View Full Version : The Ashes to return to UK free-to-air television
Admiral Afterworld
13 Oct 2009, 03:08
The Ashes to return to free-to-air television
By Patrick Hennessy, Political Editor
Published: 9:30PM BST 10 Oct 2009
Cricket’s showpiece Test series joins the list of legally protected “crown jewel” sporting events, The Sunday Telegraph has learnt.
This summer’s England-Australia Test series was shown live only by Sky, whose paid-for sports channel achieved a peak of two million viewers when it broadcast the deciding Test at the Oval.
More than seven million viewers watched the conclusion of the last home Ashes series on Channel 4, in 2005.
The disparity has led to complaints that a large television audience was unfairly missing out on live coverage this year.
A review of “crown jewel” events which must be shown live on terrestrial television, led by David Davies, the former Football Association executive, is understood to recommend that the Ashes be made free to air.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/international/theashes/6293256/The-Ashes-to-return-to-free-to-air-television.html
Rupert won't be happy :p
Bomber Bears
13 Oct 2009, 12:23
To be honest things that make Rupert unhappy generally make me happy
Oh and challenge cup on free to air over there gets thumbs up as well
raikkonen
25 Oct 2009, 06:11
I thought I would be able to watch the Ashes very easily in England at my cousins place. How wrong was I. Its an absolute joke that it isnt on FTA tv there. Disgraceful. Same with EPL.
Admiral Afterworld
14 May 2010, 14:31
It seems probable the new coalition government won't be forcing it to be on FTA.
There has also disagreement between the parties over the "crown jewels" list of events that must be shown on free-to-air TV.
An independent review for the last government proposed that cricket's Ashes Test matches staged in the UK should be added to the list - but this was opposed by sports bodies and BSkyB.
The Liberal Democrats favoured the Ashes being added to the list. The Conservatives opposed it, saying it could cost the sport millions of pounds. There may be an economic impact test before any decision is taken.
And there is still a regulatory battle over how much Sky should be allowed to charge rival broadcasters to show its sports channels.
Will the Conservatives favour Sky? Those who believe, despite Mr Cameron's denials, that there really is a deal between the Murdochs and the Tories will be watching closely.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/8678797.stm
Disgraceful. Same with EPL.
If they were on FTA then English clubs wouldn't be able to afford half the top notch foreign players that play over here.
I point you back to English football circa 1992.
ChunkyDuckling
15 May 2010, 01:43
It seems probable the new coalition government won't be forcing it to be on FTA.
Yeah I doubt it. Bugger.
I have Sky but their commentary team is diabolical and incredibly one-sided. Nasser has a monstrous chip on his shoulder about the Aussies and Beefy is just a nob. Not to mention the rest of the unknown cronies. Nick Knight is the only one I can handle.
The BBC radio team are so much better its not funny. More importantly, they are objective. They dont pretend they are not going for England but they are professional enough to provide a balanced broadcast.
If it did go to the BBC, would the 5live team be commentating?? I've only been here 3 years...
ChunkyDuckling
15 May 2010, 01:46
If they were on FTA then English clubs wouldn't be able to afford half the top notch foreign players that play over here.
Are you referring to the County clubs or the 'national' team?
Are you referring to the County clubs or the 'national' team?
Neither.:D
Sorry mate I was answering the other poster's point that the English Premier League should be on FTA too and how the money they lost would affect the spending power of English clubs.
As for English cricket, I'd love to see it back on FTA but it's a bit harsh on the EWCB, no FTA station would be able to pay anywhere near what Sky pay so the Government would effectively be hampering English cricket's ability to fund itself, which I'm sure would have to hit the wages that England players get plus a lot of the development programmes...although they could stop giving the counties hand outs to grease the palms of so many overseas cricketers I suppose.
If it did go to the BBC, would the 5live team be commentating?? I've only been here 3 years...
No it wouldn't, Test Match special used to broadcast seperately to the TV guys when BBC had the coverage.
I mean Radio commentary is a different art to TV, essentially on TV they should say as little as possible but the Sky blokes don't understand that.
I'd be surprised if it did go to BBC anyway, they've shown no interest in it at all since losing it.Channel 4 would surely be the favourites unless 5 wanted to give it a crack.