Cricket Australia has decided to shorten its schedule for the Big Bash League (BBL) 2019/20 season, this time opting to revamp its final series structure.
After bumping up the total number of games from 43 to 59 last season, following its new $1 billion rights deal with Seven and Foxtel, Cricket Australia have decided to increase it to 61 for the upcoming season.
Despite including more games to the total, Cricket Australia has elected to shorten the overall time period in which the season will be played in.
The new, shorter, regular season will take place over 42 day, compared to last year's 54 days.
Last year, the length of the season drew mixed responses from the industry, with some attributing the extended schedule to lower ratings for Seven and Foxtel.
“The compacted BBL|09 Fixture is a winner for fans and our viewers, offering matches almost every night of the season through the school holidays live and free on Seven," Seven executive producer - cricket Chris Jones says.
“The expanded finals series will deliver five matches all in prime time, while giving those who finish higher on the ladder a better chance of winning the title.
“And with five teams now battling it out for the finals, we are more likely to see competition for those finals spots go right down to the wire.”
Industry sources had previously told AdNews they anticipated the 2019/20 would see Cricket Australia find a way to shorten the season. However, many had assumed fewer games on the schedule overall.
The BBL's official website reported today that Cricket Australia head of the BBL,Alistair Dobson was confident in the decision to revamp the schedule.
"(We want) more fans to be part of the finals and this model also gives us a chance for the team hosting the final to have more preparation. "It's been a big focus to end the season in an appropriate fashion," he says.
According to the governing body, the decision has been made to improve the current structure of its final series, with the intention of given the team that finish at the top of the ladder a better chance of securing a Grand Final ticket.
The old finals series involved three games between the top four finalists, with first place playing fourth and second playing third.
Under the new setup, a five game series will see a fifth team get a shot at reaching the finals. Game one, The Eliminator, will see fifth take on fourth, with the winner progressing to a second game, The Knockout, against third.
While this is taking place, another game between first and second will occur, The Qualifer, with the winner immediately progressing to the Grand Final. The fourth game, The Challenger, will see the winner of The Knockout and loser of The Qualifier square off in The Challenger. The winner of this game will also get a Grand Final spot.
AdNews has contacted Foxtel and MCN for comment.
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