The Big Bash League's media rights are "expected to explode to as much as" A$60M ($42M) a year after a breakout season that is revolutionizing Australian cricket, according to Davidson & Swanton of THE AUSTRALIAN. A TV war between the Nine Network and Ten, which picked up the rights for only A$20M ($14M) a season, "is looming, with Cricket Australia believed to be mulling over the possibility of opening new negotiations this year to cash in on the Big Bash phenomenon." With 47,672 fans flocking to the Melbourne Cricket Ground last night, "overall crowd attendance for the tournament roared past the magical million mark." While turnstiles have clicked -- average attendance increased almost 5,000 a match on last year's audience -- "the value of the BBL's TV rights has skyrocketed" by as much as 200%, according to media observers. The Ten Network attained a 15% audience increased compared with a year ago and an average of 1.013 million viewers "during the latest tournament." Nine and Ten, which has the rights for two more seasons, "are already preparing a rearguard action to fend off interest from a growing crop of digital insurgents such as telco Optus" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 1/25).
