Cricket returns to BBC TV

Just to mention the deadline passed today for the ECB Cricket rights from 2020 so we could hear this week the destination of the rights.

Here's whats on offer

Pack 1: All International & County Cricket
Pack 2: All T20 League - Men & Women

Pack 3: Free to Air Pack
2x England Men's T20 & 1 x Womens T20
10 x Men's T20 League games
8 x Women's T20 league games

Pack 4: Digital Clips
Pack 5: Free to Air International highlights
Pack 6A: Radio - International + T20
Pack 6B: Radio - County

The big questions are who will be the main Pay TV operator or will they split packages 1 & 2 between Sky and BT?
Who will the win the Free to Air T20 package?
Will the split in radio rights encourage talksport to bid against the BBC?

Breaking ..
Sky retain most Cricket outbidding BT Sport
(Media Guardian)

Pack 1: All International & County Cricket - Sky
Pack 2: All T20 League - Men & Women - Sky

Pack 3: Free to Air Pack - BBC
2x England Men's T20 & 1 x Womens T20
10 x Men's T20 League games
8 x Women's T20 league games

Pack 4: Digital Clips - BBC
Pack 5: Free to Air International highlights - BBC
Pack 6A: Radio - International + T20 - BBC
Pack 6B: Radio - County - BBC

That is a mighty big jump back into the foray for the BBC, which probably deserves it's own thread . . .

From the Sport Thread:



Big jump back into cricket for the Beeb, with the new live free to air pack PLUS England Test and One-Day highlights.

Nothing for BT though.

The BBC has a few years to build up their presentation line-up.

Don't think they can go back to Boycott etc. and should focus on younger talent.

Probably see some of the TMS crew move across or do double duty (specifically Graeme Swann and Michael Vaughan)

England international FTA Highlights back on the BBC.

Suppose that is the ECB keeping it to two broadcasters without having rights all over the EPG with Sky, BBC, BT, and Channel 4/5.

Now, will the BBC stick with the current Channel 5 timeslot for highlights at 7pm on BBC Two, or go an hour later for better ratings?

Yeah, the scheduling of the highlights will be interesting.

Unless the BBC have some say in the calendar, 7pm BBC Two highlights might be a problem during Wimbledon, World/European Athletics, the Proms etc.

Proms are often shown on a slight delay (or have a later scheduled start), shouldn't be too much of a problem.


Wimbledon will be trickier, other events can be worked around- for example live coverage of World Athletics in prime time on BBC 1 isn't unknown.

I've a feeling in previous contracts it was written in that the highlights had to air between 7 and 8pm. The wording of the BBC's statement makes me think either this is still there or they've agreed to something similar.

We'll have a day/night Test by 2020, right? So at least there's an opportunity for an earlier time slot on BBC One/Two for those highlights, as well as the day/night ODIs, rather than tucked in post-midnight on Channel 5.

This is really great news for cricket and free-to-air sport in general.

I suspect there will be a restriction as to how soon the highlights of any day / night game can air. Most likely slot for these is where the Champions Trophy highlights went - ie post Newsnight on BBC 2.

Just confirm test highlights back on the Beeb?