Is this the end for Channel 9 and cricket?
Roar Guru 
Nine Entertainment Group (Image: Supplied)
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The end of the 2012/13 Australian Summer may have been the last of Channel 9′s 35-year broadcast of cricket in Australia.
Nine are set to broadcast the Ashes later this year but their seven-year deal with Cricket Australia to broadcast Test matches, ODIs and T20s has now expired.
Rivals Network Ten are hard at work to grab the rights.
If Channel Ten are successful with the deal, it may see the end of longtime commentators in Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and possibly Ian Chappell time in the commentary box.
The other commentators in Mark Nicolas who works with Channel 5 in England, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Michael Slater and James Brayshaw may all make the move to Channel Ten alongside recently retired Michael Hussey, Brett Lee and recent Hall of Fame inductee Glenn McGrath.
During this season, the lost of Tony Greig has really left a massive hole in the Channel 9 commentary team. With Bill Lawry only calling games in Melbourne and Richie Benaud losing his touch, it just hasn’t been the same commentary team that once was probably the best in the world.
The replacement commentators in Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, and James Brayshaw, have produced mixed results.
It will be very interesting to see the technology that Channel Ten have to offer and whether it matches what Channel Nine had.
In terms of technology, cameras and audio, Channel Nine probably had the best in the world which included the likes of hotspot, snicko, super slow motion replays, Hawkeye and virtual eye, protractor and the newly introduced nine360 cam.
It has been 35 years since Kerry Packer secured the rights for Channel 9 to broadcast international cricket in Australia.
However, with Tony Greig sadly passed, Bill Lawry and Richie Benaud nearing their end, it is time for the new generation of commentators to take over, a new network and a new era to begin.
Some of the best Channel 9 moments:
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- Channel Nine, Cricket
February 18th 2013 @ 11:33am
Johnno said | February 18th 2013 @ 11:33am | Report comment
I hope so I’m so sick of channel 9 and Ian chapel and Bill lawry. So out of touch with modern cricket, and so old there boring now. Should of retired both of them 10 years ago. There out of date cricket stories that bear no resemblance to modern cricket is tiresome.
Glen Mcgrath has freshened things up a lot, and has been a good addition to the channel 9 team. He will go to 10 hopefully.
Ian Healy and Mark Taylor are trapped in the 90′s too.
February 19th 2013 @ 1:52am
AndyMack said | February 19th 2013 @ 1:52am | Report comment
Still on this bandwagon hey johnno. Ian Chappel is one of the most knowledgable and forward thinking people in cricket. He may not always be on the money (in my opinion of course), but he is very well respected around the world. And Bill is just Bill, im amazed that anyone does not like hearing his voice when the cricket is on.
February 26th 2013 @ 9:14pm
debbie said | February 26th 2013 @ 9:14pm | Report comment
I really dont care who commentates. Does it matter when we cant even watch our own country play overseas.
What is disgusting is the fact that our country is overseas playing cricket and we cant watch it as it’s not televised.
Fine if you have FOXTEL or AUSTAR.
What about those of us that only have normal tv.
Maybe if another channel picks up the cricket we might get to watch our guys play.
DEB
February 18th 2013 @ 11:39am
Don Corleone said | February 18th 2013 @ 11:39am | Report comment
“Mark Nicolas who works with Channel 5 in England, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Michael Slater and James Brayshaw may all make the move to Channel Ten”
I hope and pray NONE of the above make the move to Ten. They’re part of the problem…you’d just be transferring Nine’s stagnant, out-of-touch approach to the game.
I would love to see Ten get the cricket and provide a fresh perspective to the coverage and improve on Nine’s technological component which is quite good.
February 18th 2013 @ 11:40am
Rabbitz said | February 18th 2013 @ 11:40am | Report comment
I doubt another network would pick up any of the current commentary team.
If you are the new broadcaster, you want to make the telecasts your own, the last thing you would want is to rehash the failed networks coverage.
A new broom sweeps clean…
February 18th 2013 @ 12:07pm
Don Corleone said | February 18th 2013 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
If Ten were to poach using a recent survey gauging the most popular cricket commentators, Damien Fleming, Kerry O’Keeffe and Shane Warne would be signing on the dotted line.
