CA announces $AUS 1.182b broadcast deal (over 6 yrs) with FOX SPORTS & Seven West Media

[Mamba Red]

Cricket Australia is reportedly on the verge of announcing a broadcast rights deal worth more than $1 billion, with the sport set to leave Nine for the first time in four decades.

According to The Australian Financial Review, cricket administrators were locked in talks with Seven, Ten and Foxtel on Thursday night. Seven subsequently beat out Ten to be the free-to-air broadcaster, partnering with Foxtel.

A deal could be announced as soon as Friday.
Under terms of the proposed agreement, the AFR reports Seven will broadcast all home-and-away test matches and some of the domestic Big Bash League. Foxtel will have the rights to broadcast every match, including simulcasting what is on Seven.

Both 50-over and Twenty20 international fixtures will be exclusively on Foxtel, taking limited overs matches off free-to-air television for the first time since the 1970s.

The deal could be as long as seven years.
Nine has broadcast cricket every summer since Kerry Packer famously bid for the sport in the late 1970s.

It comes after Nine snatched the tennis rights away from Seven, with Nine to take over after the broadcasting of the 2019 Australian Open.
More to come

BusinessDay

https://www.theage.com.au/business/...cricket-broadcast-rights-20180413-p4z9cj.html

 

[Mamba Red]

Seven and Foxtel nab cricket broadcasting rights in $1 billion deal

Seven West Media will become the next free-to-air broadcaster for cricket and end Nine’s four-decade stranglehold on the sport, but a large number of matches could be held back for pay-TV in a $1 billion deal to be announced on Friday.

Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp-controlled Foxtel will pay for the majority of the rights in a deal that will re-shape the broadcast landscape for Australia’s most popular summer sport.

The new deal will mean Nine is no longer the home of Test cricket, and Ten loses ownership of the Big Bash League rights.

Sources close to the discussions say Foxtel could broadcast One Day Internationals and International Twenty20 games on pay-TV exclusively.

This is a potentially controversial move because these matches are listed on the anti-siphoning list, which keeps certain sporting events available for all Australians on free-to-air networks. Only about a third of Australian households have Foxtel.

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.

Digital rights were a sticking point for some of the free-to-air broadcasters during the negotiations, including Nine and Ten, which had resubmitted a joint bid for five years of cricket totalling $900 million.

A statement from Network Ten chief executive Paul Anderson expressed his disappointment with the decision.

“We are disappointed that our bid for the cricket television rights was rejected," he said.

“Network Ten turned the Big Bash League into the television phenomenon it is today and one of the most popular sports in Australia, a sport that all Australians were able enjoy for free. We had planned to extend that innovation to other forms of the game," he said.

“Network Ten and our BBL team led by David Barham revolutionised the way cricket is broadcast in Australia and attracted new, younger viewers to the game.

"At the same time, we invested heavily in the Women’s Big Bash League, broadcasting matches in prime time for the first time and raising its profile significantly."
Seven had been blindsided by Nine’s $60 million bid for tennis rights, but this new deal would fill its summer sports schedule.

Foxtel recently said it had taken its bid for cricket off the table after Fairfax Media revealed it had made an aggressive offer.

Seven and Cricket Australia declined to comment. Nine and News Corp have been contacted for comment.

https://www.theage.com.au/business/...rights-in-1-billion-deal-20180413-p4z9cq.html

 

[Last Monetarist]

Aw mate, good riddance on the whole. Shame I won't get to listen to Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell on a live broadcast again. This would be bad for the sport in Australia though if Murdoch and Pay TV get their grubby paws on international cricket.

 

[R3verse Swing]

The irony is the quality of Cricket used to be great when less money was involved. I still remember the days when Cricket was aired free on BBC1/2.

 

[Mamba Red]

Aw mate, good riddance on the whole. Shame I won't get to listen to Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell on a live broadcast again. This would be bad for the sport in Australia though if Murdoch and Pay TV get their grubby paws on international cricket.

Yep Richie and Bill what a great team in the commentary box.

