I would prefer them to commentate in the venue instead of outside
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Sadly - the denigration in product is only slight enough (it’s noticeable to us tragics and the old fan would spot a mistake here and there) to justify the large cost savings in flights, transport and accomodation.
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How different it would have been if Newscorp did take over TEN when it nearly did to be outbid by Paramount and lose a staff vote.
Imagine if Newscorp had full control of TEN, no doubt the AFL, NRL and Cricket would all be on TEN and by default Foxtel by now. And being produced by TEN and or Foxtel for both with only one set of commentators to save on production costs.
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Yes, if Fox owned Ten then the sports would be reversed, with Cricket, AFL, NRL, Supercars, Athletics, NBL, Hockey, Golf and Netball on Ten/Foxtel/Kayo. Most likely Fox would be with Seven/Nine until the end of contract then ditch them and go with Ten, in which the sporting organisation doesn’t care who to go with (FTA) as long as Fox is involved.
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I would think there would be far less of any of the sports mentioned on FTA in that scenario. Plus the SOO, plus NRL and AFL GFs would not be exclusive to FTA.
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according to the AFR article,
Seven will pay $65 million a year for its package – a sizable decline from the $75 million it has paid since 2018, which will include test matches, live and delayed digital streaming rights and access to a shortened, five to six-week BBL. It amounts to $455 million from Seven over the seven-year term, running from the 2024-25 season to 2030-31.
About 10/Paramount
Paramount put in a more than $1.4 billion, seven-year offer to take exclusive broadcast and streaming rights for the cricket for Ten and its streaming platform Paramount+. But the network had not been in active negotiations since early December when it became clear, a spokeswoman said, that “our objectives and views on the future presentation of the sport and its value were not aligned”.
She continued: “As a result, Paramount never made a formal bid for the rights and did not actively pursue the rights over recent weeks.” Wishing the winners well, the network said it would continue to make “prudent long-term business decisions”.
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Guess the next long term decision is their complete shutdown date.
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This is interesting, if Paramount had given up on the rights because their value proposition didn’t match up with what CA were expecting, then there was no choice left for CA but to work with Fox and 7. This ties up with the rumoured disagreements about production costs and the extent of content to be hidden behind a paywall.
Unfortunately, the whole mess is inextricably linked with the last deal which was grossly overvalued. Cricket will continue to pay the price for that short-sightedness for a generation, I suppose.
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Can’t imagine why Cricket Australia are struggling to sell their product Being on 7 will be a continuation of their current disaster
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Also explains why CA may have approached Nine in hope of getting some more value given Paramount were out earlier than we thought.
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Can you please give a run down of the story, as the story is behind the paywall. 
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From Seven West Media
Seven extends cricket rights to 2030-31
Seven West Media (ASX: SWM) today announced that it has reached an agreement with Cricket Australia to extend its media rights from the 2024-25 season to the 2030-31 season.
The new agreement will see SWM’s 7plus become the live and free home of cricket, with an extensive digital package of rights in addition to the linear broadcast on the Seven Network. This will represent the first time SWM has held digital rights to cricket. The new, seven-year agreement between SWM and Cricket Australia will include two Ashes Tests Series as well as two Indian tours of Australia. In addition, Cricket Australia will revamp the BBL to create a shorter tournament that will run for five to six weeks.
From 2024, SWM will pay $65 million in cricket media rights fees a year, which represents a 13% reduction on the current agreement. The new agreement includes a 2% escalator annually. Contra remains the same as in the current agreement. Cash savings from rights reduction and production savings of more than $50 million over the term have been achieved compared to the existing rights deal.
As part of Cricket Australia and SWM’s shared commitment to improving the BBL, SWM has also offered a revenue share upside on the BBL. SWM will pay increased rights fees only after SWM achieves certain BBL revenue hurdles which are expected to deliver positive BBL earnings each season, which would require a material improvement on the current contract revenue performance.
In line with the improvement in terms, SWM and Cricket Australia have also agreed today to terminate the court proceedings with immediate effect. Each side will bear its own costs.
SWM Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Cricket Australia until 2030-31. A comprehensive package of digital rights to the cricket for 7plus will ensure that for the first time, our viewers will be able to access cricket, live and free, in a way that suits them.
“Our combined broadcast and digital rights for both cricket and the AFL means Seven and 7plus will be the home of sport all year round.
“I’d like to thank Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley and the Cricket Australia team for their continued efforts to drive cricket and, in particular, the improvements to the BBL. We look forward to working with Cricket Australia to grow Test cricket, women’s internationals and the BBL and WBBL in the years ahead,” he said.
Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, Lewis Martin, said: “This deal is a win for Seven viewers and cricket fans, with the best Test cricket, women’s internationals, BBL and WBBL games guaranteed live and free on Seven and 7plus.
“Our enhanced partnership with Cricket Australia will take Seven’s summer cricket coverage into a new era, reach new audiences across our digital channels, and bring fans all the exciting competition, exceptional entertainment and world-class talent they love.”
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I wonder if 7 have any money left to throw at the Olympics? Seems it isn’t official yet?
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From Foxtel
Fox Sports secures cricket rights in blockbuster $1.5b deal
Fox Sports will remain the home of Australian cricket through to 2031, with Cricket Australia and the Foxtel Group entering a historic new agreement.
All home Tests, one-day internationals, T20Is, Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League matches, match shown live and ad-break free on Fox Cricket, through Foxtel and Kayo Sports, for another eight years.
“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,” Foxtel Group Chief Executive Officer Patrick Delany said in a statement.
“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.
“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.
“This renewed partnership with Cricket Australia complements our other multi-year agreements with the International Cricket Council, the IPL and the cricket boards of various countries including New Zealand, England, South Africa and India to show the best of global competitions and matches to fans right around the country.”
The new broadcast rights deal, in which CA has extended its broadcast partnership with the Foxtel Group and Seven West Media for a further seven years, is worth $1.512 billion.
Under the new deal, which was announced on Tuesday morning, the BBL will be reduced from its current schedule of 61 matches to 43.
“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,” Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said in a statement.
“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.”
Media conference 10:15am AEDT.
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Interesting they are saying Fox Sports instead of Fox Cricket
Seems Foxtel were pretty desperate to secure the rights if Channel 7 is paying less for a greater percentage of content
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I think 7 ‘won’ the deal, it’s better than 2018 for them & they paid $10mill per year less in money.
They keep everything the same & gets 7+ added. also are showing more BBL on FTA with 30/40 regular season (75%) while before it was 71%.
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All negative comments on social media posts which isn’t surprising.
If anyone has access to the press conference, can someone ask if Fox Cricket will return the magazine shows
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