What the new cricket TV deal means for fans and what they think of the change
Related Story: Cricket broadcast deal faces regulatory hurdles as ODIs head behind paywallRelated Story: Nine signs $300m deal to wrestle Australian Open from Seven
Summer is going to feel a bit different.
Nine has been bowled out of the cricket broadcasting rights by Seven West Media and Foxtel.
Fresh off the heels of the ball-tampering scandal, Cricket Australia inked the new deal with Seven and Foxtel, putting ODIs and T20 Internationals behind a pay wall for the first time.
Here's how the changes will impact you:
What's changing:
Cricket Australia has laid out the key details here:
External Link: All the key details from Cricket Australia's landmark broadcast agreement
But for more information here's the full breakdown:
| Cricket matches | 2018 | From 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Men's Test matches | Channel Nine |
Seven and Fox Sports Channel Nine will still air the 2019 away Ashes series in the UK |
|
Women's internationals – including Tests, ODIs and T20Is |
Channel Nine airs Women's Ashes series | Seven and Fox Sports |
| Men's ODIs and T20Is | Channel Nine |
Fox Sports (exclusive) Channel Nine will still air 2019 World Cup and the 2020 World T20 |
| Men's Big Bash League | Network Ten |
Seven Network (43 games) Fox Sports (43 games and 16 exclusive games) |
| Women's Big Bash League |
2017-18 Network Ten (12 games) Cricket.com.au (remaining 47 matches) |
2018-19 Seven and Fox Sports (23 matches) Cricket.com.au (remaining 36 games) |
| Sheffield Shield | Cricket.com.au |
Fox Sports (final) Cricket Network (regular-season matches) |
| One-Day Cup | Cricket.com.au |
Fox Sports (13 games) Cricket Network (remaining matches) |
|
Allan Border & Belinda Clark Medal Night |
Channel Nine | Seven and Fox Sports |
| Other matches | Cricket Network |
Fox Sports (some tour matches) Cricket Network (remaining tour matches involving international sides against Australia) |
We also asked our audience on ABC News on Messenger what they thought of the change.
Here's what you told us.
A few of you were sad about the change
"It's a sad time for cricket as Nine has been covering it for four decades, I'm sure many of the great commentators will move across to Seven now. Hopefully Foxtel is fair in what deal they make with Seven as cricket should always be on FTA." — Prakhar D
And what it would mean for the Wide World of Sports song
"We won't get to sing along to the Wide World of Sports song! It's an iconic part of my childhood! Cricket won't be the same." — Beth H
"THE THEME SONG NOOOO." — Stella B
A lot of you were unhappy about a pay wall
"Sport should be accessed by all. Money and sport is unfortunate for young sportspeople whose parents cannot afford pay TV." — Natasha L
"It's unfair that cricket fans will no longer be able to watch all of the games on free-to-air TV!" — Tanika S
"I believe ODI and Twenty20 moving to pay TV can only be bad for cricket and the fans." — Lauren A
"I just can't understand why they would lock one day games behind a paywall. It's a hard sell to get me to watch cricket even on free to air after the ball-tampering saga." — Christopher B
And a few of you thought it was the final nail in Australian cricket's coffin
"If you want to kill the game of cricket then make ODI's and IT20's pay to watch. So stupid I cannot believe they would do something like this." — Jayden C
"Many people who currently watch cricket will miss out. Not everyone can afford luxuries like Foxtel cable." — Eddie B
"This is the final nail in the coffin for Australia cricket." — Michelle S
While some of you thought it was going to be a little … confusing
"Well Channel 9 did get the Tennis so it was bound to happen!! It's going to be a strange summer of sport … confusing for us all!" — Michelle C
Others were more optimistic about a change in commentators
"I think, 'Thank God'! I am so sick of the Channel 9 commentators who, on the whole, are so full of themselves and rattle on with incessant talk and stories of the past. Just hope 7 can choose wisely and get some informed commentators including women! They would be wise to seek advice from Jim Maxwell whom I usually have on the radio as I watch Channel 9 with the sound turned down." — Jennine L
"Hooray. Nine's coverage was as stale as a three day old bagel. Bring on the change. — Jamie P
And here's a reminder of what's free to air for cricket
Already, the move to take the 50-over One Day and T20 Internationals behind a paywall faces significant regulatory hurdles.
Both shorter forms of the international game are included in the Federal Government's anti-siphoning list, which requires that they be available on free-to-air television.
In the broadcasting services events notice, that includes a one-day cricket match that:
- involves the senior Australian representative team selected by Cricket Australia; and
- is played in Australia
And each Twenty20 cricket match that:
- involves the senior Australian representative team selected by Cricket Australia; and
- is played in Australia
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