 

[AMSS]

A billion AUD deal for 5 years I suppose? With the BBL thrown in?

 

[Mamba Red]

A billion AUD deal for 5 years I suppose? With the BBL thrown in?

Yep BBL and the domestic season as well.

 

[AMSS]

Yeah, read about it on ABC site. Joint bid by Foxtel and channel 7. Cumulative value of the deal estimated at 1.1 billion AUD with a duration of 6 years. Effectively 180 million AUD per year.

 

[MenInG]

Landmark Cricket broadcast partnership announced
Australian cricket fans will have access to more cricket coverage than ever following a landmark partnership with FOX SPORTS and Seven West Media, announced by Cricket Australia (CA) today.

The new six-year broadcast and digital partnership, which includes a dedicated FOX Cricket channel, will result in overall benefit to the sport worth $1.182b over six years.

Men’s International Cricket will take a new shape, with Seven and FOX SPORTS broadcasting all Test Matches throughout the summer. FOX SPORTS will exclusively broadcast Men’s Gillette One-Day and T20 Internationals.

Women’s cricket has also been placed at the forefront of the partnership with all Women’s Commonwealth Bank International matches and 23 Rebel Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) matches each season to be broadcast on Seven and FOX SPORTS. CA will live stream the remaining WBBL matches on cricket.com.au and the CA Live App.

Seven will broadcast 43 KFC Big Bash League matches, in what will turn the league into a full Home and Away season, while FOX SPORTS will broadcast 16 matches exclusively, and simulcast the remainder.

Additionally, FOX SPORTS will broadcast 13 JLT One-Day Cup matches and the JLT Sheffield Shield Final, along with some Tour matches.

Both networks will broadcast the Allan Border Medal and Belinda Clark Award night live.

There will also be a new digital partnership between FOX SPORTS and CA’s digital arm, Cricket Network. This partnership will bring more content than ever to Cricket Australia Live App and cricket.com.au users.

Cricket Australia will continue to deliver broadcast-quality streaming of matches not broadcast by the two networks including International tour matches, non-broadcast JLT One-Day Cup and JLT Sheffield Shield matches, all available through cricket.com.au and the CA Live Pass. Fans will also still be able to access all the highlights they have come to enjoy through cricket.com.au and Cricket Australia Live.

Cricket Australia CEO, James Sutherland, said the strong interest in broadcasting cricket represents a transformative opportunity for Australian Cricket.

“We’d like to acknowledge everyone who took part in this process. It’s fair to say that the interest in our rights during this process has been unprecedented.

“Our thanks go to Channel Nine, who for more than 40 years has broadcast international cricket at a world-renowned standard – and in so doing has done more to promote our sport than any organisation in Australian cricket history.

“Our sincere thanks also to Network Ten for their role in taking the Big Bash League to a new level, and for so willingly providing a platform to launch and grow the Women’s Big Bash League. As a startup League, the BBL is a phenomenal success story. Over the last five years Ten has made an extraordinary contribution to the league and its growth in bringing new fans to cricket.

“We have nothing but gratitude and respect for Nine and Ten – and sincerely thank them for their contribution to our sport.

“We’re very excited about what the future holds with both Fox Sports and the Seven West Media.

“This sets the game up to be in even stronger shape, as we are on track to exceed 1.5 million participants this season.

“This revolutionary deal will enable increased investment in grassroots cricket through our programs and further developing facilities, expanding new participation formats to grow junior cricket, supporting clubs and associations to grow the game for women and girls and more investment in the talent pathway to develop Australia’s next generation of cricketers.

“What we are particularly proud of in this partnership is the focus on extending our broadcast coverage of women’s matches. Our partners are key to inspiring more women and girls to pick up a bat and ball. If more elite content is accessible to fans be it on TV or through their mobile devices, we’re helping tap into new audiences to attract them to the sport.

“I would like to pay tribute to Patrick Delany and Fox Sports, along with Tim Worner and Seven West Media for their belief in cricket. We are very excited to be partnering with them and look forward to what they will bring as we grow cricket as Australia’s favourite sport and a sport for all Australians.

