Cricket Australia set to cut ties with Nine in $1bn Seven-Foxtel deal

CHANNEL Seven has seized the cricket from Nine — and the Big Bash League from Ten — leaving a host of big names in the gun.

The late, great cricket commentator Richie Benaud and model Lara Bingle in the Ashes cricket advertisement campaign. Picture: Channel Nine.

SUMMER will never be the same.

In a landmark change to the Australian sporting media landscape, Foxtel and Channel Seven have seized the cricket from Channel Nine for the first time in more than 40 years.

It’s not just the Test and international limited overs scene they’ve pinched either. The News Corp-owned Foxtel and the Kerry Stokes-controlled Seven network will also seize the top-rating Big Bash League from Channel 10.

Cricket Australia is expected to announce a new six-year deal worth a $1 billion at 2pm on Friday. Seven West Media released a statement saying it had been told by Cricket Australia it was the successful bidder, with Foxtel. “Contracts are being finalised but are not yet signed. A full announcement will be made on signing this afternoon,” Seven said.

The Australian reports Seven has committed to annual payments of $75 million or $450m over 6 years, with Foxtel stumping up $105m a season or $630m.

Foxtel will share the rights with Seven because anti-siphoning laws require major international cricket matches to be shown on free-to-air television. But it is expected to have exclusive rights to some Big Bash League matches.

What it means for Nine’s commentary team is now the big question. The futures of Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Shane Warne, Michael Clarke and Mark Nicholas are now clouded — as former Test player Damien Martyn joked “I’m sure the phone is ringing at Foxtel and Seven”.

A new era. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images.

Former Test player Ed Cowan tweeted it was a “massive opportunity to hear some new voices. Preferably under the age of 60, hopefully more diverse, and shock horror, may not have captained Australia.”

But it also leaves popular Big Bash commentators Adam Gilchrist, Mark Waugh and Ricky Ponting with uncertain futures at Channel 10.

Thanks to all who watched @BBL on @tensporttv over the last 5 years. It was fun. #viewership

— Adam Gilchrist (@gilly381) April 12, 2018

Nine has held the rights for matches played by Australia for the past 40 years but its five-year deal worth $500 million with Cricket Australia ended with reports it was losing more than $30 million a year on international cricket.

“Nine is immensely proud of our decades long association between Wide World of Sports and the game of cricket in this country,” a Nine spokesperson said. “We wish Cricket Australia and its new broadcast partners well for the future success of the game.

“Cricket will continue to be a part of Nine’s schedule into the future with current deals in place covering the next Ashes series from England in 2019, the ODI World Cup in the UK in the same year and in 2020 the T20 World Cups to be held in Australia.”

Ricky Ponting and Adam Gilchrist - Big Bash League, Channel 10. For Hit.TV only.

A disappointed Network Ten chief executive Paul Anderson confirmed its offer had been rejected on Friday morning, after having televised the emergent Big Bash League for the past four summers.

“We are disappointed that our bid for the cricket television rights was rejected,” Anderson said in a statement.

“Network Ten turned the Big Bash League into the television phenomenon it is today and one of the most popular sports in Australia, a sport that all Australians were able enjoy for free.

“We had planned to extend that innovation to other forms of the game.

“Network Ten and our BBL team led by David Barham revolutionised the way cricket is broadcast in Australia and attracted new, younger viewers to the game.

“At the same time, we invested heavily in the Women’s Big Bash League, broadcasting matches in prime time for the first time and raising its profile significantly.”

Loving this new TV deal for cricket. Out with the old, in with the new. Fresh new look for cricket coverage long needed. Interesting time to get rights too, be fascinating to watch this new look Aussie team + also imagine the focus when Steve Smith returns to Test side.

— Ben Dorries (@bendorries76) April 12, 2018

Cricket TV rights are fascinating. I wonder what will happen with hosts.
I would put my house on James Brayshaw spearheading Channel 7’s coverage. Perfect time for him to cross over!

— Jarrod Walsh (@jarrodwalsh) April 12, 2018

Disappointing Ten has lost the Big Bash rights. Especially proud of what our network did to boost the profile of the @WBBL #watchthewomen

— Rebecca Morse (@RebeccaMorse10) April 12, 2018

Originally published as Cricket Australia set to cut ties with Nine in $1bn Seven-Foxtel deal