Sky TV keeps exclusive television rights for the Ashes Series 2010
England’s cricket fans were hoping to view the Ashes Series back on free television but they will be disappointed following the government’s decision of limiting the rights to air the Ashes to the Sky Television Network. In fact, the government has ruled out any changes to the long list of ‘Crown Jewel’ events. Sports minister Hugh Robertson was in opposition to the recommendations of the Davies Review as he believed that various sport’s governing bodies should have the freedom to sell their rights to the broadcaster that bid the highest.
Robertson was pleased that any decision on the matter had been deferred until 2013, by which time, the digital switchover is expected to be complete and another review is scheduled to be held. In a statement to the House of Commons, Robertson claimed, “I fully support the principle of protecting major sports events for free-to-air coverage. But with digital switchover concluding in 2012, this will result in the widespread availability of a significantly increased number of television channels, many free to air.”
However, it is expected that Robertson will want the affected sports to invest 30% of their television revenue, instead of the previously invested figure of 5%. “While 30% may sound ambitious, I am optimistic that this can be achieved. National governing bodies have a duty to ensure that they have the strongest community structure possible.” Robertson revealed.
This proposal will be welcomed as it comes after the government proposed a 25-40% reduction in public spending, following the plans of the emergency budget, which was constructed a month ago. Cricket clubs and authorities especially benefit from this, as they have an exclusive £260 million deal with Sky. A statement released by the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Yorkshire-c867 Cricket Club claimed that they could lose up to £1 million a year if the proposal goes through. The Rugby League welcomed the news as the Challenge Cup was previously excluded from the list of “protected” sports and was all set to be aired on satellite television channels.
The so called “Crown Jewel” events also include the Olympic Games, the FA Cup final, football World Cup and the European Championship finals, the Rugby League Challenge Cup final and rugby union World Cup final, Wimbledon tennis finals, the Epsom Derby and the Grand National. So far, the England and Wales Cricket Board has been the only party in strong disagreement to the proposals, as it affects their ongoing deal with BskyB.
Even though the Ashes Series was limited to some 10 million homes and had an audience of 1.5 million viewers in 2009, as compared to that of 8 million in 2005, when Channel 4 had the hosting rights, Sky went ahead and bid a staggering amount of £264 million for an exclusive rights for England’s international matches from 2010-2013. According to the research conducted by England and Wales Cricket Board consultants, any deal agreed to after this would have been worth 48% less, had it been decided to make the Ashes free to air.
Gerry Sutclifee, the Shadow Sports Minister and Bradford South MP, was not in favour of the decision. He pointed out all those fans who were hoping to be able to watch Test cricket for free once again. “We said we accepted there was a need for a financial feasibility approach but there's no way it should take to 2012. In between time contracts will be signed. I think he's shying away from difficult decisions and bowing to the sports too much.”
Former Selby MP, John Gorgan on the other hand, was hopeful. He said how he had expected the Davies review recommendations to be dropped altogether. Instead, it had only been deferred. “I'm disappointed he's not endorsed Davies because I thought that was a good compromise – once every four years the Ashes would be both on Sky and free-to-air, and I think that would have helped sponsorship of the sport as well," he said. "But I'm quite pleased he hasn't ruled it out altogether – it's actually a better result than I thought would happen after the general election.” Gorgan said.
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