By Stuart Thomson
Australian pay TV operator Foxtel Group and broadcaster Seven have secured a A$1.5 billion seven-year extension with Cricket Australia to rights to broadcast national and international cricket.
The deal means that matches will be shown ad-free on Foxtel and its streaming service Kayo Sports until 2031.
This will include all home Men’s and Women’s Tests, One Day Internationals and T20is, as well as the Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League matches.
The deal, which runs from mid-2024 until 2031, represents a A$19 million a year uplift on the previous agreement.
As part of the deal, Seven has withdrawn legal proceedings against Cricket Australia in relation to matches cancelled during the pandemic.
“With the addition of the cricket rights for a further seven years until 2031, the Foxtel Group remains the undisputed home of the most popular and premium sports in Australia. This extension is great news for our more than 4.6 million subscribers, who will see our world-class talent and production teams at Fox Sports continue bringing the magic like they always have across Foxtel and Kayo Sports,” said Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany.
“The Foxtel Group is the home of cricket in Australia, and we’re proud of the role our investments over more than two decades have played in super charging the growth of the sport from the grassroots through to elite levels. Together with 4K on Foxtel and our continued investment in innovation and multi-sport environment on Kayo Sports, we deliver a fan experience like no other and will support the continued growth and promotion of cricket in Australia.The new deal will include improvements, including a refreshed Big Bash League format, with a reduced schedule of 43 games that will allow for a greater proportion of prime-time matches and stronger alignment with school holidays. In great news for our fans, Fox Sports will continue to be the host broadcaster for all Men’s Test matches played in Australia under the new agreement, and we have also secured 10 exclusive Big Bash League matches, which will include a new Super Saturday series, and up to 36 exclusive Women’s Big Bash League matches.”
Cricket Australia CEO, Nick Hockley, said: “We are delighted to be continuing our broadcast partnership with the Foxtel Group and Seven under an improved deal and thank them for their continued support of cricket. The breadth and quality of cricket to be played in Australia over the coming summers is extraordinary and we are looking forward to working with our partners to not only televise the games, but to promote and grow cricket by encouraging more kids to pick up a bat and ball. This is also an important commercial outcome for all of Australian Cricket and one that will ensure we can continue to deliver our community programs, support volunteers and increase participation to keep cricket strong.”
