Ouch. 3 hour gap to 6pm is a killer and hard to drag out any commentary. They won’t be happy but it’s the risk you take when signing up to this.
No doubt they would have liked a nice lead at 6pm tonight before 9 kicks off the open.
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Coverage finished 3:03pm. Fox finished at 3:12pm. While normally 7 finishes their coverage much earlier than Fox, they weren’t too bad today
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A post was merged into an existing topic: Prime Video Cricket Coverage
They had Atherton on temporarily when there were some commentators out of action due to COVID in the 21/22 Ashes (Boxing Day Test from memory). He was a class above Botham who I found pretty boring. Really hope they will go with Atherton again.
Agree about Gavaskar as well. Enjoyed his commentary in the last series but he’s come across as a little senile at times this series.
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All the Sky UK guys should be available as TNT have the broadcast rights.
Actually the UK rights are up in the air as the TNT deal has expired today as the previous contract was up to 2024/25. Sky are expected to make a strong play for the rights this time around, but not sure when CA will make the decision.
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7 hasn’t had a good run with short tests and poor weather this season. Still, cricket ratings have been generally good.
Australia v India Test Series: summer’s #1 sport
Series reaches 13.4 million, smashes records on Seven and 7plus
Big Bash League up 15% so far this season
Australia’s victory over India in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Series delivered a massive result for the Seven Network, reaching 13.4 million people across Seven and 7plus Sport and easily taking the crown as Australia’s favourite sport this summer.
The five Test series between the two greatest teams in world cricket attracted an average total TV audience of just over 1 million, up 39% on the 2023-24 summer.
The first men’s international series available to stream for free in Australia, the series reached 1.29 million people exclusively on 7plus Sport and delivered 120,000 new registered users for 7plus.
The Fifth Test, which concluded in a dramatic run chase yesterday with Australia clinching the six-wicket win to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time in a decade, alone reached 6.6 million people, including 1 million on 7plus Sport.
The final showdown between Australia and India scored an average total TV audience of 1.4 million across all sessions and was the most-watched program in all people, 25 to 54s, 16 to 39s and grocery shoppers on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The Fifth Test broke records, with the second session on day three drawing 1.76 million total TV viewers, the biggest ever number for a Test match session on Seven. It included a record-breaking 176,000 viewers on 7plus Sport.
Other big rating sessions included the third session on day two (1.66 million), the third session on day one (1.47 million viewers), the second session on day two (1.43 million) and the first session on day three (also 1.43 million).
Across the Fifth Test, 7plus saw a 230% jump in audience compared to the same days last year. The Fifth Test reached 757,000 people exclusively on 7plus Sport.
Cricket’s #1 commentary team presented the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Series, including the most famous name in Indian cricket – Sunil Gavaskar – cricket’s most astute caller Ricky Ponting, former Australian coach Justin Langer, Australian champion batsman Matthew Hayden, and former Australian ODI and T20I captain Aaron Finch.
They were joined by former on-field stars Simon Katich, Greg Blewett, Trent Copeland and Damien Fleming, hosts James Brayshaw and Mel McLaughlin, and callers Tim Lane and Alison Mitchell. For the first time, Seven’s coverage on 7plus Sport also included a secondary Hindi commentary feed.
Seven’s summer of cricket continues with the rest of the Big Bash League season, which is up 15% so far compared to last summer.
Seven Network Director of Sport, Chris Jones, said: “This was quite simply the most compelling Test series since Seven took the rights.
“Congratulations to both teams for captivating the country and setting new records both on TV and at venue. A huge congratulations also to Seven’s on and off-air team. The Test coverage lead by Joel Starcevic has matched the incredible on field action.
“But there’s no rest. Now more than ever our focus is on the Big Bash League and we look forward to our Test stars returning. And we can’t wait for the Women’s Ashes, which will provide the perfect end to an incredible season.”
Seven Network Head of Cricket, Joel Starcevic, said: “Australians witnessed a Test series for the ages; so many moments and storylines that kept the whole country on the edge of their seat and glued to Seven and 7plus Sport in record numbers. From Virat Kohli’s century in Perth, through to Scott Boland’s SCG heroics, and everything in between, it was a series to savour.
“Fans were captivated across three enthralling days of the final instalment of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Series from the SCG, which once again broke records for Seven,” he said.
“The people have spoken. There’s no doubt that cricket is Australia’s number one summer sport. And it’s far from over. The BBL is well and truly flying and the Women’s Ashes is just days away, with world-class quality cricket, analysis and commentary for the next four weeks on Seven and 7plus Sport.”
The Australia v England Women’s Ashes Series begins with the ODI leg at North Sydney Oval on Sunday, 12 January, followed by games at CitiPower Centre and Blundstone Arena on 14 and 17 January.
Then, the action will head to stadia for the first of three T20Is, to be played at the SCG on Monday, 20 January, followed by matches at Manuka Oval and Adelaide Oval on 23 and 25 January respectively.
The series will culminate with a four-day pink-ball Test at the MCG from 30 January to 2 February, which will mark the 90th anniversary of the first women’s Test.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Series, by the numbers
National audience reach: 13.4 million
National total TV audience: 1.003 million
7plus Sport audience reach: 2.45 million
The Fifth Test, by the numbers
Day 3, Session 2: #1 program in all people, 25 to 54s, 16 to 39s, grocery shoppers. National reach 3.1 million, national audience 1.76 million.