“Finally, I would like to acknowledge our team at CA, led by Ben Amarfio, Steph Beltrame and Nikki Linney for all their hard work in securing this partnership for cricket,” concluded Mr Sutherland.

Foxtel CEO, Patrick Delany said: "​FOX SPORTS Australia will show every ball of every over bowled in Australia delivered with our trademark energy and creativity, on a dedicated new home, FOX Cricket.

"We know Australians love and respect cricket and so do we. We will give fans the most compelling, entertaining and innovative coverage of cricket with more choices, more games, more programs.

“It will be cricket like they have never experienced before.

“Get ready. Cricket fans will finally be able to enjoy cricket in the way they want and choose,” concluded Mr Delany.

Seven Network CEO, Tim Worner added: “This is a great deal – for Seven, for our viewers, our advertisers, our shareholders and for the game itself.

“Cricket fans will be able to see the best produced Cricket, live and free on Australia’s number one FTA Network. Seven has always been the innovator in FTA sports coverage in Australia – from RaceCam in the 70s, to setting the standard in how AFL is covered, televising more Olympic Games than any other TV station, and introducing cutting-edge technologies and multi-channel coverage before anyone else.

“And for Cricket Australia, it means the unbridled support of Australia’s number one Network and the best sports partners bar none. We will be unrelenting in our efforts to lift cricket to new levels,” concluded Mr Worner.

 

[Convict]

Good riddance to channel nein

 

[Hitman]

Is that USD or AUD?

 

[Kashmiri_Pak_fan]

So, is it any close to indian deal?

 

[cricketjoshila]

is that usd or aud?

aud

 

[prayas]

So, is it any close to indian deal?

Nope
CA deal is for six year with domestic+international+BBL
BCCI deal for same package is nearly 3.5 billion

 

[IndianFan2018]

Nope
CA deal is for six year with domestic+international+BBL
BCCI deal for same package is nearly 3.5 billion

So big 2 getting to billion $ club... any one having hands-on info on ECB deal for same package (estimated)?

Financially Big 3 still exists...

 

[cricketjoshila]

So big 2 getting to billion $ club... any one having hands-on info on ECB deal for same package (estimated)?

Financially Big 3 still exists...

£1bn from 2020 to 2024. Includes ECBs franchisee T20 league

 

[AamchiMumbaikar]

£1bn from 2020 to 2024. Includes ECBs franchisee T20 league

But i thought cricket is a dying sport...

 

[Hitman]

If it were up to the ICC and some of the boards, they'd expect a share from that as well.

 

[fawad_wellwisher]

But i thought cricket is a dying sport...

Probably test cricket is.

 

[SL_Fan]

Big change this so no more LOIs on FTA under this deal.

Men's Test matches

Men's Tests in Australia will now be shown on two broadcast channels, with Seven and Fox Sports buying the rights for the next six years. It means Channel Nine will not broadcast Australia's home Tests for the first time in 40 years, but Nine have already signed a deal to broadcast the 2019 away Ashes series in the UK.

Gillette men's ODIs and T20Is

Fox Sports have secured exclusive rights to broadcast Australia's home one-day internationals and T20 internationals, meaning these matches will not be shown on free-to-air television. However, the 2019 World Cup and the 2020 World T20 will be broadcast on free-to-air by Channel Nine due to pre-existing deals with the ICC.

 

[Mamba Red]

Nope
CA deal is for six year with domestic+international+BBL
BCCI deal for same package is nearly 3.5 billion

The population is different 1.3 billion people v 24 million.

Cricket in Australia has to compete with at least a dozen other sports as well, while India only has one major sport.

This is the reason why Australia does so well at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games where we are dominating.

In fact, most sports we play we do well at India for a population of 1.3 billion does not even come close to Australia on the sports stage or even in education.

 

[IndianFan2018]

The population is different 1.3 billion people v 24 million.

Cricket in Australia has to compete with at least a dozen other sports as well, while India only has one major sport.

This is the reason why Australia does so well at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games where we are dominating.

