It’s the dawn of a new era for Cricket Australia and its passionate fans. For the most passionate supporter, like me, the reality of the new broadcast deal has hit us in the face like the smell of a teenage boy in the middle of summer.
The first ball for the summer has been bowled but has anyone noticed? Where is the bowler storming in from the Vulture Street end?
In April this year, Cricket Australia announced a new six-year broadcast deal with the Seven Network and Fox Sports, worth $1.182 billion.
The agreement with Seven gives them the hosting rights to the men’s Test matches and all the women’s international matches.
Also, Seven has the broadcast rights to 43 men’s and 23 women’s Big Bash games.
With the exception of the Nine Network holding on to a couple of tournaments, everything else will be aired on Fox Sports dedicated channel, Fox Cricket.
Now don’t get me wrong, I have loved Fox Cricket so far but not everybody has pay TV.
$1.182 billion is a huge amount of money for any sport in Australia, let alone cricket and this deal has ended the long-standing partnership with the Nine Network, much to their shock.
Why did Nine let cricket go? Was it simply a financial decision or were they so naive in thinking Cricket Australia wouldn’t be shopping around?
In one sense I can understand the latter, especially after what Kerry Packer went through in the 70s with the Australian Cricket Board.
I feel as though the only winner in this broadcast deal is ABC Grandstand, who will be airing uninterrupted coverage of all international matches.
The one thing the average punter can’t quite understand is when you pay top dollar, like Seven and Fox have, you have the right to choose what games you want, at whatever time-slot you desire.
So the question I ask is, at what cost are these mega broadcast deals a detriment to the game it is on offer to?
What was wrong with starting the Cricket season with five Test matches, moving to One-Day Internationals in January and then some 20/20 for the kids?
I feel if Cricket Australia took a hit in the purse pocket but demanded the traditional format to the Australian summer of cricket be maintained, we would all be happy.
Yes, I am well aware of the fact the Gabba only started hosting the first Test match for the summer in the 90s but it feels like a tradition to me.
Am I the only one who feels a bit flat about the start of this summer of cricket?
Well, if you take into account the attendance figures in the recent One-Day series and the ratings from Fox Cricket, I don’t think I am the only one.
I did a short poll with a few passionate cricket fans that I know. I asked the question, what do you think of the new format for the cricket?
The results were not positive.
One part of me is hoping Seven and Fox take note of this year’s viewing figures and revert to the format we all know and love.
I do however believe this could just be teething issues that will sort itself out once we are all accustomed to this new format.
buttery
Roar Rookie
Cricket like never before as Foxsports are advertising & they are right, no first test at the Gabba, so no win first up, commentators, so who's new, we have seen them all before on varous channels, so what's new, oh I know, India are going to flog us in Australia, happy days.
Terry Pascoe
Roar Rookie
I know it's not as simple as it was when I was a child watch cricket at home but I do think we have over-complicated the system. Should we simple do away with One-Day cricket? Yes, you are right on the point about the World Cups, they are controlled by the ICC and the administrators have to work around them but the networks do control the time and dates of matches locally, from what I understand. I'm happy to be wrong though.
Terry Pascoe
Roar Rookie
I know but I also know quite a few middle-age supporters who have no idea how technology works. Hence why I think ABC Grandstand is a big winner here.
Terry Pascoe
Roar Rookie
I don't mind your idea at all. I guess this is the problem with the scheduling of cricket internationally. Is three formats too many? Should the ICC do away with 50/50?
Paul
Roar Guru
"What was wrong with starting the Cricket season with five Test matches, moving to One-Day Internationals in January and then some 20/20 for the kids?" If only it were that simple TP. Somehow, CA has to squeeze everything you mentioned PLUS the Sheffield Shield PLUS the JLT Cup into a season that is only 6 months long. I also have an issue with your statement, "The one thing the average punter can’t quite understand is when you pay top dollar, like Seven and Fox have, you have the right to choose what games you want, at whatever time-slot you desire. Do they? What about scheduling games because that will help players get ready for Test cricket? Or scheduling games because it will give us the best preparation to defend the World Cup? You've highlighted one of the problems that came out in the Ethics Centre report; the old Board and the networks had the attitude to milk the game for all the money you can and if that means ignoring or killing off some parts of it, so be it. Sooner rather than later, both CA and the networks will need to come back to re-examine their agreement. 59 BBL games is ludicrous, as is stopping the Shield season over January and squeezing in a "Mickey Mouse" 50 over tournament at the start of the southern summer. This is clearly creating guys who are not Test standard and as our ODI team is showing, they're below par internationally as well.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Also, as I said on the other article about broadcasting (and this isn't excusing CA's Fox deal): the limited overs matches can be streamed for free from CA's website.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Given that we normally (ignoring SA's current mini-tour) have two sides visiting over the summer, I think the most sensible format would be: T20Is and ODIs vs team 1 Tests vs team 1 (concluding with Boxing Day) Tests vs team 2 T20Is and ODIs vs team 2 This could be roughly mirrored domestically by running the JLT, Shield and BBL in that order (potentially with a bit of overlap). CA won't do that because moving the BBL out of the Christmas holidays would reduce revenue, but it makes sense from a cricket scheduling point of view.