This was actually Sky’s coverage via SBS if I recall correctly (and presumably Fox as well). Live coverage in the UK was exclusive to Sky in 2009.
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The gold standard at making you fall asleep. Too many old British men in their commentary team.
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Although not quite the same as terrestrial TV, will Nine be able to show the coverage via 9Now streaming (which is 720p for all channels) or not?
Last year, people had the chance to watch the cricket coverage live on 9Now. In 2019, I think that 9Now will stream the Australian games, including semi-finals and the Final on the 14 July.
On the other hand, I believe that Mark Taylor and Ian Healy will be in the Sydney Studios before crossing over to the Star Sports coverage. This will do the same for the Ashes coverage starting on 1 August 2019 to Sky Sports. Nine will have exclusive rights for the Ashes 2019.
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Indeed the 2005 Ashes series was (and will probably be) the last time live test matches were on FTA in the UK. From memory there were 4 members of the 9 team (Nicholas, Benaud, Greig and Slater) on the team plus Boycott and Atherton (and Simon Hughes in the production truck). Sky that season added Darren Lehmann and Greg Blewett amongst others (Warne of course was still playing) to their team.
Of which at least Benaud and Nicholas worked for Channel 4 already anyway, so I wouldn’t claim them solely as “Channel 9 commentators” as it is a touch misleading.
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What about in 2019? Will The Ashes be on Nine?
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Will be interesting to see how Nine handle it this time, seeing how huge the shares were for GEM in July 2013. More than likely early sessions on GEM not in HD while Nine show regular prime time programming like The Block. There will also be overlap with NRL including finals during the Ashes.
Hopefully though they have the sense to switch to 9HD later in the night.
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Ashes may be on 9 or 9Gem. On Saturdays, this may have the potential of screening the Ashes on the primary channel in HD (for Vic, SA, WA and TAS viewers). In August, Nine will schedule the final 5 Saturday Home-and-away NRL games Live into Sydney, Brisbane and Darwin markets.
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While nice publicity for a network, I don’t think multi-channel shares is what they aim for, unless it helps ‘win a night’.
Surely Nine are all about maximum audience and exposure for the cricket they have left - Ashes in UK and CWC (i.e.) main channel wherever possible.
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In 2013 the Nine aired the cricket on GEM so it could be seen in HD while showing regular content like The Block etc on the main channel. During this time, GEM was often the 3rd most watched channel of the nights the Ashes aired, behind Nine and Seven.
Nine will always program to maximise their overall shares and advertising revenue which is why we had stupid things during the years of Nine not being in HD and GEM was in HD like the NRL grand final not being in HD simulcast on GEM so they could pick up an extra share % or 2 from GEM.
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Back in 2015, Nine had the Ashes on the primary channel in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia while the NRL matches were shown on GEM in HD as well as the Liverpool v Brisbane Roar shown on 9Go. This was vice versa for Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin and Canberra viewers where the NRL was as usual, shown on primary channel with the cricket shown in GEM in HD.
By the time we get to August, if NRL and Cricket clash together, then Nine will have to modify their schedules. I would think that NRL could be shunted to 9Go for Victoria, Tasmania, SA and WA with cricket on 9Gem.
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Next Thursday night, the World Cup is on 9Gem and the NRL is on 9Go.
Edit: I, of course, mean in Tasmania. I’ll assume other non-NRL states are the same.
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I noticed in the advance guide that Gem are showing the opening match of the World Cup between England and South Africa on 30 May.
I was under the impression that Nine were only showing Australia’s matches plus the finals. Has this changed?
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Maybe the deal included the opening match as well.
In Australia, Channel 9 will carry 21 matches, including all Australia matches, the semi-finals and final via their channel 9GEM. They will complement Fox Sports Australia coverage, who will broadcast all matches live via Fox Sports Cricket, including the tournament warm up matches.
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I have to say, I am looking forward to hearing Channel 9’s cricket theme again.
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Send Bruce Gordon a cheque for $69.95 and you’ll be able to hear Nine’s cricket theme at the start of every episode of Bluey whenever you want.
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Who’s Bluey? That’s Bargearse!
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Bargearse had to use a different theme because Nine had stolen Bluey’s for their cricket broadcasts.
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