In fact, most sports we play we do well at India for a population of 1.3 billion does not even come close to Australia on the sports stage or even in education.

AUS is first world country bro...

 

[BlackShadow]

The population is different 1.3 billion people v 24 million.

Cricket in Australia has to compete with at least a dozen other sports as well, while India only has one major sport.

This is the reason why Australia does so well at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games where we are dominating.

In fact, most sports we play we do well at India for a population of 1.3 billion does not even come close to Australia on the sports stage or even in education.

Wonder what Aussie population would do with 1/10th of it's per capita income. Also, switch a gazillion swimming and cycling events with Kabaddi and Kho Kho... and suddenly you will witness the great Aussie sporting culture going down the drain.

 

[AFM]

Can this be the start of the death of Australian cricket? Cricket needs to be FTA. CA just lost 2/3 of its potential future player base.

 

[squarecut]

Wonder what Aussie population would do with 1/10th of it's per capita income. Also, switch a gazillion swimming and cycling events with Kabaddi and Kho Kho... and suddenly you will witness the great Aussie sporting culture going down the drain.

India is the most populous of all commonwealth nations and they are third in the medal tally of the Commonwealth Games that is going on at present. Please have a look at the medal tally of the second most populous commonwealth nation.

 

[Convict]

Can this be the start of the death of Australian cricket? Cricket needs to be FTA. CA just lost 2/3 of its potential future player base.

All test matches in Australia, male or female are on FTA as is 43/58 BBL matches + BBL finals.

 

[Gubol123]

Wonder what Aussie population would do with 1/10th of it's per capita income. Also, switch a gazillion swimming and cycling events with Kabaddi and Kho Kho... and suddenly you will witness the great Aussie sporting culture going down the drain.

more like 1/20th

 

[Arham_PakFan]

Why aren't LOIs on free to air?Good to see that at least tests and BBL is free for viewers.

 

[Varun]

Can this be the start of the death of Australian cricket? Cricket needs to be FTA. CA just lost 2/3 of its potential future player base.

Not really. The only cricket behind a paywall are 5 ODIs and 3 T20s every year. Test cricket is still free to air, which is the important thing.
[MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION] - who are the commentators going to be? Will this finally spell the end for Slater, Healy and Warne?

 

[Convict]

Not really. The only cricket behind a paywall are 5 ODIs and 3 T20s every year. Test cricket is still free to air, which is the important thing.
[MENTION=132373]Convict[/MENTION] - who are the commentators going to be? Will this finally spell the end for Slater, Healy and Warne?

The thing is that Fox Sports and Channel 7 will both have their own commentary teams. Seven will probably have James Brayshaw but Fox Sports might have Allan Border and co.

I do hope they keep on Lawry for one last Boxing Day test though.

 

[Last Monetarist]

I do hope they keep on Lawry for one last Boxing Day test though.

Bill is old school so he won't commentate for anyone other than 9, never has in his life and he's not going to change now. He'll consider this a quiet retirement into the sunset. I reckon though that Ian Chappell will continue to do work on the radio.

 

[AssassinatedDevil]

This to me seems like a seismic change in terms of cricket broadcasting in AUS. Thankfully I'm subscribed to Foxtel so I can still watch almost all cricket matches but from what I've read, only a quarter of Australians have access to Foxtel, which means alot of people could potentially miss out on high quality cricket.

 

[Last Monetarist]

This to me seems like a seismic change in terms of cricket broadcasting in AUS. Thankfully I'm subscribed to Foxtel so I can still watch almost all cricket matches but from what I've read, only a quarter of Australians have access to Foxtel, which means alot of people could potentially miss out on high quality cricket.

It always starts this way, once you sign a pact with the devil there's no turning back. That greed will need to be kept sated, and eventually you'll find all cricket is behind a paywall just as it was the case in England. The ECB gave Sky exclusivity to limited overs cricket in 1999, and six years later gifted the whole lot. Cricket is not like football as it's too complex, therefore, the casual fan needs exposure and a modicum of instruction to retain interest. Otherwise it's easy for people to treat it as an oddity to be sneered at.

