Nine Network’s grip on int'l cricket "is slipping as the Big Bash League rights held by rival Ten shapes as the big prize," according to Jake Mitchell of THE AUSTRALIAN.
Nine chief Hugh Marks "has indicated he does not want to pay more for the home international rights." Marks is refusing to "shell out more money for rights to Test matches, one day internationals and T20s held under the existing deal" ending in the '17-18 season.
Sources said that Nine "was more focused on bidding for the domestic Big Bash," which it believes is undervalued, than the int'l rights. Ten agreed to pay A$20M ($15.4M) a year "in cash and contra for the Big Bash under the current deal and the larger reach and scale of free-to-air television has driven huge growth in the competition’s TV ratings and national profile."
But Ten "has become a victim of its own success," with the rights now expected to attract around A$60M ($46M) a year under the new Cricket Australia agreement.
Cooling interest by Nine "will open the door for new would-be buyers that include Seven, incumbent Ten and Fox Sports, which is owned by News Corp." Cricket Australia "has kicked off preliminary talks with broadcasters, but the negotiations are not expected to be concluded until next year" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 11/7).
