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Seven, Foxtel bowl over new $1.512b deal with Cricket Australia to 2030-31.

2 Ashes Tests Series, two Indian tours of Australia, shorter BBL and 7plus rights for Seven. Every ball of every match for Foxtel to 2030-31.

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  • 7 year agreement between Cricket Australia, Seven Network, Foxtel Group worth $1.512b
  • Seven: two Ashes Tests Series, two Indian tours of Australia,  BBL to run for five to six weeks. Digital rights on 7plus.
  • Foxtel: Every ball: Men’s and Women’s Tests, One Day Internationals and T20is, Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League (10 exclusive BBL matches, new Super Saturday series, up to 36 exclusive Women’s BBL matches).
  • Seven ends legal proceedings against CA.

Cricket Australia has secured an extension of television broadcast rights with Seven West Media and Foxtel Group from 2024- 25 to 2030-31 season worth $1.512b.

It follows ongoing media reports which claimed Paramount / 10 had offered an “all or nothing” deal worth $1.5b – but Paramount has now denied making a formal bid.

Seven

Seven West Media today announced that it has reached an agreement with Cricket Australia to extend its media rights from the 2024-25 season to the 2030-31 season.

The new agreement will see SWM’s 7plus become the live and free home of cricket, with an extensive digital package of rights in addition to the linear broadcast on the Seven Network. This will represent the first time SWM has held digital rights to cricket.

The new, seven-year agreement between SWM and Cricket Australia will include two Ashes Tests Series as well as two Indian tours of Australia. In addition, Cricket Australia will revamp the BBL to create a shorter tournament that will run for five to six weeks.

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.

In line with the improvement in terms, SWM and Cricket Australia have also agreed today to terminate the court proceedings with immediate effect. Each side will bear its own costs.

SWM Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, James Warburton, 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,” he said.

Managing Director Seven Melbourne and Head of Network Sport, Lewis Martin (pictured), 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:

The Foxtel Group has entered into an historic new agreement with Cricket Australia, which will see every ball of every match 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.

Foxtel Group Chief Executive Officer, Patrick Delany (pictured) 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.

“The new deal will include improvements, including a refreshed Big Bash League format, with a reduced schedule of 43 games that will allow for a greater proportion of prime-time matches and stronger alignment with school holidays.

“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 and thank them for their continued support of cricket.

“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 our community programs, support volunteers and increase participation to keep cricket strong.”

Cricket Australia:

CA chief executive Nick Hockley (pictured) said he was “delighted” to have secured an extension with the existing broadcast partners after “strong levels of interest” from all major Australian commercial networks.

“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,” Hockley said in a statement.

“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.”

International Cricket Council events such as the men’s and women’s T20 and ODI World Cups and World Test Championship finals, are outside the domestic broadcast rights structure, and are controlled by the ICC. Broadcast negotiations for other bilateral series played overseas are managed by the respective home cricket board, which will see the Australian men’s Test tour of India shown exclusively on Foxtel and Kayo, while the winter Ashes tour of England will be seen live on the Nine Network.

Paramount /10:

A Paramount ANZ spokesperson: “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.”

A press conference is scheduled for 10:15am AEDT.

Updated:

Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany declined to comment on the terms of the deal. He also said Dave Warner would commentate for Foxtel in the future.

CA boss Nick Hockley said they had “moved on” regarding previous disputes with Seven Network.

Asked by a journalist if Seven would “stop trashing Cricket”, 7 Head of Sport Lewis Martin said, “We haven’t trashed Cricket. We’ve had our issues with Cricket Australia and we’ve reset it. They were challenging times, no doubt about it. But our love for the sport and love for cricket, our strategy overall was to build a suite of Australia’s premier sports across 52 weeks of the year….. that’s in the past and credit to Nick and our team. We actually realised we’re the right fit. This is a great game. I just had a wonderful phone call with Bruce McAvaney who believes we’re on the cusp of a golden era of Cricket.”

64 Responses

  1. … as a TV Tonight reader, I’m sure that battlestargalactica would have read the story David included under the headline “Gravity Media partners on Golf, Cricket broadcasts.” on 27 October? if not, that would explain the incorrect post about Fox and NEP …

    1. I understand your confusion now CJ. Read that story again and you’ll see it refers to a partnership to deliver content such as WBBL and tour matches, not international Test Cricket. I can assure you the Sydney Test host broadcast feed is currently being produced by Fox directors and producers sitting in NEP trucks.

