Cricket on TV
Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 15 December 2004
Not good news, from 2006 cricket (tests and 1 day) will be on Sky only with highlights on Ch 5. Since I cannot get the latter, and have no intention of getting the former for what is more or less the only TV I ever watch then I'm personally annoyed. However on a wider note I though Ch 4 had done their coverage really well and going to satellite only may be a big mistake. Rugby Union and League tried it and soon re-signed terrestrial deals I believe. Short term cash fix may make the profile of the sport even lower, just when we seem to have a comptitive side too.
At least R4 still have the ball-by-ball, but i do not see the kids huddling around this to get excited about the game.
Bruce
Posted on: 15 December 2004 by Deane F
Is this just a UK thing or will it be worldwide?
Posted on: 15 December 2004 by Bruce Woodhouse
This is a deal by the English Cricket Board only. Do you (and the Aussies) get your cricket on free-to-view?
Bruce
Posted on: 16 December 2004 by kevj
Bruce,
My understanding is that, in Australia, test cricket is protected in the same way as it used to be in the UK and therefore has to be shown on terrestrial free-to-view.
Test cricket had the same protection in the UK until (I think) 1998 when the then Culture Secretary, Chris Smith, removed it from the "Crown Jewels" list at the behest of the TCCB as it was then. There was allegedly some sort of 'gentleman's agreement' at the time where Smith was assured that some test cricket would continue to be shown on terrestrial. The ECB have just welched on that agreement, and Smith is reported to be very angry about it (so what - he doesn't have the power to do anything about it now).
The ECB have once agin displayed perfectly their ability to make decisions in their own interests instead of the interests of the game.
Mike Gatting said yesterday that cricket needed to be on the television when children were still at school (and therefore had access to sports facilies) and could go in saying "I want to be like Flintoff/Harmison/Vaughan" etc. This may encurage a few to play the game. I couldn't agree more.
Kevin
Posted on: 16 December 2004 by seagull
I also agree. Its terrible timing, given that we now have some geniune stars (e.g. Andrew Flintoff) who could, given continued success and media exposure, become as big as, say, Jonny Wilkinson and encourage youngsters to play the game.
Posted on: 16 December 2004 by Richard S
Some interesting quotes in The Guardian from those in the game who think this is a good move;
"Terrestrial TV is only watched by 60% of households"
Maybe, but everyone can receive it.
"Average audiences on Sky were 85,000 versus 700,000 on Channel 4, peaking at 5.2 million on C4 for a Windies Test"
This could also mean the removal of Richie benaud from our airwaves.
regards
Richard S
Posted on: 16 December 2004 by JonR
Quite apart from what IMO is a dreadful but not entirely surprising decision by the ECB to accept the Murdoch shilling, the fact that the highlights are going to be given to Five is a real slap in the face for Channel 4 who, as others have said above, I think provided excellent coverage, not only with Richie Benaud but also I think Mark Nicholas, Simon Hughes, Dermot Reeve and others were really good.
What an earth was going through the ECB's addled minds when they made this decision, apart from lots of pound signs?
JR
Posted on: 16 December 2004 by greeny
I can't believe that the ECB don't understand that unless kids are seeing and talking about the sport in school playgrounds then they will be starting down a very dangerous slope of deteriation for English cricket.
Just look at Boxing as an example of how not to handle a sport. No one is remotely interested now, no one even knows the Heavyweight world champ(s) never mind any of the other weights. If you don't get to see and know the sports stars you stand little chance in long term promotion.
