How COVID caused chaos for cricket – and may force a rethink of all sport broadcasting deals
As sporting codes have scrambled to put together 2020 seasons, broadcasters have put their feet down on a number of issues. In this crossposting from The Conversation, Jack Anderson explains how Cricket Australia’s current rights discussions have exposed who really has the power in broadcast deals.
Cricket Australia faces a summer of discontent.
The disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed financial and governance tensions and mistrust involving its players’ and state associations. However, those issues are a distant second to the current dissatisfaction and distrust that one of the sport’s broadcasting partners has with the quality and scheduling of the upcoming domestic playing season.
Channel Seven’s A$450 million concern with the restricted number of Australian international cricketers who might appear in this year’s BBL tournament now threatens to destabilise the sport’s principal source of revenue – the combined Foxtel and Seven six-year broadcasting deal signed in 2018 and worth A$1.18 billion over its six-year term.
COVID causes chaos
In March, it had all looked so different. On International Women’s Day 2020, the MCG hosted the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final. Played in front of 86,000 people, Australia’s victory over India was a suitable end to a highly successful tournament. Within a week sport in Melbourne – including the first Formula 1 race of the year – and indeed globally had to shut down due to the pandemic.