      1. … not confused at all … the comment was about the phrase “host broadcaster”, but hey nobody wants to be bored by this on David’s blog, so let’s leave it there shall we?

  2. Quite surprised that not much being said about how Foxtel and SWM are going to pay for all this. Great having the rights, however you need to make some coin out of it. Combined AFL rights and Cricket will surely hit the bottom line of both these companies. Advertising spending is on the decline and people are surely suffering from interest rate hikes, so I can assume the discretionary spending in Aussie households will be affected. So I can safely assume that any lift in the monthly fees to Foxtel or Kayo will not be tolerated. And SWM foray into streaming will be seriously dented due to cost implications from the costs of these rights deal Will.be interesting to see how this all plays out in when the new deals start. The “Halo effect” that networks crave for could soon hinder and have far reaching impacts on both companies survival in their current state.

    1. 65m pa for seven for the next 7 years is not onerous for them (and a reduction on the current contract). Foxtel, well 151m pa is quite something. Seven seems won’t be spending anything on the Olympics so a saving there. SWM is in a better position than they were 2-4 years ago debt wise but still not out of danger. For them, 7+ is a key plank. I guess we shall see.

    2. I agree and advertisers now being offered so many platforms to advertise these days, media incomes may get tight. Like most people l will be looking to cut back on my spending and i will reduce my streaming providers by one in 2023.

  3. I find it mind boggling the number of people who complain about cricket not being on FTA or being “behind a paywall”… and recounting the Channel 9 days. The world has changed – yes, it’s unfortunate a lot of sports including cricket aren’t on FTA, but it was always inevitable given CA and other sports bodies get a majority of their incomes through TV deals. The only TV companies who can afford the prices sporting mobs are wanting are subscription-based services. No FTA network is going to be able to put up an offer that CA would be happy with, and manage to recoup their costs / make any money off it. Be happy Channel 7 has at least some cricket – I’m sure Foxtel would be more than happy to cut them out of any deal and to have exclusive rights (similar to say Supercars where 7 get a few token races), however having that FTA presence albeit however small it is still provides the fans with something rather than nothing. Sport = business = driven by $$.

  4. All this controversial business changing FTA channels, streaming or pay (including comments) with cricket or any other sport for that matter is the reason I’ve turned off sport altogether…..because you can’t please everyone all the time and only some people some of the time. Let’s take a minute to digest the fact If people really love their sport they will inevitably find a way to watch/attend by whatever means. Why can’t people just enjoy it for what it “really is”…a game of sport!

    1. I still watch sport but agree that the controversy around FTA vs pay is a turn off. Every time rights come up, the discussions are so predictable.

  5. “Cricket Australia has secured an extension of television broadcast rights”.
    Well, no, CA has not.
    The deal is a change from the current arrangements – to call it an “extension” is plain incorrect. Under the new deal, Test matches played in Australia against NZ, West Indies, Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka will no longer be on FTA. Just an absolute money grab from CA.

    1. This is inherently incorrect. Every test match in Australia is on FTA (Channel 7). No matter who they play. They highlighted India and England as the big draws in the tenure of the deal not the only teams on FTA.

      1. I really hope I am incorrect, Aussie_Indian. Can you please show me the web site or quotes from CA or Channel 7 which states that all test matches played in Australia will continue to be shown on FTA. I can’t find any evidence.

      1. Yes, Roger is mistaken. Fox is the host broadcaster for test cricket played in Australia (meaning they produce the ball by ball coverage), but Ch7 continues to have the right to show all tests played in Australia. They take the Fox feed and add their own stuff to it.

        1. … not quite, Fox is indeed the primary client for the host broadcast which is produced through a partnership between Cricket Australia and Gravity Media …

          1. No it’s not CJ. Gravity has nothing to do with Fox production. Fox is wholly responsible for host broadcast Tesr cricket production. They use NEP facilities.

    3. Incorrect- On the new FTP released by the ICC, Aussies play at home in tests-NZ, Pakistan (this year), South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies (this year), India, Afghanistan, England and Bangladesh. Seven and Fox will be host broadcasts.

  7. Absolute nonsense from Channel 7. No Australian ODIs or T20s on FTA is an absolute joke. Shoved under a paywall again for the next 8 years. It makes no sense to me. That’s what the fans want and instead they just ignore the whole damn lot, again. What a waste of money.

