CA secures $918m for broadcast rights

SYDNEY, Apr 13 (AFP): Pay-TV company Foxtel and the free-to-air Seven Network on Friday won a bidding war for television and digital cricket rights in Australia, signing a deal worth almost Aus$1.2 billion (US$918 million).

The bumper contract over six years, worth more than forecast, came despite a recent ball-tampering scandal that saw top drawcards Steve Smith and David Warner banned for a year and the sport's reputation dragged through the mud.

The deal ends cricket's four-decade relationship with the rival Nine Network and also sidelines the CBS-backed Ten Network, which has previously screened Big Bash League games.

Under the terms, Seven and Foxtel, majority-owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, will jointly air all domestic Test matches, while Fox won exclusive rights to international one-dayers and T20s. Both companies will broadcast all women's internationals and 23 women's BBL games.

Seven will show 43 men's BBL matches simultaneously with Foxtel, which will air another 16 games exclusively.

Fox and Cricket Australia also formed a new digital partnership to feed the internet.