Day 2, Session 3: #1 program in all people, 25 to 54s, 16 to 39s, grocery shoppers. National reach 3.05 million, national audience 1.66 million.
Day 1, Session 3: #1 program in all people, 25 to 54s, 16 to 39s, grocery shoppers. National reach 2.76 million, national audience 1.47 million.
Day 2, Session 2: National reach 2.58 million, national audience 1.43 million.
Day 3, Session 1: National reach 2.52 million, national audience 1.43 million.
Day 2, Session 1: National reach 2.29 million, national audience 1.27 million.
Day 3, Lunch: National reach 2.13 million, national audience 1.33 million.
Day 1, Session 2: National reach 2.11 million, national audience 1.17 million.
Day 2, Lunch: National reach 1.78 million, national audience 1.11 million.
Day 1, Session 1: National reach 1.78 million, national audience 980,000.
Day 2, Tea: National reach 1.71 million, national audience 1.4 million.
Day 1, Tea: National reach 1.51 million, national audience 1.13 million.
Day 1, Lunch: National reach 1.46 million, national audience 953,000.
Day 3, Pre Game: National reach 1.18 million, national audience 512,000.
Day 2, Pre Game: National reach 1.12 million, national audience 488,000.
Day 1, Pre Game: National reach 987,000, national audience 457,000.
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With BBL up 15%. Seven may need to pay more for the rights as per the current agreement.
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Never seen “No. 1” used so many times in a media release… Seven have certainly changed their tune from a couple of years back! Amazing what a far better competitor like India can do.
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#until the tennis starts and kicks our arse.
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I think Seven are using the reach measurement, rather than average. Though they still quoted average audience, both individual and a mean. As well as citing various demographics and tests. Which makes it complicated reading. Of course they combine metro, regional and bvod, AKA VOZ, rather than some networks who still break out specifics like metro.
TNT will broadcast the upcoming Women’s Ashes series back into Britain, starting with the first ODI from North Sydney Oval this Sunday (TNT Sports 1). Due to time difference, coverage will start at 11.30pm GMT on Saturday night and continue into Sunday morning.
My mistake, I meant to refer to TNT’s rights for Australian men’s international cricket only. Both Sky and TNT’s rights to Australian cricket will end this season, so it’ll be up for grabs. Would be interested to see if CA chooses to split the BBL and international rights for the UK market again or not.
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Anna Hay hosting Seven’s coverage of Scorchers v Renegades tonight.
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Unfortunate timing for the first Women’s ODI Aus v Eng, being this Sunday, up against D1 of the Australian Open on Nine.
Though you could argue prior to last year, the AO wouldn’t have started yet. But CA and Seven would’ve known TA’s new strategy would continue this year, so one wonders if it was also done intentionally, in some hope to get a few viewers and potentially take away from Nine on what is the first day of a very big couple of TV weeks. Seven even a pre show from 9:30am edt, though WS takes priority local time, on 7Two initially in non-edt markets.
This Friday for example would’ve been a good day for the Women’s ODI, even this Saturday where Seven don’t have BBL rights, but suspect Foxtel would be unhappy with that, like Fox Footy and League, Cricket also love that day exclusivity (outside of tests).
Also, last summer with the split and late test series, a men’s test with Australia occurred during the Aus Open, arguably cannibalising each other, the cricket coming worse off. Not helped by Nine’s tennis ratings being well up last year, thanks to Aussies, big names and good matches especially in prime time during the first week, I think they dominated every night, but was a bit of a different story in week 2 unlike the prior years with Ash Barty. I think Seven managed one good night, which coincided with AO Wk2, the Big Bash final, but helped by a weaker night at Melbourne Park.
Add to the mix Home and Away’s return, some other Seven shows/presenters, 10’s I’m A Celebrity and on a different date this time Sun 19th (usually the AO’s biggest night outside the final) and the ABC which had Muster Dogs last year. Which will all be interesting to see what happens, especially Seven and 10 and how impacted shows will be if an Australian is playing let alone a big name or close match - we saw what happened this week a year ago with 10’s Gladiators 2nd revival with a weak launch and the 2nd ep landslide. Oh, and VOZ data this time in January. @TV.Cynic
7’s commentary team would of been Langer, Ponting, Gavaskar & Brayshaw with Jason Richardson as the host for tonight’s BBL but I think it’s going to be abandoned due to the rain.
https://x.com/7cricket/status/1876905392657011047?s=46
I assumed JB would do BBL now as 7 would probably be using Alison Mitchell & their normal BBL ball by ball callers for the WAshes.
This might just be me but I think if 7 & Fox combined their commentary boxes for WBBL & Women’s T20 & ODI (like they did during covid) then it would actually enhance the broadcast because currently Fox call off tube from a studio & don’t have the players mic etc (of course that could change because this is the WAshes & they might call from the grounds)
Is he hanging around in Australia the hope he’ll get invited up on stage to present something at some point?
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I know about the CA deal requiring broadcasters not to refer to Optus Stadium for internationals, but does this also extend to Citipower and Ninja?