February 18th 2013 @ 12:08pm
Matt F said | February 18th 2013 @ 12:08pm | Report comment
It wouldn’t surprise me to see one or two of them picked up. If you look at th AFL (I use them as they’re the only real major spot to swap networks rather often) there are a few commentators that have swapped between networks depending on who has the rights. They wouldn’t take too many but one or two wouldn’t be that much of a surprise.
February 18th 2013 @ 2:48pm
john hunt said | February 18th 2013 @ 2:48pm | Report comment
Mark Nicholas and Mark Taylor are the only ones who I think would go across. Maybe Ten or Seven might go for an ABC like broadcast with a professional commentator and an expert (i.e. like Jim Maxwell partnered with Damien Fleming)
February 18th 2013 @ 3:13pm
Johnno said | February 18th 2013 @ 3:13pm | Report comment
No not tubby or Marc Nicholas. Both out of touch and trapped in the 90′s and so parochial. No tubby, heals, none of the nine team except Brett Lee and Mcgrath.
February 18th 2013 @ 2:46pm
john hunt said | February 18th 2013 @ 2:46pm | Report comment
According to the Australian, there will be changes in the Nine box next year and there may be a few surprises.
February 18th 2013 @ 3:28pm
jameswm said | February 18th 2013 @ 3:28pm | Report comment
Skull for the comedy (though it might not work so well on TV).
Mark Waugh is I think the best commentator we have. And BJ is a better host than Mark Nicholas.
McGrath and Warnie were smart cricketers.
Lee, Slats and Tubs are only OK. Healy used to be good, but he’s a network child now.
I’d be happier with:
Brendon Julian as host
Damien Fleming, the bowlologist
Mark Waugh
Glenn McGrath
Warnie every now and then
I guess you need an older guy to appeal to other generations. Can’t really think who though.
February 18th 2013 @ 3:52pm
Johnno said | February 18th 2013 @ 3:52pm | Report comment
jameswm why do you need an old guy to appeal to older generations.
Do men in there 50′s prefer to be told what to do about there cricket by a 35 yr old or a 55 yr old. I don’t know you tell me.
I don’t enjoy having to put up with a baby boomer generation in his 50′s Marc Nichollas, heck a 48 yr old Mark Taylor annoy;s me.
Power to people in there 20′s and 30′s I say, we rule the world, middle age codgers should not be seen or heard.
February 18th 2013 @ 4:57pm
Don Corleone said | February 18th 2013 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
My commentary team suggestions would be:-
Hosts:-
Damien Fleming
Shane Warne
Broadcasters:-
Jim Maxwell
Quentin Hull
Ex-players:-
Kerry O’Keefe
Glenn McGrath
Tom Moody
Lisa Sthalekar
February 18th 2013 @ 10:28pm
Adam said | February 18th 2013 @ 10:28pm | Report comment
its not so much got to do with the age of the commentators, its the ones channel 9 hire are morons, part of a boys club. who have gotten the job just of having played cricket and is a mate of one of the production staff. Healy & Taylor, are the two stand outs who should not be in there, struggle to actually give any intelligent knowledge on the game play, but prefer to carry on like a pack of clowns. Slater is ok provided he is with one of the older, commentators.
the commentory team on fox work really well minus mark waugh!, julian, border, Flemming blewett & symonds seem to click really well & know what there talking about with out being stale
February 19th 2013 @ 8:08am
Brendon said | February 19th 2013 @ 8:08am | Report comment
Cmon Johnno, one post is enough, you’re opinion while valid is not made stronger by multiple posts.
February 19th 2013 @ 1:55am
AndyMack said | February 19th 2013 @ 1:55am | Report comment
“Slats is OK”???
Surely the worst commentator in history.
February 19th 2013 @ 1:08pm
Matt said | February 19th 2013 @ 1:08pm | Report comment
Agreed, he an Healy make me not want to watch cricket.
Of the current channel 9 team, I like Warne, Brawshaw, Lee, Hussey and Nicolas. The rest poach from Fox as there coverage is miles better in terms of cometary
February 19th 2013 @ 2:57pm
TheGenuineTailender said | February 19th 2013 @ 2:57pm | Report comment
AndyMack, I have to disagree, James Brayshaw is by far the worst commentator in history. Matt, why you would like him is lost on me.
February 22nd 2013 @ 8:29am
micka said | February 22nd 2013 @ 8:29am | Report comment
I like Brayshaw. Not sure why, but I like him.