    1. It all comes down to money I guess. Nine paid $100m pa apparently for the tennis. Seven have reduced the cricket for their share from $75m pa to $65m pa. And test cricket (with 2 ashes and 2 Indian tours to come during this new contract) do rate and with Perth and Adelaide at least part in prime time (for eastern states), and perhaps more states to come with day/night tests, seven were pretty clear this is what they were after. It still doesn’t make sense to me how this is consistent with the anti-siphoning laws (in terms of the ODI rather than t20) but it seems no one wants to take on Murdoch.

  9. And Foxtel have announced that David Warner will be a full time commentator on Fox Cricket, no chance this family will be watching on Fox when he is commentating 😡.

  10. With the exception of 2020 (when there was virtual no live sport for half the the year), Kayo has seen YoY growth each year. So yeah, a lot of people have ditched linear Foxtel, but Kayo numbers have made up the difference.

    Will be interesting to see what Kayo numbers do when 7plus get cricket rights in 2024, and AFL rights in 2025. I am more than happy to fork out $25 per month for ad-free coverage.

    1. Will depend on the choice of if you want adverts during play or not I would think.

      Personally it’ll remain Kayo as long as the AFL Club I support offer membership up with Kayo for $240 p/y as it’s a tad cheaper than I had before with games included (8) to go and see it which was $$245 p/y, as for personal health reasons I can no longer attend. So no adverts see all my clubs games, not just what 7 show and still support my club with a membership, plus get all the other side benefits, especially when Kayo for 12 months is $330, which means I’ll tune into the Cricket as well as it’s full Kayo.

      So yep will be my choice to stay with Kayo and as I say others will choose if they want no adverts or can put up with them on FTA and 7Plus.

  12. The Question I would like answered is why in 2018 Tim Worner didn’t want the ODIs that were a staple on 9 for decades and now again they don’t want them. Is it that it interferes with their programming in the evening or just the money factor , it’s interesting.

    2. Why in 2018 did Nine buy the Tennis then put in a joint low bid for only the Tests and BBL with Ten which didn’t comply with CA rules? Once Ten made the BBL and T20 format popular, nobody wanted to watch ODIs where nothing happens for 25 overs in the middle of each innings. Cricket is valuable to Kayo to keep people subscribing over summer and Seven to promote their lineup after they lost the tennis. Hopefully the shortened BBL competition will regain interest. The Guardian reported yesterday that with the changes Seven will be paying less for the lesser number of BBL games.

  13. I hate to acknowledge it’s Murdoch owned, but here’s what on Kayo for cricket. It’s truly extraordinary –
    • All ICC tournaments • All international cricket in Australia • All international cricket in India • All international cricket in England • All international cricket in NZ • All international cricket in SA • All international cricket in Pakistan • BBL, WBBL • IPL, WIPL • PSL • SuperSmash • SA T20 • Hundred, women’s hundred • Australian, English domestic games
    No other service in other countries carries so much cricket. Tbh, I’m delighted with the new deal as it means I don’t have to get another service. Also kayo itself is absolutely fantastic

    1. … er no, it’s not “Murdoch owned” … the Murdoch family have a less than 26% shareholding in Foxtel/Kayo through News Corp while Telstra has a 35% shareholding …

      2. Er no. The Foxtel Group is jointly owned by News Corp (65%) and Telstra (35%). Kayo is a wholly owned subsidiary of Streamotion which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Foxtel. News Corp controls Foxtel.

        1. … correct … and the Murdoch family have a just under 40% shareholding in News Corp, hence the “less than 26%” which represents their actual share in Foxtel/Kayo … as for “control”, as part of the original deal when Foxtel was 50% News Ltd and 50% Telstra, the News Ltd partner in the joint venture had the responsibility to appoint the CEO, based on its expertise in broadcasting as opposed to Telstra’s in telecommunication … Telstra had the opportunity to take a full entitlement when Foxtel was merged with Premier, but chose not to, hence the current 65/35 split … but unfortunately we have the constant references to “Rupert Murdoch’s Foxtel” by journalists in the press who should know better which leads to the mistaken belief that the Murdochs actually “own” the company … just to confuse things further, at the time I worked in Foxtel management, News only had a 25% share, the other 25% held by Consolidated Press – but that’s another story …

  14. This will be a very dark day for Australian Cricket — ODI and T20Is are shoved under a Paywall. Back when 9 previously had the cricket, Limited Overs cricket were shown on FTA. Without Limited Overs matches on TV, it will kill interest. Crowd numbers have declined and so are tv ratings.

    1. This deal represents no change to the current status of ODI and T20I cricket. You’re projecting a “dark day” which should have already arrived given this is the 4th year they’ve been behind a paywall.

