ECB sets deadline for bids in £1bn TV rights battle

Broadcasters told to send offers by Tuesday BT seeks to end Sky’s monopoly on coverage

The England and Wales Cricket Board has set a deadline of Tuesday to receive bids for its next live television rights deal, which is expected to raise £1billion.

Broadcasters have been told there could be an announcement within 24 hours of the deadline, although it is likely to take longer because a second round of bids is a possibility.

The ECB has received presentations from broadcasters over the past three weeks for its next rights deal, to run from 2020 to 2024.

It is understood the BBC delegation was led by Lord Hall, the director-general, underlining the corporation’s desperation to win the rights to the 12 Twenty20 matches that have been set aside for free-to-air television.

But it is the bidding war between BT Sport and Sky that is going to decide whether the ECB realises its target of £1.2 billion, revealed by The Daily Telegraph last month.

The BT board has cleared the way to make a substantial bid for the rights which, if successful, would be a huge coup as it would break the monopoly Sky has held on cricket since 2006. But Sky will be desperate to keep its cricket content, particularly after losing Champions League live rights to BT this year. Sky has two years to run on its current deal with the ECB.

The board has been hearing from broadcasters how they intend to widen the game’s reach in production and digital offerings, but also in their commitment to grass-roots sport and initiatives aimed at clubs. The ECB made a loss last year of £37million, although most of this was budgeted and caused by extra payments to the counties.