February 22nd 2013 @ 1:49pm
Dean said | February 22nd 2013 @ 1:49pm | Report comment
I think James Brayshaw calls the footy on Triple M better than he does the cricket.
February 18th 2013 @ 3:38pm
Pope Paul VII said | February 18th 2013 @ 3:38pm | Report comment
Not that he’d do it but Dennis Cometti was an excellent cricket commentator back in the day.
I must be the only one but I don’t mind Mark Nicholas.
James Brayshaw is diabolical.
February 19th 2013 @ 1:56am
AndyMack said | February 19th 2013 @ 1:56am | Report comment
you are not the only one. He is the only commentator with a bit of class.
February 18th 2013 @ 3:39pm
Bunny Colvin said | February 18th 2013 @ 3:39pm | Report comment
Hopefully the ABC gets the cricket back and the first thing Jimmy Maxwell would say is on the morning of the first Ashes test in Brisbane in November, “Excuse the rude interuption, cricket has returned to it’s true home.”
That would be a cause for celebration I can tell you. Imagine 7 hours a day of uninterrupted cricket everyday of a test match. Cricket could go back to 11am to 6pm times due to the news only beginning on Ch. 2 at 7pm, so not a problem. No endless promos for reality tv shows and just quality, high definition cricket coverage. We would be the envy of the free sporting world.
Come on ABC! Go for it.
February 18th 2013 @ 5:32pm
john hunt said | February 18th 2013 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
maybe we can also go back to seeing cricketers bums every second over…..seriously though ABC has a good radio team
February 20th 2013 @ 12:15am
Evan Askew said | February 20th 2013 @ 12:15am | Report comment
ABC wouldn’t have the moolah surely. If you want a broadcaster that places an emphasis on quality broadcasts and who might have the money to bid for it then may I suggest SBS. At least there would be no promos for crappy reality tv shows. Remember the job they did for the 2005 Ashes?
February 18th 2013 @ 8:03pm
Tenash said | February 18th 2013 @ 8:03pm | Report comment
am i the only one who is worried abt the estimated value of the new Tv deal instead of the comm box
i mean $80m/year is pathetic esp considering the AFL & NRL got $250m & $200m/yr
heck even Aleague soccer got $40m/yr
if this is the case then i’m afraid Tests & ODI’s are failing cricket
i suggest CA start taking BBL seriously pretty soon esp before the Aleague gets a bigger TV deal than Cricket
February 21st 2013 @ 5:02am
peeeko said | February 21st 2013 @ 5:02am | Report comment
its probably because that it is shown during non ratings season and not at prime time and is a much shorter season than the other codes
February 18th 2013 @ 8:44pm
Scifi said | February 18th 2013 @ 8:44pm | Report comment
Bye Channel 9. I used to love your broadcasts when I was a kid but aside from Richie simply mute your boring nonsense.
Channel 9 used delayed telecasts in Perth for ODIs and 20/20s during the week = boo! I hope Channel 10 do not use delayed telecasts – play it live on one of your channels otherwise I will not watch it, period.
Richie retiring was a big loss. Mark Taylor talks waaaaay too much and has an annoying voice. McGrath should only be a guest at lunch or tea times. Slats and Nicholas simply cheerlead for their favourites and Brayshaw – hang on why is Brayshaw there? Healy is alright but the radio chaps are much better, O’Keefe, Fleming, a pity Roebuck is not still around he always had something interesting to say. The South African commentator Neil Manthorp is pleasant to listen to.
February 18th 2013 @ 9:59pm
Steve said | February 18th 2013 @ 9:59pm | Report comment
My commentary dream team
Jim maxwell
Jonathan Agnew
Neil manthorp
Kerry o’keefe
Mark Waugh
Geoff boycott
Henry blofeld
George dobell
Greg Matthews
All because they have a qik wit and a smart turn of phrase and don’t over exaggerate the play!
February 18th 2013 @ 10:42pm
pope paul v11 said | February 18th 2013 @ 10:42pm | Report comment
Aggers is tops. Only recently discovered Blofeld was a first class cricketer
February 19th 2013 @ 3:01pm
Don Corleone said | February 19th 2013 @ 3:01pm | Report comment
Yes…I like the idea of Greg Matthews.