  15. 7 won this deal didn’t they? They are paying $10mill less than the last deal while adding 7+ streaming & airing a higher % of BBL. Last deal it was 40/56 (71%) & this deal it’s 30/40 (75%)

    1. I reckon they (SWM) would be pretty happy – $10m pa less and streaming but less BBL (specifics not yet announced as far as I know) but seven have not been happy with the BBL (although the last few games I have watched have been very good quality).

    2. Yep, $10m less… because (and conveniently left out of the media releases and story) they promised to drop the legal action they had pending against CA for what they deemed was a sub-standard product. Suddenly they love the cricket again!

      Also note – “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”… I assume part of the ‘production savings’ is 7 not bothering to fly commentators to BBL games like they’ve been doing with some matches this season, rather have them sit in front of a TV in their home state and commentate the game…

      1. I really don’t know what your’re reading.

        These are all in the story:

        – Seven ends legal proceedings against CA.
        – In line with the improvement in terms, SWM and Cricket Australia have also agreed today to terminate the court proceedings with immediate effect. Each side will bear its own costs (press release).
        – Asked by a journalist if Seven would “stop trashing Cricket”, 7 Head of Sport Lewis Martin said, etc”

        There are also several other posts on the site about ongoing legal action by Seven against CA. But let’s just conveniently ignore all of that?

  17. So you really have to worry about the future of channel 10 now. How are they going to attract eyeballs and promote their other shows without any major sport. I think the US owners will want out soon. Even with the highest bid major sport does not want them. They did everything they could and still missed out. Given the US ownership is not working, It’s going to be an Interesting few years ahead for 10.

    1. Yes, I too worry for 10’s future and shared my thoughts in the TVT survey. Once P+ is established here after a few years, and now having missed out and on the major sports rights for many years to come, I can’t see the overlords wanting to hang on to 10 much longer. I hope this is not the case, but if I was them, would sell 10. Easier to manage P+ in this market from US/UK or wherever/whoever 10 reports to now.

    2. According to reports they (Paramount) did not submit an formal offer. Personally l think it was a bet up by others than 7/Foxtel to beef up their offer.

  18. I wonder what to make of that Paramount spin. I don’t really buy it.
    The embarrassment and brand/reputation damage is severe. I don’t think this is the last we’ll hear of this.

    1. I call BS on the claim they never bid. They need a PR company to back them. They keep getting trashed in the News Corp owned press, which is what the sporting bodies listen to, and they aren’t defending themselves

    1. The death of cricket especially Test Cricket is because ( except Australia) no other country cares about it.Australia dominates it, no game is ever competitive here.
      In Oz
      The BBL is ho hum, Sheffield Shield more Indian Mynas watch it than people, Marsh Cup same.

  20. A shame that the one day games are going to continue to be behind a paywall and not on free to air. Before cricket went to 7, it was arguably the most popular form of the game.

  21. Big broadcast deals will eventually hurt broadcasters in my view. Cant keep shelling out the bucks like they are. Revenue has to come from somewhere and advertising dollars are spread wide and far with so many varied platforms these days. I know many of my friends are switching Foxtel off and moving to other streaming services.

    1. That’s why Seven is putting so much effort into getting sport content on their 7plus app. They did this with the AFL deal as well. They can see the ad revenue, and in the future potentially subscription revenue, they can harvest off this.

      1. It was foolish of 7 to agree to the current deal which has no digital rights…they knew that’s the future growth area. However, they were desperate at the time to secure summer sport after Nine got the Aus Open

      2. Completely agree Vince. For seven, they were (apparently) pretty clear on wanting out of BBL and wanting streaming rights for as much content as they could get (and less cash payment). On its face, foxtel and seven appear to secured broad;y what they want.

    2. Nine is paying for the Tennis and @l^mp!cs, but Kayo are paying for most the Cricket, AFL and NRL contracts because they will have the majority of the games. In the case of the cricket all of them. As for Paramount, neither the Tennis, AFL, @l^mp!cs or cricket took their “informal” bids seriously. 10 is the 4th ranked FTA network behind the ABC and Parmount+ has around 400,000 subscribers according to a Roy Morgan survey and they may not exist by the end of the contract period.

      1. I’m not sure they ever bid for tennis at the time…wanted to go after the cricket and try and build on their BBL success. As for the Olympics, I think I read Paramount weren’t interested in “one off” sport events such as this. But now they have nothing.

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