Ashes back on TV

[Simster]

I gather the Sky contract is worth about £300m to the game. That's a big loss to take. I presume you'll get more players wanting to play in series like the IPL if their wages are going to go down as a result of this.

Maybe that would finally prompt the powers that b to properly restructure domestic cricket to make it more marketable.

At international level, people want to see test cricket
At domestic level, people want to see T20, but fully understand the 4 day game *must* be preserved in order to produce test players.

Therefore, have a massively expanded T20 competition, which in effect, subsidises the 4 day game. All other formats should be thrown in the bin, including 50 over cricket. And yes, I know there's a 50 over world cup, but do we really care about it anymore?

 

[Normal Rob]

this has happened as a direct result of the sun switching sides to back the tories. It is the govt trying to hurt murdoch. When cameron gets in, this will be dropped.

2+2 = 768

 

[Titanic]

Will the BBC give ball by ball coverage or will it go back to shared slots with horse racing and news bulletins ?
This is well-intentioned but I fear the law of unintended consequences will kick in.

With the 'red button' options on digital TV... there is no need not to give full coverage.

 

[Simster]

2+2 = 768

You might be right, but I'm not so sure actually.

Lets face it, the public have wanted the Ashes on the protected list for a long time, and Labour have always jumped whenever told to by News International.

Now that NI are not backing Labour, they might simply be complying with the public's wishes. Nothing to lose, and all that.

 

[Gwylan]

You might be right, but I'm not so sure actually.

Lets face it, the public have wanted the Ashes on the protected list for a long time, and Labour have always jumped whenever told to by News International.

Now that NI are not backing Labour, they might simply be complying with the public's wishes. Nothing to lose, and all that.

The review was set up in 2008, well before NI switched sides. It was an independent review, chaired by David Davies, so this is not a politically motivated move. As you say, the public have wanted the Ashes on the protected list for some time, it's an obvious move.

 

[sten_super]

You might be right, but I'm not so sure actually.

Lets face it, the public have wanted the Ashes on the protected list for a long time, and Labour have always jumped whenever told to by News International.

Now that NI are not backing Labour, they might simply be complying with the public's wishes. Nothing to lose, and all that.

Except that the panel that made this recommendation was:

David Davies - former FA chief
Colin Jackson - former hurdler
Angus Fraser - former cricketer
Eamonn Holmes - presenter
Dougie Donnelly - presenter
Hope Powell - England Womans team coach
Nick Pollard - journalist
Prof Chris Gratton - academic
Penny Hughes - businesswoman
Michael Pescod - investment banker

So not a politician amongst them. It's also expected that the Epsom Derby and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final will be removed from the A list. So it's not by any stretch a one-way street.

 

[Simster]

Interesting. Thanks Gwylan & sten.

 

[Brovion]

*Tch* I thought this was going to be about Gene Hunt!

 

[Easy 10]

With the 'red button' options on digital TV... there is no need not to give full coverage.

Yes but that'd be proper RUBBISH. You can't flick channels, you can't pause, rewind or record. All the little things I've become ACCUSTOMED to would be taken away by red button coverage. And thats just not on.
Not on at all.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

It won't be red button. It costs so little to create a digital station and there will be oodles of room post switchover. They should also have sorted out HD on freeview by then so it will look amazing as well as being free!!

 

[Gwylan]

*Tch* I thought this was going to be about Gene Hunt!

He is back....in the new M&S ad.

 

[PHCgull]

Except that the panel that made this recommendation was:

David Davies - former FA chief
Colin Jackson - former hurdler
Angus Fraser - former cricketer
Eamonn Holmes - presenter
Dougie Donnelly - presenter
Hope Powell - England Womans team coach
Nick Pollard - journalist
Prof Chris Gratton - academic
Penny Hughes - businesswoman
Michael Pescod - investment banker

So not a politician amongst them. It's also expected that the Epsom Derby and the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final will be removed from the A list. So it's not by any stretch a one-way street.

It is naive to think that this lot can not be influenced by the dept of media, culture and sport. It suits the labour govt to start eroding Sky or NI's power base, hence the conclusion this committee has reached. In total viewing terms, Ashes cricket MONSTERS the (one-off) derby and the niche sport Rugby league.

 

[sten_super]

It is naive to think that this lot can not be influenced by the dept of media, culture and sport. It suits the labour govt to start eroding Sky or NI's power base, hence the conclusion this committee has reached. In total viewing terms, Ashes cricket MONSTERS the (one-off) derby and the niche sport Rugby league.

Sorry, but you have got this one wrong. It's nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with the will of the people. There was a massive outcry when cricket was taken off the A list in 1998(?), and this is a nice compromise without restoring all home test matches.

