What’s the Buzz: Big Bash TV ratings crash a big concern for Cricket Australia

The tumbling TV ratings for the Big Bash League are a massive concern for Cricket Australia who will soon hit the market to secure a new rights deal.

Phil Rothfield

@BuzzRothfield

less than 2 min read

February 5, 2022 - 7:00PM

News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom

TV ratings for the Big Bash continue to slide. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Cricket

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Cricket’s summer Big Bash League is dying – and here are the disastrous TV ratings figures to prove it.

The competition has lost on average 450,000 viewers per game since 2016 and has been in decline for six consecutive years on Channels 10, 7 and Fox Sports.

This is why Channel 7 wants the Australian Open tennis rights back in two years when they next become available in what will become a fierce bidding war with Channel 9.

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Seven executives have already made unofficial approaches to Tennis Australia execs in recent weeks.

The BBL ratings are a massive concern for Cricket Australia who will soon have to go to market to secure a new rights deal.

TV ratings for the Big Bash continue to slide. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

“The BBL rights are becoming worthless,” said one senior TV executive.

Back in 2016 Channel 10 averaged almost a 1.1 million audience for each game. This summer the ratings slumped to just 630,000.

The season drags on too long (61 games) and there are not enough quality international players at any of the franchises.

There is talk of CA rescheduling the tournament from next summer to start in mid-January after the Sydney New Year Test and be played over one month before the NRL and AFL trial matches.

This would allow Australia’s Test stars to play and it would be far more attractive for international players who would be more prepared to play over a shorter schedule.

Test match cricket ratings are a different story.

Viewers on Channel 7 and Fox Sports have increased in the last four years.

Channel 9 had 1.275 million viewers for the 2018 Ashes while Channel 7 and Fox Sports combined to attract 1.336 million on average for the latest series.