Big Bash deal in danger
CRICKET Australia’s inability to make the Big Bash League more of a priority in the schedule has pushed Channel 7 to nail a For Sale sign to the product.
Channel 7 no longer wants the BBL and back in March actively tried to offload the once golden goose of Australian cricket to Channel 10, who didn’t want it either.
COVID-19 might have heightened the BBL’s diminishing value to broadcasters, but it’s a long-running issue that predates the pandemic and prompted Cricket Australia to commission its own independent review last summer.
The report compiled by former Channel 10 boss David Barham urged the game to find ways to ensure more top Australian stars could play in the tournament, and stated that the BBL needed to be put on more of a pedestal, rather than always being at the mercy of international scheduling.
Barham reiterated in the report that the BBL must get back to its roots as a ‘ made-for-TV’ product, and the broadcasters are united in feeling they’re not getting bang for their buck and have lawyered up.
The unprecedented challenges of COVID-19 could not have been foreseen, and have made revamping the competition a difficult exercise for CA to pull off this season.
However, the fact the BBL 2.0 reboot that was promised looks unlikely to be delivered this summer is why Channel 7 and Fox Sports believe they’re entitled to a rights reduction for the fallen value of the product they’re paying big money for.
The two networks will meet with Cricket Australia later this week, but as far as Channel 7 is concerned, a rights reduction isn’t all they are after.
Channel 7 is frustrated by the BBL’s poor performance since taking on the rights in 2018 and chief executive James Warburton has stated publicly that the network do not support the coming season.
CA have put Channel 7’s approach over the past week down to posturing and their financial struggles, but there remains a very real chance the network could try and offload the Big Bash. They would rather be rid of it altogether.
Both Channel 10 and Channel 9 – former cricket rights holders – refused to comment on whether they would be interested in snapping up rights should they become available.
If Channel 7 did opt out of part or all of its deal or sell the BBL, Fox Sports could be poised to swoop in on more exclusive content to improve the value of the $120 million a year it already pays for cricket.
The requirement for CA to set up bio-secure international hubs looks set to drain even more Australian star power from the BBL this summer, although Cricket Australia administrators remain adamant they will deliver a high quality product.
Cricket chiefs are confident there is nothing in their contract pertaining to quality, and that producing a full schedule would be them upholding their end of the bargain.
CA’s best efforts to set up an international draft to boost the quality of stars has fallen over due to COVID, but the governing body is chasing big names like MS Dhoni and Ben Stokes.