Home Ashes Tests included in new list of recommended free-to-air events

Trampas

BBC are reporting

Beasty

Here's the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/8356391.stm

Not sure English cricket can afford this - Although I used to like the BBC coverage, they will not be able to afford anything like what Sky pays.

Dozen Wicked Words

Sky could still keep the rights and put it free to view. I think they will probably kick up a bit about it. But it would showcase their presentation, they could say how heroic they are for the nation, and they could flood every ad break with adverts for Sky. Could be a massive PR win for them.

Beasty

dooferoaks wrote: »

Sky could still keep the rights and put it free to view. I think they will probably kick up a bit about it. But it would showcase their presentation, they could say how heroic they are for the nation, and they could flood every ad break with adverts for Sky. Could be a massive PR win for them.

They could, and with the switchover to digital TV coming, this is probably a viable option (there would have been uproar of it was free to air but only on satellite, while a large proportion of the UK population still only had terrestial TV).

However, given this is the "jewel in the crown" for UK cricket broadcasters, I am sure Sky would look to pay a lot less for it, knowing it had to be free to air.

Dozen Wicked Words

Beasty wrote: »

Here's the link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/front_page/8356391.stm

Not sure English cricket can afford this - Although I used to like the BBC coverage, they will not be able to afford anything like what Sky pays.

Further to what Beasty said, the ECB are not happy campers,

Link

Beasty

Another point here. Even when the BBC did have exclusive home test coverage they were always switching to other events. They still only have two mainstream channels (and the other terrestial channels only have one each), so when the motor racing, Open Golf, Wimbledon, Royal Ascot etc clash with Ashes coverage, which will they prioritise?

I realise they can show coverage on the red button, but one of the advantages of Sky coverage is you are guaranteed to get it without interruption

Dozen Wicked Words

Beasty wrote: »

Another point here. Even when the BBC did have exclusive home test coverage they were always switching to other events. They still only have two mainstream channels (and the other terrestial channels only have one each), so when the motor racing, Open Golf, Wimbledon, Royal Ascot etc clash with Ashes coverage, which will they prioritise?

I realise they can show coverage on the red button, but one of the advantages of Sky coverage is you are guaranteed to get it without interruption

+1

I think Dominic Cork makes a good point on one of the BBC links in the thread. Sky has shown under 19 games, women's games, village team games. They have shown County Championship games. I know its partly to fill their schedules, but would they really bother to show as much Cricket if they lose the ashes rights.

The BBC red button is a great service but as additional, not as the only choice.