Australian Cricket Broadcast Rights 2018 - 2023

[dtm06]

Guys, let's not kid ourselves here. What part of Channel Seven's other sports coverage makes us think they'll all of a sudden be thoughtful and mature with the cricket?

We'll get roaming Brian and inane boundary side commentators and that's it.

An honest is answer is the way they have covered the past two rugby league world cups. They did a stellar job on both of them - a view held by most league fans, whom by and large despise 9's coverage. Their panel set up and call by call commentators were so far removed from what is served up in their AFL coverage you would swear it was a different network.

However the weight of their other sports coverage makes this the exception rather than the rule.

Would think that JB will be the face of cricket now on 7. I'd be surprised if Gilchrist and Ponting didn't make the switch, and I'd bet on Nicco ending up at 7 or fox too. Warne will go somewhere as well but other than that I'm not sure if anyone'll be picked up. I wonder if Simon O'Donnell still has ties with 7. He hasn't been on their horse racing coverage for a while.


https://tvtonight.com.au/2018/04/ni...ralia-its-new-broadcast-partners-success.html

Worth keeping in mind that 9 still have the 2019 Ashes and WC, and the 20/20 WC in Aus the year after. Probably means someone like Healy (who reads the sport in Brisbane) would stick around and help anchor those in the studio. Maybe Chappelli and Taylor too.

 

[wagstaff]

Would expect Gerard Whateley to have a significant role with Foxtel for the matches they call in the summer.

 

[dtm06]

Would expect Gerard Whateley to have a significant role with Foxtel for the matches they call in the summer.

Hadn't even thought of that - would like it a lot. Hopefully Cowan turns up somewhere too.

Just having a think about it, Fleming would probably fit in at 7 pretty well although he has history at Fox.

 

[Chicken Parma]

Worth keeping in mind that 9 still have the 2019 Ashes and WC, and the 20/20 WC in Aus the year after. Probably means someone like Healy (who reads the sport in Brisbane) would stick around and help anchor those in the studio. Maybe Chappelli and Taylor too.

Heals doesn't read the weekend sport for Nine Brisbane anymore, he stepped down and was replaced by Sam Squires.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

So am I reading this right - the only Foxtel exclusive stuff is ODI and T20I cricket?

No great loss.

 

[dtm06]

http://www.afr.com/business/media-a...h-foxtel-and-seven-west-media-20180412-h0yp9r

If that is true, and it will be, CA have done exceptionally well. $1.08B is more than i think anyone was expecting particularly when coupled with the current circumstances of 9 taking up the tennis and the ball tampering scandal.

43 BBL games on FTA is the same as this summer iirc. Essentially the comp is being expanded to give Fox some exclusives.

Tests remaining on FTA was a no-brainer.

ODI's and international T20's being behind a paywall is a sign of the times, certainly with the formers popularity. Exclusivity of International T20's was likely the icing on top of the cake for Fox. They occupy the twilight zone of the summer so probably weren't that desirable for 7.

Overall pretty happy with this. It's time for a fresh take on cricket coverage and I have no doubt that Fox will provide a good product. Hopefully 7 does as well.

Heals doesn't read the weekend sport for Nine Brisbane anymore, he stepped down and was replaced by Sam Squires.

Shows you how much i watch channel 9 news then haha. I assume Wally Lewis is still doing it too despite his peculiar voice.

 

[Masquerade]

So how does this work with ODIs and T20is on the anti-siphoning list?

From my understanding that means as long as one of the FTA networks makes a bid for them they'll have to be at least simulcast with pay TV, so Foxtel can't have exclusivity. But then, in that case, it means they only get 50% of the BBL matches to show without any FTA involved, which doesn't make the deal seem as lucrative.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

http://www.afr.com/business/media-a...h-foxtel-and-seven-west-media-20180412-h0yp9r

43 BBL games on 7. The loss of a few BBL games as well ODI's and international T20's is acceptable in my opinion, especially if all matches each summer are ad free on Fox.