 

[Bewal Express]

But i thought cricket is a dying sport...

On the ground cricket is in big trouble. Only 3 cricketers( Botham, Flintoff and Stokes) would recognised by more than 10% of the population. The other guys wouldnt be recognised by less than 1%. The kids dont play or watch bar the private school and Asian kids.

 

[Convict]

It always starts this way, once you sign a pact with the devil there's no turning back. That greed will need to be kept sated, and eventually you'll find all cricket is behind a paywall just as it was the case in England. The ECB gave Sky exclusivity to limited overs cricket in 1999, and six years later gifted the whole lot. Cricket is not like football as it's too complex, therefore, the casual fan needs exposure and a modicum of instruction to retain interest. Otherwise it's easy for people to treat it as an oddity to be sneered at.

Test cricket will never be a pay tv exclusive in Aus.

 

[Bubby]

Nope
CA deal is for six year with domestic+international+BBL
BCCI deal for same package is nearly 3.5 billion

plus the ca deal is in AUD, while Indian deal is in USD

 

[Bhaijaan]

BCCI sold its rights for more than CA & ECB combined? Someone please confirm to your bhaijaan.

 

[rhony]

BCCI sold its rights for more than CA & ECB combined? Someone please confirm to your bhaijaan.

3.5 bil for home games and IPL combined. So, yes

 

[squarecut]

People are lamenting the fact that cricket is not FTA in Australia. But but but we are told that per capita income of Australians is twenty times that of Indians. Still they cannot afford to pay to watch cricket ?

 

[Mamba Red]

People are lamenting the fact that cricket is not FTA in Australia. But but but we are told that per capita income of Australians is twenty times that of Indians. Still they cannot afford to pay to watch cricket ?

lol if you don't know the realities in Australia I suggest you just be quiet.

And stick to glorifying India.

 

[squarecut]

If 20 times higher per capita means you pay twenty times more for the same services then I suppose India is worth glorifying. One can watch the same sporting channels for peanuts that Australians may be paying a small fortune for watching. May be this is due to economy of scale where Australia , due to its small population is at a disadvantage,

 

[IndianFan2018]

Welcome to Billion $ club CA

 

[Convict]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] Apparently only Bill Lawry and Shane Warne among the Channel 9 crew might get reused (but Brayshaw already has ties with 7).

And for Australians out there Dennis Cometti might commentate the cricket for channel 7 which would be great. Probably the best commentator in the country.

 

[Varun]

[MENTION=132715]Varun[/MENTION] Apparently only Bill Lawry and Shane Warne among the Channel 9 crew might get reused (but Brayshaw already has ties with 7).

Might this be the same Bill Lawry who never steps outside of Melbourne?

Warne commentates for anyone anywhere in the world, so no surprises there.

 

[Convict]

Might this be the same Bill Lawry who never steps outside of Melbourne?

Warne commentates for anyone anywhere in the world, so no surprises there.

Yeah Bill Lawry would only commentate games in Melbourne.

More for the nostalgia/love that Australian cricket fans have for him than anything else.

 

[SL_Fan]

You will be missed.

 

[SL_Fan]

Let's see what ch7 can come up with. More important than the commentary line-up for mine.

 

[ads101]

On the ground cricket is in big trouble. Only 3 cricketers( Botham, Flintoff and Stokes) would recognised by more than 10% of the population. The other guys wouldnt be recognised by less than 1%. The kids dont play or watch bar the private school and Asian kids.

Doubt 10% of the UK population would recognise Stokes or Botham.

Flintoff is probably the only one along with Pietersen that people would recognise.

 

[daytrader]

‘Extremely disappointed’: CA ‘astonished’ by Seven’s ‘unwarranted’ move in $450m row

Cricket Australia says it’s “extremely disappointed” by the Seven Network’s decision to commence legal proceedings against the organisation over its $450 million TV rights deal.

