It seems every day you set sights on The Roar, there is always someone fussing about the state of cricket in this nation.
To be fair, a majority of the content is very well researched, thought-out and correct.
For that reason I’ve refrained from discussing my views as what I want to say has already been said repeatedly.
That was until Friday’s report in The Age about aspects of the new radio rights left me dumbfounded considering the state of cricket in this nation.
I have no problem with Cricket Australia (CA) handing commercial radio rights for international Test cricket to 3AW and 2UE.
For starters, it’s not a new concept as 2UE in the late ’80s shared the rights with the national broadcaster and no one complained then.
The AFL and NRL have split the radio rights in the same way for years – and let’s be honest, the appreciation of the ABC has only increased as a result.
Finally, competition can only be healthy as it will help keep the ABC team from going stale or becoming arrogant in the absence of choice.
It happened to Seven’s AFL telecasts in the late 1990s and was a primary force behind cricket and rugby league exploring the option of divorcing Channel Nine for a new partner.
I also don’t mind them giving the Big Bash rights exclusively to Triple M.
The Big Bash is a shameless money-collecting product that Cricket Australia wants to help prop up revenue at a time when the A-League is becoming a serious competitor.
I have the feeling that the concept is also better suited to a commercial station that would understand how to advertise and promote in a way the BBL needs in comparison to the gentile, gentlemanly feel of ABC telecasts.
The thing that made me choke on my 5am orange juice may seem innocuously tiny, but I personally think it is a disgrace.
When it sold the radio rights to the BBL, it also sold the radio rights to the Ryobi Cup and Sheffield Shield – something Triple M has no intention of broadcasting.
Cricket Australia – the same organisation that pays Channel Nine to telecast Ryobi Cup matches – then arrogantly asked the ABC for a fee to cover these contests.
When ABC refused, they were told they could do reports but no ball-by-ball commentary was allowed.
What a joke!
The CA describes the Shield and Ryobi Cup as cradles, yet treats them with such contempt.
There is no way these two comps can command a fee, as the value doesn’t weigh up against the costs associated with it – even for the ABC.
What the ABC has provided and would have continued to do is give free airtime to CA to get their product out to the masses.
If they think the ABC will miss it, the fact they have committed to more A-League broadcasts shows they have a nonchalant attitude to losing the telecast.
It will hurt in February 2014 when the A-League is streamed all over Australia, while cricket has nothing on air as the T20 ‘hit and giggle’ and the Ashes will be completed.
If Channel Nine have to be paid nearly $1 million to telecast the Ryobi Cup, how does Cricket Australia believe they can command a fee from the ABC to cover a comp most people have lost interest in?
It’s short-sighted, laughable and should be rectified immediately.
The A-League and other summer sports will benefit enormously from the increased exposure.
Only cricket will lose from their greed.
Jason & Melissa
Guest
Henry Blowfeld will also be heard in the Fairfax Radio Network Commentary BOx this season aswell as Micheal Vaughen and posibly Ricky Ponting, Alann Border, Ian Chapel, & Adam Gilchrist.
Jason & Melissa
Guest
Damien has also signed with 3AW to be part of their commentary team aswll as signing with Channel Ten to commentate the Big Bash 20 20 Chricket comp. Tim Lane, Brucwe eva and DEan Jones will be alongside him on the 3AW/Fairfax Radio Network Commentary box. 3AW will then gann younger listeners duwn to 3AW haveing 20 20 Big Bash Cricket
Jason & Melissa
Guest
Damien has also signed with 3AW to be part of their commentary team aswll as signing with Channel Ten to commentate the Big Bash 20 20 Chricket comp. Tim Lane, Brucwe eva and DEan Jones will be alongside him on the 3AW/Fairfax Radio Network Commentary box. 3AW will then gann younger listeners duwn to 3AW haveing 20 20 Big Bash Cricket
Jason & Melissa
Guest
It iissafe to say tat 3AW is Cricket.
Jason & Melissa
Guest
It iissafe to say tat 3AW is Cricket.
Jason & Melissa
Guest
To Mark Scott your winging about Commercial Radio gaining Cricket is no good at all. many listeners will try commercial Radio and if they like it they will stay and they will not return to the ABC because they will se the light amd your winging will goon deaf ears
Jason & Melissa
Guest
3AW have five former ABC people as part of our team... Doug Aiton a Regular on Nightline with Bruce Mansfield and Philip Brady n a Tuesday Night after 8PM, Tim Lane, Dwayne Russell & Darren Boyd 3AW Sports Department & Shannon Reid Producer of 3AW Drive with Tom Elliott, When Derryn Hinch Hosted 3aW Drive he bought Shannon Reid to 3AW he Said to Shannon Reid "I raged to ABC out of you". 3AW draged to ABC out of Tim Lane & Dwayne Russell. 3AW has a bit of the ABC to drag out of Darren Boyd. 3AW more ABC people see the light & join 3AW.
Jason & Melissa
Guest
The ABC deserve to get the Cricket deal last the Commercial Radio Stations deserve first pick when it comes to Cricket Broadcast on Radio. 3AW and other Commercial will habve Cricket for years to come uif the ABC take Cricket fans for granted.
Timmuh
Roar Guru
If the AFL is anything to go by, the ABC might not get a contract to sign until after the commercial agreements have been sealed.
Jason & Melissa
Guest
Jim Maxwell said on Twitter that the Contract has not been signed yet but 3AW has signed their part of the contract.... Why hasn't the ABC signed their part of the contract as yet? meaning the Commercial Radio part of the Contract was signed last night as was announced by Dwayne Russell on 3AW Sports Today on 3AW after 6PM. so Jim the ABC needs to wake up to themselves and get their part of ten Contract signed now..
Jason & Melissa
Guest
3AW is broadcasting Cricket we have signed the contract to broadast Cricket.
Jason & Melissa
Guest
3AW have the Contract for the Broadcast Rights of Cricket iy will be signed very soon.
Don Corleone
Guest
The ABC can't complain about competition. They are a public broadcaster which has gone into direct competition with commerical 24-hour news and children's networks...now the shoe is on the other foot. For over a decade, the ABC's commitment to cricket has waned including the decline in publications and documentaries, not covering overseas tours and dropping coverage of women's international cricket in favour of women's domestic soccer. Let's see how genuine the ABC's commitment to cricket is now the monopoly is over..
ChrisUK
Guest
Funny how familiarity can lead to this kind of thing. Over here we only ever hear Jim Maxwell during the Ashes. He's probably the most popular overseas commentator on the radio in Britain.
Tenash
Guest
yet the A-league will still be smashed all over Australia when it comes to average crowds and TV ratings by the BBL :D :D
Tenash
Guest
***When it sold the radio rights to the BBL, it also sold the radio rights to the Ryobi Cup and Sheffield Shield – something Triple M has no intention of broadcasting.*** can you link a source for this statement of yours cause i haven't come across this info at all anywhere.
Tenash
Guest
technically the Big Bash is as much a shameless money-collecting product as AFL,NRL or A-league. so get off from your high horse
Zubes
Guest
Err.. Good to see that CA is learning something from the BCCI.
ilovewarnie
Guest
ABC are finished, Sydney centric. Maxwell and Lawson are hopeless, All Maxwell does is name drop and all Lawson does is pick some 8 year old from Parramatta as the next test captain. Thank God they have competition. Adding tools such as Hayden to the rotation hasnt helped them either.
c
Guest
aye :)