Ten Network has dropped a $500 million bid on Cricket Australia in the latest round of negotiations for the next five years of broadcast rights.
The Australian Financial Review has reported the network has tabled a deal worth $500 million and now Nine Entertainment Co. has four weeks to decide whether it can match the deal as it holds a ‘last rights’ deal with Cricket Australia.
All Test and limited-over matches as well as domestic competitions were included in the deal tabled at the end of a four-week exclusive negotiation period Network Ten had with Cricket Australia.
This announcement heralds a possible new future for Cricket in Australia. For decades now the home of cricket has been Channel Nine with Richie, Bill, Tony, Ian and the boys bringing the familiar coverage into homes every summer.
The approach in recent years has been to infuse the commentary and presentation teams with younger talent, which at times has been quite successful (Mark Taylor) and other times has lowered the standard of broadcast (Michael Slater, Ian Healy).
If the incumbents cannot match the mammoth offer – which is around $120 million more than most insiders were predicting and expecting – that approach becomes history.
A lawsuit filed by Cricket Australia against Channel Nine would suggest the relationship is rocky at best and a new broadcaster is looking more likely.
Some new voices and faces will be needed introduce us to the wear on the pitch, weather elements and, thankfully, The Block will be a much less prominent feature of broadcasting.
Network Ten have made some fairly splashy hires since taking over the Wallabies rights – bringing Gordon Bray and Matt Burke into the fold – and will have to pay some good money to lure in high profile cricket callers and analysts.
On top of that it is speculated Network Ten will actually lose money on the deal in a bid to win viewing numbers they’ve been bleeding to the other commercial networks.
The rights also include the Big Bash League, which was previously on Fox Sports (who paid $12.5 million) and the Ryobi Cup and Sheffield Shield finals.
That is a lot of sport to find room for, on top of internationals.
One interesting aspect to think about is the option for more domestic games to be shown on free-to-air television for the first time in years. Network Ten may be able to negotiate time slots to make this available on their ONE HD channel.
Times are changing in Australian cricket – look for the Big Bash League to find a prominent home on television going forward, this will bring smiles to casual fans and Cricket Australia executives alike.
Willam
Guest
I haven't heard anything about Ryobi Cup and Sheffield Shield going to Network TEN. Where have you heard about this
Jack Bollingmoore
Guest
BBL Sheffield Shield final Ryobi Cup these three will grabbed by Network Ten and Nine Network will grabbed International Cricket like ODIs Tests T20Is
Jack Bollingmoore
Guest
BBL Sheffield Shield Ryobi Cup three will grabbed by Network Ten and Nine Network will grabbed International Cricket like ODIs Tests T20Is
James T
Guest
If ten win the rights they should bring in the grandstand team. Save me watching on mute while I listen to Kerry and hasha on the radio
michael landy
Guest
I hope foxtel make a bid for it with the media reforms coming thru if they get passed regional viewers wont get to watch cricket and free to air dont show hd
William
Guest
Channel 10 will be the best at covering it than 9 did. In fact we would be better off in HD on One and we can actually see the ball on Ten. They are really committed by the looks of it and throws anything to turn the network in the right direction. Ten has BBL
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
Channel 9 is basically a puke fest with the zealotry of Healy/Slater just stripping a way all its credibility. Especially when you compare it to the fine coverage of the game as seen on Foxtel. I miss the days when 'Aunty' covered the game As for Channel 10 covering it.........lol that station is so incompetent that they could not manage to get two pigs muddied- so Heaven help how worse we would be off I dare stay watching the game with the mute button pressed firmly
Tenash
Guest
Brian i'm afraid you're wrong. ch 10 is offering $500m for 5 yrs for all rights. Out of this $400m is for International cricket (tests,odi's & t20i) the BBL is worth the remaining $100m over 5 yrs i hope that clears it up for u.
Brian
Guest
The BBL is a small component most of the $100m is for International Cricket played in Australia - Ashes etc. Also Cricket is a long game and would count as Australian content which would save Ten money on producing other Australian content - Australian content is much more expensive than buying US shows.
Sportz
Guest
I'm pretty sure that's what will happen. Channel Ten's proposed coverage of the NRL was FAR superior to the rubbish coverage we get from 9, but that's what we're stuck with. Same thing will happen here.
Sydney Kiwi
Guest
Great news for free-to-air broadast of Cricket!
twodogs
Guest
Elisha, you say Healy and Slater lowered the standard? Dunno ' bout that. Listening to Taylor makes me cringe. He is about as exciting as a Fujitsu air conditioner box. And Mark Nicholls- someone please pay for a surgeon to sew his lips together. Talk,talk,talk,yak,yak,yak - get him off. So channel ten, bid 'til you get it and re-hire the channel nine guys who refrain from talking excessive garbage!
Willam
Guest
Come on Cricket Australia make the change and make Nine not the broadcaster as Ten will give it a fresh look. If Ten wins it is a win for fans if Nine wins a win for CA. Nine is horrible and stale for many years now
Tenash
Guest
ch.9 is desperate for BBL. Its the other domestic cricket ( Ryobi Cup & Sheffield Shield ) that 9 doesn't want to broadcast but CA is adamant on it. hope that clears up your confusion here's another article => http://t.co/NVfIneVdHn
Tenash
Guest
true blue what are you on about ?? been under a rock or something ? BBL is the main reason for which CA is suing ch.9 => http://t.co/JPfxTFFJP2
Trev
Roar Rookie
If CA want too grow the BBL then free too air has to be the way too go, as some one who doesn't have Foxtel it's hard too care about a league I've never seen a ball off. The fact that Ten would be willing too show Ryobi Cup and Shield cricket is a massive boost for CA and sponsors.
Silver_Sovereign
Guest
I hope this is not like where the NRL got several rival bids but still went with the old Nine coverage. Now we league fans are stuck with tired old Ray Warren/Gus Gould etc. Only 1 live game a week. As for the cricket, I agree no Brayshaw, and I also would add Healy, Slats, and Mark Nicolas. All guys that like the sound of their own voice, state the obvious, and show too much bias. Jim Maxwell, Damien Fleming, Gilchrist, Warney, Mike Hussey are the types I'd be going after. Even some old tough customers like Steve Waugh or Alan Border.
Ash Lemson
Roar Rookie
Channel 9 used to be good when greigy was around and Richie was a bit younger, but there rubbish now. Would love the BBL on TV. Just please DON'T hire Warnie channel 10 because we don't want to listen to him
True Blue
Guest
Ch. 9 does not want a bar of BBL. It is all over the courts at the moment so I am not sure what you are on about.
Lukeling
Guest
Ha!