CA issued a statement on Thursday after The Daily Telegraph reported that Seven launched Federal Court action over terminating its six-year deal, which has two seasons left to run.

“Cricket Australia is extremely disappointed that our broadcast partner, the Seven Network, has commenced legal proceedings against CA in relation to recent COVID-impacted cricket seasons,” the statements reads.

“CA delivered two very successful cricket seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, including every WBBL and BBL game and highly acclaimed international schedules, despite the enormous challenges presented by the global pandemic.”

CA added: “In the circumstances, CA is astonished that Seven has brought this unwarranted action which will be strenuously defended.”

The Daily Telegraph reports that Seven is seeking a court declaration that will permit it to terminate its contract with CA.

Seven claims that the contract was breached under its quality and standard provisions, according to the publication.

It’s understood that Seven’s issue largely relates to the standard of the Big Bash League and not Test matches.

“CA remains enormously proud of the efforts of the Australian Cricket family including players, match officials, sponsors, stadium operators, host governments, staff and volunteers whose hard work, dedication and expertise allowed us to deliver two exceptional cricket seasons in unprecedented circumstances,” CA said in the statement.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...t/news-story/cf98fc02677f87f19f0f7c0ec3210fb0

 

[U$ofA]

I think Seven overpaid for the rights and want to back track now.

I don't think there is a big demand for T20's/BBL in Aus. Aus. fans are test fans. So perhaps Seven is losing money and they are trying plug the $$$ bleed.

 

[Savak]

I think Seven overpaid for the rights and want to back track now.

I don't think there is a big demand for T20's/BBL in Aus. Aus. fans are test fans. So perhaps Seven is losing money and they are trying plug the $$$ bleed.

Big Bash was a high quality league at one point in time but they hurt the viewership by prolonging the length of the tournament from 3 weeks to 6-8 weeks.

 

[bujhee kom]

How much does BCB make in broadcast income?

 

[cricketjoshila]

How much does BCB make in broadcast income?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.es...rights-for-19-07-million-1263348?platform=amp

Around 20mn for 2 years.

 

[Savak]

Looks like the Viewership interest for Cricket in Australia is declining. In the 80's and 90's and even early 2000's they were right up there as the richest board in the world but now their fortunes appear to be dwindling.

 

[silentkiller187]

Is this a sign of things to come for the future for other boards? The bubble does usually burst somewhere.

 

[Blistering Barnacle]

Test cricket will never be a pay tv exclusive in Aus.

Ok, let's all bet the house on what Convict is saying.

Dude, what a statement to make.

 

[wrongun]

Big Bash was a high quality league at one point in time but they hurt the viewership by prolonging the length of the tournament from 3 weeks to 6-8 weeks.

Yep.

Administrators got greedy and had $$$ signs in their eyes. They (foolishly) assumed they could double the length of the season for a linear profit growth of 200%. Didn't turn out that way at all.

Fans got bored. Meaningless games. Even players said there were too many games and they felt like they had no reason why half the matches mattered.

It's a classic example of over-saturation/devaluing your product.

BBL WAS riding high & doing all the things they wanted- being popular with kids, easy for families to go to, reaching demographics who normally ignore cricket but will come along for a night out & a match the length of a film etc.

They massively mis-estimated how much was a novelty factor & how quickly people get bored of the novelty when it's all day every day for 2 months. BBL is not the pop culture phenomenon IPL is. Hardly anyone can even tell you which colour or name which team is- people don't follow the teams/scores but it's easy entertainment.

Believe it or not this has happened in Oz sport before. There was a time in the '90s when basketball was the fastest growing sport in Oz & people (administrators) swore that in 5-10 years it would be a dominant sport in the country. So they grew too fast, over-reached and basketball went out of fashion even faster & harder than the BBL. Now it barely exists as a professional sport here.

 

[daytrader]

Steve Smith dragged into ugly Cricket Australia dispute

Steve Smith has been directly referenced in Channel Seven's legal action against Cricket Australia, as the network seeks an early termination of the $450 million TV rights deal signed in 2018.

