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Network Ten‘s coverage of the 2013-14 Big Bash season has trumped rival broadcasters to claim the Australian Sports Commission award for best coverage of a sporting event. But was it a deserving winner?
In taking out the prize, Network Ten edged out fellow nominees including SBS‘s broadcast of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, The Sunday Age‘s reporting of the 2013 AFL grand final and AAP‘s coverage of the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
Perhaps the biggest scalp though was that of long-time cricketing broadcasters, the Nine Network, and their efforts in covering the 2013-14 Ashes series.
That triumph alone makes me question the ASC’s decision to hand down the award to Network Ten. Because for as long as I’ve known – and although I’ll admit, it isn’t as long as some others – summer has meant cricket, and cricket has meant Channel Nine.
Cricket aside, and there are plenty of other candidates who could have won the award.
Network Seven‘s coverage of the Spring Racing carnival, or the Bathurst 1000 perhaps? Maybe Fox Sports‘ broadcast of the A-League, or the British and Irish Lions tour?
Sure, the Big Bash’s booming television ratings and the associated analytics, don’t lie.
Ben Amarfio from Cricket Australia told the media that, “[CA] are delighted for Network Ten that its coverage of the KFC T20 Big Bash League has been recognised in this way.”
But before acquiring the free-to-air television rights for the BBL last summer, just mentioning the term ‘cricket broadcast’ alongside ‘Channel Ten’ would’ve been as sensible as leaving a delivery pitched on middle stump.
You just wouldn’t do that.
So fast-forward to today, as Network Ten gears up for their second season of coverage, and it appears that the viewers are ready to be bowled over once more.
I’ll be the first to put my hand up and say that I too cannot wait to see my Brett Lee-inspired Sixers go around again, with the picturesque SCG in the backdrop, all from the comfort of my lounge room.
I would love to see it in high definition though, as was the case when Fox Sports headed the coverage in the first two instalments of the Bash.
That aspect of coverage is a bare minimum requirement of sports coverage in the modern age. Not that Channel Ten‘s Big Bash, nor David Gyngell or the bosses at the NRL, care to acknowledge that.
Regardless, the ASC’s decision has definitely got me thinking. Have the doyens at Channel Nine been usurped by the young-guns at Channel Ten? What this means for the future of the sport, and its coverage here in Australia, only time will tell.
Channel Nine‘s coverage is certainly going through a transition, and perhaps not as smoothly as they would have hoped.
Still, nothing will ever be able to replace the likes of Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and the late great Tony Grieg – and the many bad impersonations of each that we may sit through.
But headed by Mel Mclaughlin and Damien Fleming, as well as ex-Test stars Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist, Network Ten‘s coverage has changed the way that we perceive cricket and its place on our free-to-air networks.
What do you think Roarers? Were Channel Ten deserving winners of the award?
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