January 30th 2013 @ 10:38am
TheGenuineTailender said | January 30th 2013 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Only if no-one else offers to buy the rights.
January 30th 2013 @ 7:06am
Tenash said | January 30th 2013 @ 7:06am | Report comment
for the 1st time in 30 yrs ch7 and ch10 have approached CA for the cricket rights and the negotiations are in full swing
January 30th 2013 @ 7:12am
Tenash said | January 30th 2013 @ 7:12am | Report comment
robberdog
ch7′s tennis rights are also up for negotiations.
i believe this year was the final Aus open of Seven’s tennis contract.
So that could free up 7 to bid for the cricket rights
January 30th 2013 @ 7:49am
Robert said | January 30th 2013 @ 7:49am | Report comment
As long as we get rid of the current commentators.sick of hearing stories of their past
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January 30th 2013 @ 6:39pm
sheek said | January 30th 2013 @ 6:39pm | Report comment
Robert – how can you ever learn anything of significant value if you ignore the past…..?
Being able to automatically work your iphone, ipad, laptop, xbox, tomtom, etc, doesn’t make you worldly-wise.
January 30th 2013 @ 6:55pm
Timmuh said | January 30th 2013 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
Nine are reportedly going to be laying people off. Hopefully Michael Slater and Ian Healy.
January 30th 2013 @ 9:41am
elroncho said | January 30th 2013 @ 9:41am | Report comment
I would award the broadcast contract to whoever could go an entire broadcast without mentioning ‘ right areas’.
January 30th 2013 @ 10:31am
Tony Tea said | January 30th 2013 @ 10:31am | Report comment
We would all benefit from “a change is as good as a holiday”, but, seriously, Ten? Get the cricket on Seven or Nine and share it with Foxtel, like the AFL.
January 30th 2013 @ 6:55pm
Timmuh said | January 30th 2013 @ 6:55pm | Report comment
“seriously, Ten?”
I see what you did there. Seriously.
January 30th 2013 @ 10:37am
TheGenuineTailender said | January 30th 2013 @ 10:37am | Report comment
I think I speak for many when I say I hope Fox Sports get the rights. I don’t even have Foxtel, but if they get teh rights I’ll pay the extra money to get decent cricket coverage rather than the half arsed, repetitive and highly unentertaining dribble of channel nine’s commentators and overall broadcast.
January 30th 2013 @ 4:02pm
boes said | January 30th 2013 @ 4:02pm | Report comment
That’s harsh, I enjoyed Slats & Heals giving their opinion of Mitchell Johnson’s haircut.
January 30th 2013 @ 1:17pm
R0bberD0g said | January 30th 2013 @ 1:17pm | Report comment
Thank you for the comments!