Big Bash’s big boom: Will success see its sponsorship and broadcast dollars double?
The move to free-to-air TV has propelled the Big Bash League into the big time. Simon Canning spoke to Cricket Australia exec Mike McKenna about the future of the competition’s sponsorships and broadcast deals.
There was a danger after a distinctly mediocre first couple of years the Big Bash League was set to be an expensive disaster for Cricket Australia, with millions in marketing and team investment down the drain.
Fast forward to today and executives running the league say they are now “three to four years ahead” of where they expected to be after a sensational summer that could see the value of sponsorships double and the price of broadcast rights skyrocket.
CA has made a very shrew move and its time is perfect. Because of the entry of Netflix and a range of other streaming services, free to air TV is now running much more live sport – especially on their multi-channels. Seven is running NFL for the first time ever!
Sport will help defend the networks (no, they are not about to disappear!) and sport will be a winner too.
Kudos to Cricket Aus for not taking gambling and alcohol money for the big bash. Bloody vultures trying to influence the youth I tells ya