Channel Seven has filed claims of "multiple quality and standard breaches by CA", with their primary complaints revolving around the Big Bash League.

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Court proceedings are set to get underway early next year, with Seven committing to uphold the existing contract until the dispute is resolved in court.

Among the network's biggest complaints was Smith's unavailability for the BBL Final last season.

Though the Sixers had room on their list to accomodate Smith once he had wrapped up with the Test team, the team was not allowed to select him, as players had to come from a designated pool of local top-up players.


Cricket Australia are believed to be largely happy with the product, the organisation saying in a statement that they were 'astonished' at the claims levelled against them by Seven.

"CA is astonished that Seven has brought this unwarranted action which will be strenuously defended," the organisation said.

"CA remains enormously proud of the efforts of the Australian Cricket family including players, match officials, sponsors, stadium operators, host governments, staff and volunteers whose hard work, dedication and expertise allowed us to deliver two exceptional cricket seasons in unprecedented circumstances."

The issue between the two parties appeared to be over after mediation last year, resulting in a marginal discount in the network's fee.

However it long since simmered in the background, as CA were ordered to hand over pre-discovery documents by the Federal Court last August.

Thursday's announcement would therefore have come as no shock to CA officials in the Jolimont head office, or CEO Nick Hockley in Galle at the first Test.

Channel Seven seeking early end to cricket rights deal
CA hope the introduction of the draft can help revitalise the BBL and take the Twenty20 competition back to its glory days.

Seven's statement came on the same day Faf du Plessis was unveiled as the Big Bash's first marquee overseas player to join the overseas player draft.

"Seven's intention is to terminate the MRA (Media Rights Agreement), conditional on the Federal Court granting a declaration that Seven is entitled to do so," a Seven statement seen by AAP read.

Cricket Australia is facing legal action from Channel Seve, who are unhappy about the quality of the Big Bash League in recent years. (Photo by Mike Owen - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Cricket Australia is facing legal action from Channel Seve, who are unhappy about the quality of the Big Bash League in recent years. (Photo by Mike Owen - CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
"Seven has the right to waive this condition.

"The damages action is not conditional.

"Seven will continue to perform its obligations under the MRA (in terms of telecasting Tests and BBL etc.) until terminated.

"Seven has pursued the informal dispute resolution procedure under the MRA but the procedure failed to resolve the dispute."

Federal Court paperwork was first lodged by Seven against CA in 2020, with the parties regularly trading public barbs.

Seven West Media chief executive James Warburton once declared CA was "the most incompetent administration" he had ever worked with.

The ownership structure of clubs also remains a significant issue in the BBL, with both Cricket NSW and Queensland vocal in backing private ownership this week.

https://au.sports.yahoo.com/steve-s...ustralia-dispute-channel-seven-042437827.html

 

[U$ofA]

Looks like CA has patched things up with its broadcasters. They have a new seven year deal worth $AUS 1.52 Billion.

Given the amounts, I am sure there are going to be multiple tours from India and England in the seven years.

 

[MenInG]

Looks like CA has patched things up with its broadcasters. They have a new seven year deal worth $AUS 1.52 Billion.

Given the amounts, I am sure there are going to be multiple tours from India and England in the seven years.

Seven and Foxtel Group to Remain the Home of Australian Cricket

Cricket Australia (CA) has extended its broadcast partnership with the Foxtel Group and Seven West Media for a further seven years in a record media rights deal for Australian Cricket.

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley, Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany, and Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport Lewis Martin will hold a media conference at the SCG at 10.15am today (Tuesday, January 3). Please enter through Gate A and call Matt Taylor on 0431896702 for any assistance.

Under the agreement, the Foxtel Group (including Fox Sports on Foxtel and streaming service, Kayo Sports), Seven and 7plus will broadcast Australian international Men’s and Women’s matches as well as the WBBL and BBL until 2031.

The new broadcast rights deal, which runs from 2024-2031, is worth $1.512 billion to Australian Cricket.

Under the new deal, the BBL will be reduced from its current schedule of 61 matches to 43, allowing for increased player availability, greater proportion of prime-time matches and stronger alignment with school holidays.

