Cricket Australia to end 80 years of tradition by excluding ABC from next round of radio rights

By Brett Graham

6 hours ago

Cricket Australia is believed to be considering ending more than 80 years of tradition by excluding the ABC from the next round of radio rights.

Wide World of Sports has learned one or both of the commercial networks Crocmedia and Macquarie Media are favourites to secure the rights to broadcast international matches over the period of the next deal, believed to be five years.

ABC, which has covered cricket since starting broadcasts of the 1934 Ashes series from England, would be left without the rights to broadcast games played in Australia.

Final bids for rights were lodged with CA in mid-May, with a decision initially expected by the end of May.

It's believed the delay in announcing a deal is due to CA seeking assurances from Macquarie Media and Crocmedia that they can provide coverage to regional areas of Australia currently serviced by the ABC.

The ABC’s extensive regional network is thought to be the only factor keeping the public broadcaster in the frame to continue covering the game.

Sources close to the bidding process have confirmed to Wide World of Sports the plans to exclude the ABC are "more than a rumour" and “well advanced”.

ABC Radio Head of Sport Nick Morris has confirmed the organisation remains keen to continue broadcasting the game.

“We’re still in negotiations with Cricket Australia in regards to the rights,” he told Wide World of Sports.

The move to potentially end the ABC’s coverage comes just two months after CA signed a billion-dollar TV deal, ending an association with Nine dating back four decades.

ABC has a long history of covering cricket in Australia, with iconic voices such as Alan McGilvray and Jim Maxwell becoming household names.

Macquarie Media has broadcast cricket for the last five summers, with respected commentator Tim Lane leading the coverage, along with experts including former Australian captain Ian Chappell and Mike Hussey.

Crocmedia is the largest shareholder in Melbourne sports station SEN. Former ABC commentator Gerard Whateley has been SEN's leading caller since January and would be expected to head up the coverage, along with another ex-ABC expert in Simon Katich.

A CA spokesman told Wide World of Sports the governing body is still working through the rights process.

http://wwos.nine.com.au/2018/06/14/08/33/cricket-australia-to-exclude-abc-from-radio-rights-for-first-time-in-80-years

Afros wrote:

http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21998766/the-ashes-event-now-transcends-cricket

Good read this.

yes ,It is .. I cringed when I saw the line .. When Bradman recovered from his illness. . What they do for a star.

Mary has the Knickers back on .

   It's all over.
---------
That heat yesterday had to claim victims.    Terrible to allow them to play in it.
   Shows how dull so many lives are , when they pay good money to attend such matches.

He apparently was diagnosed with a stomach bug It wasn't heat dehydration, but dehydration from the gastro

A dodgy falafel, not the 50c heat

It was fake news

Well you knocked that right out of the ball park PT, but all jokes aside these two were cut from a different cloth imo.

Whale wrote:

Passing Through wrote:

Joe is Rooted, taken to hospital with severe dehydration, and it is uncertain whether he will resume batting

Is inhuman to make them play in those conditions

They would face far worse in the Subcontinent.

reductio ad absurdum

Passing Through wrote:

Joe is Rooted, taken to hospital with severe dehydration, and it is uncertain whether he will resume batting

Is inhuman to make them play in those conditions

That includes today. cricinfo update all records in real time

5 days is perfect

JudgeHolden wrote:

Afros wrote:

I love test cricket when it's a compelling contest Dr E, hard to enjoy these bore-athon run fests that are won by crushing the opponent with scoreboard pressure and like I said I'm watching the neighbours paint dry, a much more compelling contest then this test is the one here between wet paint and sun!

I just wish cricket Australia could move away from using sections of the M1 as drop in test pitches.

Couldn't agree more. The game is already tilted too far in favour of batsmen- lightning fast outfields and modern bats and defensive pushes are boundaries these days. But our blokes (struggle as they might overseas), can rely on custom built pitches back home.

But of course the powers that be (CA, stadiums, TV networks ) want five days. These roads they're serving up make it almost a certainty.

Cricket Australia know that outside of the Ashes the general public show no more then a passing interest in how the test side is going when playing away, the game is really propped up by the Ashes series and now the Big Bash league and also home India series. You've hit the nail on the head with mentioning tv networks, 9 love a test that can stretch into the 5th day although the grounds don't like it it's thought as they usually run day 5 at a loss with the costs and crowds that attend.

I think 4 day tests are the way forward with more overs in a day, Friday to Monday. Day night tests will also be the way forward as it lends itself to in ground and tv spectators better. Also ditching the toss and giving the visiting side the bat or bowl choice would likely encourage home sides to produce more even wickets.

Afros wrote:

I love test cricket when it's a compelling contest Dr E, hard to enjoy these bore-athon run fests that are won by crushing the opponent with scoreboard pressure and like I said I'm watching the neighbours paint dry, a much more compelling contest then this test is the one here between wet paint and sun!

I just wish cricket Australia could move away from using sections of the M1 as drop in test pitches.

Couldn't agree more. The game is already tilted too far in favour of batsmen- lightning fast outfields and modern bats and defensive pushes are boundaries these days. But our blokes (struggle as they might overseas), can rely on custom built pitches back home.

But of course the powers that be (CA, stadiums, TV networks ) want five days. These roads they're serving up make it almost a certainty.

It can only be described as an "anti-spectacle".

Bad luck for them there is no RSPCA for pommie cricketers. They would have called it off on a bulb test and put them all under a cols shower. First tub in months for some of them

maccamax wrote:

Passing Through wrote:

I am sure it will be different in 2 years time over there

Of course it will be different. U Silly old moo.

It's on the other side of the equator and will be full of Pommies.

Other than that... LOL

The Ashes Summer 2017-2018

Cricket Australia to end 80 years of tradition by excluding ABC from next round of radio rights