I think we had 53 games this year - so it looks like each team will have 1 home game "exclusive" to Fox.

No big loss.

Cricket Aus are running the risk of doing what the NBL did in the 90's - chasing the cash and killing the sport.

Channel 10 have (surprisingly) done amazingly well with the Big Bash. They risk ruining that by switching to 7, ironically - the opposite happened in the 90s. Channel 10 ruined the NBL

 

[Chaisa]

Hopefully Cowan turns up somewhere too.

He'll probably join the ABC.

 

[dtm06]

I think we had 53 games this year - so it looks like each team will have 1 home game "exclusive" to Fox.

No big loss.

Cricket Aus are running the risk of doing what the NBL did in the 90's - chasing the cash and killing the sport.

Channel 10 have (surprisingly) done amazingly well with the Big Bash. They risk ruining that by switching to 7, ironically - the opposite happened in the 90s. Channel 10 ruined the NBL

There were 43 this past season. 53 might be with WBBL included?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

There were 43 this past season. 53 might be with WBBL included?

My mistake, you are correct.

I somehow thought we had 10 teams, not 8.

However we are going to a 59 game comp aren't we? ie - a true H&A fixture?

 

[dtm06]

So how does this work with ODIs and T20is on the anti-siphoning list?

From my understanding that means as long as one of the FTA networks makes a bid for them they'll have to be at least simulcast with pay TV, so Foxtel can't have exclusivity. But then, in that case, it means they only get 50% of the BBL matches to show without any FTA involved, which doesn't make the deal seem as lucrative.

That's my understanding too. I suspect that what has happened is 7 have picked up the rights to ODI's and IT20's but will decline to show them, thus letting Fox effectively have them exclusively. In return I imagine Fox have not challenged 7 in any meaningful way to get 43 BBL games (which Fox could have gone hard at)

 

[dtm06]

My mistake, you are correct.

I somehow thought we had 10 teams, not 8.

However we are going to a 59 game comp aren't we? ie - a true H&A fixture?

Yeah 14 H&A games each. https://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricke...league-boss-kim-mcconnie-20180202-h0sffh.html

So 16/59 behind a paywall. You wouldn't want it to be much more than that but I think they've probably found the right balance.

 

[wagstaff]

Channel 10 have (surprisingly) done amazingly well with the Big Bash. They risk ruining that by switching to 7, ironically - the opposite happened in the 90s. Channel 10 ruined the NBL

Don't think that was 10's fault. They were ambitious in giving NBL Sat night primetime coverage (Ch 7's was Sun midday iirc) but the ratings just weren't there and it became late night.

 

[eltrain]

Lots of optimism here but I’m afraid I’m not feeling it. As bad as Nine have been lately I just don’t trust 7 to serve up a better quality product.

 

[dtm06]

Lots of optimism here but I’m afraid I’m not feeling it. As bad as Nine have been lately I just don’t trust 7 to serve up a better quality product.

I think a lot of people are mainly relieved 9 cricket is no more, myself included. It’s been hard to watch for many a year now.

If 7 can steer clear of the BTs and Zempalis’, I don’t think they can do worse than 9. But that is still an ‘if’ at this stage.

I remember Basil hosting an NSL Grand Final in the early 00’s and it was surreal, in a bad way.

 

[Masquerade]

That's my understanding too. I suspect that what has happened is 7 have picked up the rights to ODI's and IT20's but will decline to show them, thus letting Fox effectively have them exclusively. In return I imagine Fox have not challenged 7 in any meaningful way to get 43 BBL games (which Fox could have gone hard at)

That makes sense but seems a bit dodgy. Goes against the spirit of the anti-siphoning law IMO.

 

[eltrain]

I think a lot of people are mainly relieved 9 cricket is no more, myself included. It’s been hard to watch for many a year now.