The deal is a 10.5% per year cash uplift on the current six-year deal signed in 2018 and represents a 16% uplift on the previous agreement based on comparative volume of content.

On average, the volume of international fixtures per year is consistent with the existing agreement, with improved scheduling for both the men’s and women’s game against India and England.

Seven has withdrawn its legal proceedings against CA relating to recent seasons affected by the pandemic.

The new deal followed a competitive process involving all the major Australian commercial broadcasting networks.

Other key elements of the new broadcast partnership include:

Every game will be shown live on Fox Cricket through Foxtel and Kayo Sports, including men’s white ball games and 10 exclusive BBL matches.

The Foxtel Group’s exclusive BBL matches will include a Super Saturday series shown on Fox Cricket through Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
Seven will broadcast all men’s Tests and women’s international matches, 23 WBBL matches and 33 of the 43 BBL matches (including three BBL Finals).

All Seven games will also be streamed on 7plus, allowing cricket to increase its reach.

The term of the deal includes two home five-Test men’s series against India (24-25 and 28-29) and two home five-Test men’s Ashes series (25-26 and 29-30).

An improved women’s international program, including home multi-format series against India, England and South Africa in the first three years of the deal.

Nick Hockley, Cricket Australia CEO said:

“We are delighted to be continuing our broadcast partnership with the Foxtel Group and Seven under an improved deal.

“The quality and reach of the Foxtel Group and Seven’s cricket production is first class and the outstanding service they provide cricket fans was a strong consideration in our decision to continue with this successful partnership.

“The breadth and quality of cricket to be played in Australia over the coming summers is extraordinary and we are looking forward to working with our partners to not only televise the games, but to promote and grow cricket by encouraging more kids to pick up a bat and ball.

“This is also an important commercial outcome for all of Australian Cricket and one that will ensure we can continue to deliver important community programs, support volunteers and increase participation to keep cricket strong.

“We sincerely thank all the broadcasters who participated in the process. The strong levels of interest in cricket again emphasised both the enduring value of cricket and the place it holds in the hearts of Australians.”

Foxtel Group Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Delany, said:

“With the cricket rights secured for the next seven years, the Foxtel Group remains the undisputed home of the most popular and premium sports in Australia.

“This extension is great news for our more than 4.6 million subscribers, who will see our world-class talent and production teams at Fox Sports continue bringing the magic like they always have across Foxtel and Kayo Sports.

“The Foxtel Group is the home of cricket in Australia, and we’re proud of the role our investments over more than two decades have played in super charging the growth of the sport from the grassroots through to elite levels.

“Together with 4K on Foxtel and our continued investment in innovation and multi-sport environment on Kayo Sports, we deliver a fan experience like no other and will support the continued growth and promotion of cricket in Australia.

“This renewed partnership with Cricket Australia complements our other multi-year agreements with the International Cricket Council, the IPL and the cricket boards of various countries including New Zealand, England, South Africa and India to show the best of global competitions and matches to fans right around the country.”

Seven West Media Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said:

“We are delighted to extend our partnership with Cricket Australia until 2030-31. A comprehensive package of digital rights to the cricket for 7plus will ensure that for the first time, our viewers will be able to access cricket, live and free, in a way that suits them.

“Our combined broadcast and digital rights for both cricket and the AFL means Seven and 7plus will be the home of sport all year round.

“I'd like to thank Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley and the Cricket Australia team for their continued efforts to drive cricket and, in particular, the improvements to the BBL. We look forward to working with Cricket Australia to grow Test cricket, women’s internationals and the BBL and WBBL in the years ahead."

Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, Lewis Martin, said:

“This deal is a win for Seven viewers and cricket fans, with the best Test cricket, women’s internationals, BBL and WBBL games guaranteed live and free on Seven and 7plus.

“Our enhanced partnership with Cricket Australia will take Seven’s summer cricket coverage into a new era, reach new audiences across our digital channels, and bring fans all the exciting competition, exceptional entertainment and world-class talent they love.”