Channel 7 and Cricket Australia set to agree to new rights deal

Cricket Australia’s TV rights dispute with Channel 7 looks set to end with an announcement of the next rights deal imminent and possibly before the New Year’s Test.

Channel 7 and Cricket Australia look set to put down their guns and agree to a new TV rights deal which would end the court battle marring the sport.

No agreement has yet been reached and further twists and turns are still possible, but all indications suggest current rights holders Seven and Fox Sports are likely to be retained as partners for another five years.

An announcement is expected in the New Year, possibly before the Sydney Test, although it could take longer until all the terms and conditions are ironed out.

A new Seven and Fox alliance would essentially represent a similar arrangement to the existing broadcasting contract.

Channel 7 is set to remain the free-to-air home for cricket. Picture: Tim Hunter.

It’s anticipated Cricket Australia will make an increase on the $1.18 billion broadcasting contract from 2018, with the new deal reportedly set to climb further towards $1.4 billion.

That would be short of what Paramount and Channel 10 is offering with their $1.5 billion bid, but would still be a good result for Cricket Australia, particularly given the performance of the Big Bash League over recent seasons.

However, the dynamic of going back into business with Channel 7 would be an interesting one for the sport, given the acrimony that has existed over the past couple of seasons.

Seven is currently suing Cricket Australia in the Federal Court but has vowed to drop the attempt to terminate the existing deal if a new broadcasting contract is struck.

It would represent a declaration of peace for a sport that did not need the ugly headlines of being mired in court action.