Aditya ChaudhuriCricket Australia extends broadcast rights
Australia’s cricket governing body, Cricket Australia (CA) has announced a billion dollar extension with their current broadcasters, Fox Sports and Seven Network. CA has been receiving a lot of interest from international parties but they have decided to stick with the two Australian broadcasters. The seven-year deal with the Foxtel Group and Seven West Media is worth $1.512 billion.
The new agreement will see the home Test summer match and select Big Bash League matches continue to be telecasted on Seven while Fox will broadcast the remaining Test, BBL, white-ball international matches and other domestic competitions. Seven and 7Plus, Seven Network’s free streaming platform, will continue to show all men’s Tests and women’s internationals, they will also broadcast a minimum of 23 WBBL games and 33 of the 43 BBL matches. The new agreement is set to get underway from 2024, when the current deal expires and is set to be for seven years and will continue to be the broadcast home of Australian cricket until the end of the 2030-31 season.
Nick Hockley, Chief Executive, Cricket Australia, commented,
“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. 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.”
James Warburton, CEO, Seven West Media, added,
“I’d like to thank 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.”
American media giant Paramount was one who was looking to acquire the broadcast rights and reportedly made a $1.5 billion offer to CA. Paramount’s streaming service, Paramount Plus, was launched in Australia in August 2021 and already streams A-League matches and Australian football international games. It is reported that CA believed Paramount wouldn’t be able to match the reach of the current broadcasters.
