Cricket TV rights: Nine caught out by rivals

A TELEVISION dynasty launched when Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister came to a shattering end yesterday as the landscape of cricket broadcasting changed forever.

Richie Benaud became the voice of the sport during his famous tenure with Channel Nine.

A TELEVISION dynasty launched when Malcolm Fraser was Prime Minister came to a shattering end yesterday as the landscape of cricket broadcasting changed forever.

Channel 9, the home of cricket for more than 40 years, lost the national broadcasting rights to the game, with Fox Sports ushered in as the new hub in a landmark $1.2 billion deal with Channel 7 that will span the next six years.

The new arrangement is a seismic shift in Australian sporting history, with more cricket to be broadcast than ever before

A recent version of the Channel Nine cricket crew featured Michael Clarke, Ian Healy, Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell and Mark Taylor.

Fox is setting up a dedicated cricket channel to mirror Fox League and Fox Footy and the women’s game will receive unprecedented ­exposure and profile.

Cricket Australia said the deal is in compliance with anti-siphoning laws, which govern the televising of major sports and give first right options to free-to-air broadcasters.

Fox Sports has committed to show every ball of every game of all forms, including Tests, one-day and Twenty 20 internationals and Big Bash.

All Test matches and Big Bash matches will be simulcast between Fox and Seven — with the exception of 16 BBL games, which will also be shown exclusively on Fox as part of an expanded tournament.

”No one has put more money into Australian cricket than Channel 9,” former Australian player Shane Warne tweeted.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland (left) speaks at a press announcement with chief executive officer of Foxtel Patrick Delany in Sydney on Friday.

Nine doyens such as Richie Benaud, Bill Lawry and Ian Chappell have been synonymous with cricket since Kerry Packer first changed the face of sports broadcasting in the late 1970s.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland thanked Nine for its support of cricket, as the network and its stars came to terms with the station now being dedicated to tennis as its summer sport.

Nine commentator Shane Warne tweeted his thanks to the broadcaster.

“No one has put more money into Australian cricket than Channel 9,” he said.

“I’m sure many people fell in love with the game growing up listening to the wonderful Channel 9 commentary team. Interesting times ahead.”

Network Ten's commentary team members Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting and Damien Fleming during a Big Bash League match.

Sutherland admits the game is facing a challenge to overcome the scars left by the cheating scandal in Cape Town.

“Cricket has been through a tough couple of weeks but we also know cricket is extremely resilient as a sport and the reaction we’ve seen is testimony to the extent to which Australian people care about Australian cricket teams,” he said.

Seven will show all women’s cricket internationals and Fox Sports will broadcast 23 women’s Big Bash League matches.

Fox Sports chief Patrick Delany said securing the digital rights to cricket meant for the first time fans would be able to live-stream matches.