If 7 can steer clear of the BTs and Zempalis’, I don’t think they can do worse than 9. But that is still an ‘if’ at this stage.

I remember Basil hosting an NSL Grand Final in the early 00’s and it was surreal, in a bad way.

Yep, take your point but that is a massive ‘if’.

 

[peternorth]

what will happen with clarke?

hope slater and healy are blacklisted.

 

[Gough]

what will happen with clarke?

hope slater and healy are blacklisted.

He was okay imo, just got led astray by the older boys at times.

 

[dtm06]

That makes sense but seems a bit dodgy. Goes against the spirit of the anti-siphoning law IMO.

Yeah i agree. Obviously that's only my theory but it syncs up well Mitch Fifield's (Communications Minister) comments from last week:

“Whilst the anti-siphoning scheme has never prevented a listed event from being shown exclusively on pay TV, and the government has no role in the allocation of sports broadcast rights, the government’s view nonetheless is that test matches played in Australia should be available to the public on free-to-air television,”.

No mention of ODI's or IT20's in there so i suspect they knew what was happening and were laying the table for them to be put behind a paywall, whether that's through a dodgy deal as i suggested or through the government completely turning a blind eye to the anti-siphoning laws wrt ODI's and IT20's (not sure if possible legally or not).

The other option is that there were no FTA bids on them but i find that an impossible situation to have occured. 10 would've gone for them without question.

 

[Admiral Byng]

The way I am reading it Ch 7 will not be doing their own coverage, but simulcasting the Fox coverage for whatever quota of matches is required to fulfill the anti-siphoning laws.

Looking for word on the digital streaming rights and what happens with the CA Live Pass (or whatever they call it). Can we get the missing BBL games on that, can we stream them on a Smart TV app, or is it just phones and iPad only?

 

[dtm06]

The way I am reading it Ch 7 will not be doing their own coverage, but simulcasting the Fox coverage for whatever quota of matches is required to fulfill the anti-siphoning laws.

Looking for word on the digital streaming rights and what happens with the CA Live Pass (or whatever they call it). Can we get the missing BBL games on that, can we stream them on a Smart TV app, or is it just phones and iPad only?

I read somewhere a few minutes ago that digital rights weren't going to 7 and it was suggesting they were going to Foxtel which means you'd need a Fox subscription.

It was nowhere near as concrete as the other info that's come out though.

Dunno about 7 simulcasting Fox's coverage or not. In the AFL it's the other way around but we'll find out for certain at 2.

EDIT: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/bu...rights-in-1-billion-deal-20180413-p4z9cq.html

Under the deal expected to be announced, it's likely Seven would simulcast the tests and 43 Big Bash League matches, though it is not expected to get the prized digital rights under the deal.

So yeah might be wrong about Fox getting the rights according to that - it's possible CA has retained them. Also suggests 7 would be simulcasting Fox's feed like you said. That doesn't necessarily mean 7 won't have their own commentary team though.

 

[Admiral Byng]

I read somewhere a few minutes ago that digital rights weren't going to 7 and it was suggesting they were going to Foxtel which means you'd need a Fox subscription.

It was nowhere near as concrete as the other info that's come out though.

Dunno about 7 simulcasting Fox's coverage or not. In the AFL it's the other way around but we'll find out for certain at 2.

As long as they are available on the CA live pass I don't really care where the broadcast originates. Before Ch 10 took over the BBL I used to be able to get all the FOX BBL games on the iPad via the CA live pass, and all the ODIs live that Ch 9 would show on 3 hour delayed telecast in Perth. Hopefully CA have reserved themselves the rights to stream all matches from whichever broadcast originator on their own streaming platform.

 

[captain cotch 9]

This couldnt happen at a better time for cricket.
A change is as good as a holiday.
The 9 commentary team was stale.
If Mark Nicholas gets a gig at 7 I'll spew
Would love Gilly & Ponting to still be involved and even more so with the tests