Just nine days out from the inaugural World Test Championship final, no Australian broadcaster has secured rights to televise the showpiece event.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Foxtel have confirmed they have now secured the rights to the World Test Match championship final between India and New Zealand. The match will be broadcast on the Fox Cricket Channel and will also be streamed through Kayo. It will also be available on the ICC app.
Earlier Story:
The International Cricket Council is scrambling to find a provider to show the match between India and New Zealand in Southampton, starting next Friday.
Fox Cricket, the most likely taker and self-styled ‘home of cricket’, is yet to secure the rights.
A spokesperson for its streaming provider Kayo confirmed discussions were “ongoing”.
“At this stage, we don’t have the rights to show the final,” the spokesperson said on Tuesday.
The ICC’s senior manager of media and communications, Ketaki Golatkar, confirmed that it was confident a deal would be reached in the coming days.
However, she could not confirm whether a free-to-air broadcaster was among negotiations, and said it was “premature to comment on this amidst the ongoing negotiations”.
Rights to the final have reportedly been on the market since March.
In almost every other major cricket nation they have been secured, including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka (all Star India), England (Sky), South Africa (SuperSport) and New Zealand (Sky New Zealand).
However, interest to show the one-off Test in Australia has been low.
Had Australia qualified for the final, there’s little doubt a broadcaster would have been confirmed by this late stage.
India’s series victory over England in early March ensured Tim Paine’s side, who for long periods were in the box seat to qualify for the inaugural event, were relegated from second to third on the WTC table.
Irrespective of the teams involved, cricket fans in Australia will feel short-changed should the India versus New Zealand clash fail to find a home.
India captain Virat Kohli. (Photo by Philip Brown/Getty Images)
Global broadcast distribution for ICC events (including all World Cups) are usually handled by the governing body’s broadcast partner, Star Sports.
However, Crizbuzz reported on April 1 that Star did not see commercial sense in selling rights for the one-off event, and instead gave control back to the ICC.
Last week, the governing body announced it would continue with the WTC format until at least 2031.
It would see nine teams playing six series each to compete in the final every two years from 2025.
The 2021 final begins at 7:30pm Friday June 18. The five-day Test has a reserve day if time lost during regulation play is not made up.
Thats great its now been confirmed.
Bobbo7
Guest
Great news, thanks
Micko
Roar Rookie
They've sorted it out now. :thumbup: :cricket:
Micko
Roar Rookie
They've got it! :thumbup:
Micko
Roar Rookie
They have now. :thumbup:
Micko
Roar Rookie
Seriously JN? Didn't know SA was playing tests in WI. Thanks for the update. :thumbup:
Benjamin Conkey
Editor
Good news. It looks like Foxtel has once again secured the rights at the last minute. No official announcement but the Test championship popped up on Kayo this morning with Kayo now heavily promoting it on platform.
Gee
Roar Rookie
The West Indies & Pakistan live stream a lot of their matches on youtube also.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
An update… England batting first now 247/7 at Edgbaston.. Won the toss.. In The Caribbean SA vs Windies, Windies 1st Innings now 67/7… New SA fast bowling sensation Nortje has bagged 4..yes… Other countries do play cricket strangely enough.
Bobbo7
Guest
This is outrageous. Plenty of expats like me have been waiting for this. I just assumed Kayo had it.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Oh that a great idea Zozza. Excellent
Get a VPN and listen to the host countries local cricket radio. I do this for the BBC Test Match Special live cast, which is ordinarily blocked if you are not from UK, but with VPN I just choose a UK server and away I go.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
That should bring things to a standstill.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
‘The Message’ - Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five. Lol.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Where's that from Dwanye?
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
‘Cause it all about money, ain’t a damn thing funny’
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Every major cricket nation thinks its worth broadcasting.. I find it hard to believe that Aussies don't.. Sends out the wrong message.. I've called out The Roar previously too.. Only real coverage has been an article on non coverage....
Micko
Roar Rookie
Any genuine cricket fan here (including all us here on this site) are interested Zozza. Really bizarre situation. Foxtel must just be trying to get a discount or something?
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
Oh dear. Main reason I kept the Kayo subscription was for this. If this doesn't go ahead I'll be cancelling the pizza and beer deliveries over the duration. Meaning the Victorian economy will collapse.
Targa
Roar Rookie
See below