STICKY WICKET
Cricket in crisis as Seven weighs up exit
AUSTRALIAN cricket is in crisis and facing the prospect of a TV rights fire sale following Channel 7’s bombshell declaration that they are considering walking away from the game.
In an exclusive interview with News Corp, Channel 7 boss James Warburton said his network would not support the summer.
He also roasted Cricket Australia as a “train wreck” and its administration “stumbling, bumbling” and “incompetent”. Fox Sports, cricket’s other broadcast partner, has remained tight-lipped, but are also angry about the Big Bash League being stripped of its star power and are set to challenge the stark difference between the $120 million they pay per year for rights, and what looks like being delivered this summer. If Channel 7 terminates its contract, Cricket
Australia options for a free-toair partner would consist of Channel 9, who dumped cricket for tennis two years ago, Channel 10, who are financially strapped and still furious at how they were treated at the last negotiations and ABC and SBS who wouldn’t be able to stump up anywhere near the $75 million Seven are currently paying each year.
Another possibility is Fox Sports could end up settling on an even bigger bank of exclusive matches to increase the value of what they have already paid.
And that could include Test cricket if under anti-siphoning rules, the rights are offered to free-to-air-networks and not accepted.
Due to COVID-19 BBL is set to lose more big-name stars than ever to international hubs, and cricket’s $1.2 billion TV rights deal is now on the verge of being challenged in court.
“Eight of the top 10 all-time run scoring batsmen who have played in the BBL will be unavailable for the competition. Nine of the top 10 all-time wicket-taking bowlers will be unavailable for the competition,” Warburton said.
“Put simply, this is not an acceptable product and we will not support the season. Cricket Australia have an obligation to deliver a competition of no lesser standard than the past.
“We paid a huge price and were promised the world. There is an obligation to deliver the best quality to the broadcasters. The BBL has been under huge pressure and Cricket Australia promised a full review and a reboot – they even called it BBL 2.0 for 2020-21. It’s the most incompetent administration I’ve worked with. With no appointed full time Chief Executive Officer at a time when the sport needs strong leadership to steer through these extraordinary times. We are forced to consider all our options including terminating the contract and we have put them on notice.”
Doubling down on his attack on Cricket Australia’s board and administration from earlier in the week, Warburton indicated the network felt better supported by Kevin Roberts, before he was sacked as CEO in June.
Cricket Australia believe Channel 7 are trying to bully them and feel it’s posturing expected in hard-nosed negotiations. “CA remains committed to delivering a full and compelling summer of cricket,” said a CA spokesman.
Broadcasters have seen a proposed schedule which includes a white ball series against India which would overlap the start of the BBL in early December, a white ball series against New Zealand which would impact towards the end of January, Australia A and CA XI matches in December which would take away another tier of players, and Test cricketers locked in their bubble until January 19.