As Gwylan says, this review started in 2008, well before the recent NI/Labour spat.

 

[PHCgull]

Sorry, but you have got this one wrong. It's nothing to do with politics, and everything to do with the will of the people. There was a massive outcry when cricket was taken off the A list in 1998(?), and this is a nice compromise without restoring all home test matches.

As Gwylan says, this review started in 2008, well before the recent NI/Labour spat.

And WHY was it taken off the A list back in 1998? What happened the year before? A Mr T Blair won an erection or whatever and thanked his mate Rupert by removing cricket's protected status so he could get in to a previously closed shop. Ok its probably not ALL he did for him, but Sky's cricket monopoly can be traced back to its backing of labour in 1997.

Anyway, we'll probably have to agree to differ.

 

[Badger]

"If the proposed changes were to come into effect, the next home Ashes series (2013) would remain on Sky, with the first to switch back to terrestrial TV being the 2017 rubber. "

So only an 8 year wait then!

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

It is naive to think that this lot can not be influenced by the dept of media, culture and sport. It suits the labour govt to start eroding Sky or NI's power base, hence the conclusion this committee has reached. In total viewing terms, Ashes cricket MONSTERS the (one-off) derby and the niche sport Rugby league.

If they really wanted to hurt Murdoch they would have put the Premiership on the list. It was the cricket authorities who wanted Cricket taken off the list.

Of course the DCMS can overrule the committee and also this won't have an effect until 2016 so the tories can easily change it in either the next parliament or the parliament after that!

 

[Tooting Gull]

David Davies - former FA chief
Colin Jackson - former hurdler
Angus Fraser - former cricketer
Eamonn Holmes - presenter
Dougie Donnelly - presenter
Hope Powell - England Womans team coach
Nick Pollard - journalist
Prof Chris Gratton - academic
Penny Hughes - businesswoman
Michael Pescod - investment banker

.

Who puts these panels together? Apart from the fact that ordinary sports fans on low-middle incomes with financial decisions to make are perfectly well qualified to pronounce on this, what's with the academics/investment bankers? I think Sky should have someone on there to fight their corner, as should terrestrial TV. No need for both Holmes and Donnelly. Fraser, Powell? David Davies granted, he should have a clue over public feeling about big events, from his time at the FA. Maybe high-profile journalists from one tabloid and one broadsheet.

As this thread has shown, those really impacted by this decision are governing bodies, so they should have someone to to reflect the consequences of any decisions.

 

[Hatterlovesbrighton]

Who puts these panels together? Apart from the fact that ordinary sports fans on low-middle incomes with financial decisions to make are perfectly well qualified to pronounce on this, what's with the academics/investment bankers? I think Sky should have someone on there to fight their corner, as should terrestrial TV. No need for both Holmes and Donnelly. Fraser, Powell? David Davies granted, he should have a clue over public feeling about big events, from his time at the FA. Maybe high-profile journalists from one tabloid and one broadsheet.

As this thread has shown, those really impacted by this decision are governing bodies, so they should have someone to to reflect the consequences of any decisions.

That was the panel, but they didn't just decide it amongst themselves there was full consultation with everyone that was interested.

The trouble is when you start inviting on one broadcaster you have to invite all of them the same with governing bodies. Where do you stop?

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Another angle I've not yet seen mentioned.

As a minor counties junior cricket coach I'd suggest it should not be underestimated how much money / sponsorship is pumped in by Sky at tye lower levels. All tutor coaches kit is Sky Sports logoed and lots of training kit comes courtesy of Sky too.

ECB have also been on a campagn for some 5 years now under something called "Chance 2 Shine" the moto being "bringing cricket back to state schools" & "from playground to test areana". I've spent the last 3 summers taking Yr5/6 & 7/8 kids in school term and delivering "professional" cricket coaching - being paid by ECB money.

So, whilst there is a debate about the impact on the first class game - there will almost certainly be an impact in the recreational game too, be it at club, youth or school cricket - this is where our test stars of the future are "hooked" or lost to another sport.

 

[Acker79]

Maybe it's just because I have the full sky package, but I think if TV is a commercial enterprise (which all but the BBC is) it should be free to bid for exclusive rights to any sport or entertainment 'event'.

There's plenty in this world I can't afford, but I don't begrudge people who can afford it. I don't expect first glass seats on an airplane to have as little leg room as economy, nor do I expect them to have the same meagre selection of entertainment options, or dinners.

I can't afford a ferrari sports car, but I don't insist Ferrari only make used bangers.

No one does.

So why do we expect different of TV?