FOX Sports Australia, Seven Ink Cricket Rights Deal

FOX Sports Australia and Seven Network have entered a six-year deal with Cricket Australia worth A$1.18 billion ($918 million).

All men’s international Test matches and women’s internationals will be simulcast by FOX Sports Australia and Seven, as well as 23 women’s Big Bash League matches. FOX  Sports will exclusively carry the men’s One-Day and Twenty20 internationals. Fox Sports also exclusively has 16 Big Bash League matches. FOX Sports has also secured digital rights in partnership with Cricket Network. As such, for the first time Australians will have the opportunity to live stream matches on any device. With the deal, Foxtel is launching a new dedicated cricket channel, FOX Cricket. Foxtel and FOX Sports are jointly owned by News Corp Australia and Telstra.

Foxtel CEO Patrick Delany noted, “Starting this summer, FOX Sports Australia will show every ball of every over bowled in Australia delivered with our trademark energy and creativity, on a dedicated new home, FOX Cricket. We will also welcome home the Big Bash League which we created and launched with Cricket Australia in 2011. In the same way we revolutionized coverage of the AFL and NRL, we will do the same for cricket. It will be like nothing fans have experienced before. We have the most passionate, creative and innovative teams who are raring to go. Standby for a revolution of energy, quality and commentary.“

Chairman of Foxtel and FOX Sports, Siobhan McKenna, added, “FOX Sports understands the immense responsibility that comes with being the broadcaster of Australian Test cricket and will take extraordinary care of this privilege. We know Australians love and respect cricket and so do we. No other sport has the special place in Australia’s heart like cricket does. We promise you reverence—and revolution. “

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said, “We’re very excited about what the future holds with both FOXSports and the Seven Network. This revolutionary deal will enable increased investment in grassroots cricket through our programs and further developing facilities.”