A few weeks ago we wrote about the lack of an Australian broadcaster for the 2014 English Summer of Cricket (Broadcast blackspot over Australia for England’s Summer of Cricket). We said that the ECB needed to make its product available to Australian audiences in non-Ashes years to ensure that the second or third biggest cricket market in the world could watch the ECB’s premium product.
It seems that common sense has now prevailed with today’s announcement that the English & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has signed a broadcast agreement with Fox Sports Australia. Under the new deal, Fox Sports will provide LIVE and HD coverage of:
- the five-match Investec Test Series between England and India (starts next Wednesday at Trent Bridge);
- the Royal London One-Day International Series (between England and India);
- the NatWest International T20 (between England and India);
- this weekend’s MCC v Rest of the World match at Lord’s; and
- New Zealand’s international matches in England in 2015.
The rights deal does not include the 2015 Ashes series in England as the Australian rights to that series are held exclusively by the Nine Network (read more about that deal here).
FOX Sports CEO Patrick Delany, said:
“Cricket fans in Australia have been asking for television coverage of this tour and we are thrilled that we’ll be delivering exclusive coverage to thousands of Australian-based England and India fans who won’t want to miss a ball once the action starts next week.”
It is good to know that cricket fans in Australia will now be able to watch the much anticipated England v India series, as well the MCC v Rest of the World match. It seems that people power has made sure that England’s battle against India this English summer is broadcast LIVE to audiences down under on Fox Sports Australia.
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