English cricket executives want more than $50 million for broadcast rights to its next two Ashes series, an amount that is likely to end Seven’s attempts to bring the biennial contest on to a single television network.

Nine Entertainment and streaming and pay-TV company Foxtel are seeking to retain the broadcast rights, which are held by the England and Wales Cricket Board. People close to the deal, who spoke anonymously because the talks are confidential, said Seven told the ECB late last week it could not afford to stump up the cash.