‘SCANDAL’ IF INDIA TOUR NOT ON TV
GOVERNMENT ministers have been urged to prevent a “national scandal” by ensuring England’s Test series in India is broadcast on UK television.
Cricket fans are facing a possible blackout as, just over a fortnight before the first ball is due to be bowled, the tour has failed to find a British TV deal.
The Liberal Democrats have called for the government to explore freeto-air options and hammer out a deal with broadcasters. Jamie Stone MP, the party’s culture, media and sports spokesperson, claimed that ‘Bazball’ – England’s entertaining style of play under head coach Brendon McCullum (above) – “deserves to be seen by the entire nation.”
In an impassioned letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, Mr Stone revealed his disappointment that last week’s World Darts Championship final between 16-year-old Luke Littler (below) and Luke Humphries was not shown on terrestrial TV.
“It was a shame to see one of the biggest British sporting events of the year hidden from millions of people behind a paywall,” he wrote. “Despite darts fever gripping the country, too many were unable to see the historic final between Luke Humphries and Luke Littler.
“It is shocking to see a far worse situation developing with cricket. This would be a national scandal.
“Bazball deserves to be seen by the entire nation, especially younger generations getting into cricket for the first time. It’s time the government stepped in by getting broadcasters and cricket boards around the table to hammer out a deal.”
The five-match tour, between teams ranked second and third in the world, will begin on January 25 in Hyderabad with the second Test following on February 2 in Vizag.
India remains by far the sport’s most lucrative market but deals with the Board of Control for Cricket in India have often gone to the wire, with rights distributors eager to recoup sizeable initial outlays.
TalkSPORT holds radio rights for the forthcoming series.
“Ideally, Test match cricket should be more available on free-to-air television,” continued Mr Stone’s letter. “It is in nobody’s interest to have this series on radio only.”