Seven West Media (SWM) and Cricket Australia have inked a new broadcast deal and agreed to end a court battle over fees, extending its media rights from the 2024-25 season to the 2030-31 season.
Foxtel also has a new agreement with Cricket Australia, which will see the sport shown live and ad-break free on Fox Cricket, through Foxtel and Kayo Sports, until 2031. This will include all home Men’s and Women’s Tests, One Day Internationals and T20is, as well as the Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League matches.
From 2024, SWM will pay $65 million in cricket media rights fees a year, which represents a 13% reduction on the current agreement. The new agreement includes a 2% escalator annually. Contra remains the same as in the current agreement. Cash savings from rights reduction and production savings of more than $50 million over the term have been achieved compared to the existing rights deal.
As part of Cricket Australia and SWM’s shared commitment to improving the BBL, SWM has also offered a revenue share upside on the BBL. SWM will pay increased rights fees only after SWM achieves certain BBL revenue hurdles which are expected to deliver positive BBL earnings each season, which would require a material improvement on the current contract revenue performance.
As part of the termination of court proceedings, each side will bear its own costs.
The rights were hotly contested, with Paramount rumoured to be in contention, but the company have denied that a formal bid was ever made and Cricket Australia ultimately opted to remain with current partners.
A Paramount ANZ spokesperson provided the following comments to AdNews: “We understand the interest in the most recent Cricket media rights process and while Paramount considered the rights on offer and, despite reports to the contrary by various media outlets, it became clear following consistent discussions with Cricket Australia, that our objectives and views on the future presentation of the sport and its value were not aligned.
“As a result, Paramount never made a formal bid for the rights and did not actively pursue the rights over recent weeks.
“We are the only Australian media company with a suite of distribution platforms across free to air and free and paid streaming services, as well as access to a global content pipeline delivering unequalled flexibility and reach, allowing us to make prudent long term business decisions.
“Paramount congratulates the successful consortium and wishes them and Cricket Australia well for the future.”
Cricket Australia's new agreement will see SWM’s 7plus become the live and free home of cricket, with an extensive digital package of rights as well as the linear broadcast on the Seven Network. This will represent the first time SWM has held digital rights to cricket.
The seven-year agreement between SWM and Cricket Australia will include two Ashes Tests Series as well as two Indian tours of Australia. Cricket Australia will also revamp the BBL to create a shorter tournament, moving from its current schedule of 61 matches down to 43, allowing for increased player availability, greater proportion of prime-time matches and stronger alignment with school holidays.
SWM MD and CEO, James Warburton (pictured right), said: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Cricket Australia until 2030-31. A comprehensive package of digital rights to the cricket for 7plus will ensure that for the first time, our viewers will be able to access cricket, live and free, in a way that suits them.
“Our combined broadcast and digital rights for both cricket and the AFL means Seven and 7plus will be the home of sport all year round.
“I'd like to thank Cricket Australia Chief Executive Nick Hockley and the Cricket Australia team for their continued efforts to drive cricket and, in particular, the improvements to the BBL. We look forward to working with Cricket Australia to grow Test cricket, women’s internationals and the BBL and WBBL in the years ahead."
Lewis Martin, MD of Seven Melbourne and head of network sport, said: “This deal is a win for Seven viewers and cricket fans, with the best Test cricket, women’s internationals, BBL and WBBL games guaranteed live and free on Seven and 7plus.
“Our enhanced partnership with Cricket Australia will take Seven’s summer cricket coverage into a new era, reach new audiences across our digital channels, and bring fans all the exciting competition, exceptional entertainment and world-class talent they love.”
Foxtel Group CEO Patrick Delany (pictured right) said: “With the addition of the cricket rights for a further seven years until 2031, the Foxtel Group remains the undisputed home of the most popular and premium sports in Australia.
“This extension is great news for our more than 4.6 million subscribers, who will see our world-class talent and production teams at Fox Sports continue bringing the magic like they always have across Foxtel and Kayo Sports.
“The Foxtel Group is the home of cricket in Australia, and we’re proud of the role our investments over more than two decades have played in super charging the growth of the sport from the grassroots through to elite levels.
“Together with 4K on Foxtel and our continued investment in innovation and multi-sport environment on Kayo Sports, we deliver a fan experience like no other and will support the continued growth and promotion of cricket in Australia.
“In great news for our fans, Fox Sports will continue to be the host broadcaster for all Men’s Test matches played in Australia under the new agreement, and we have also secured 10 exclusive Big Bash League matches, which will include a new Super Saturday series, and up to 36 exclusive Women’s Big Bash League matches.
“This renewed partnership with Cricket Australia complements our other multi-year agreements with the International Cricket Council, the IPL and the cricket boards of various countries including New Zealand, England, South Africa and India to show the best of global competitions and matches to fans right around the country.”
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said: ““We are delighted to be continuing our broadcast partnership with the Foxtel Group and Seven under an improved deal.
“The quality and reach of the Foxtel Group and Seven’s cricket production is first class and the outstanding service they provide cricket fans was a strong consideration in our decision to continue with this successful partnership.
“The breadth and quality of cricket to be played in Australia over the coming summers is extraordinary and we are looking forward to working with our partners to not only televise the games, but to promote and grow cricket by encouraging more kids to pick up a bat and ball.
“This is also an important commercial outcome for all of Australian Cricket and one that will ensure we can continue to deliver important community programs, support volunteers and increase participation to keep cricket strong.
“We sincerely thank all the broadcasters who participated in the process. The strong levels of interest in cricket again emphasised both the enduring value of cricket and the place it holds in the hearts of Australians.”
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