ECB plead with government: keep cricket on Sky!

[Skater]

Weeks after it was revealed that the Ashes was set to return to Free To Air television, the England and Wales Cricket Board have made a last-minute plea to keep cricket on pay TV for fears it may divert cash away from the grassroots of the game.

Source: Ruling bodies appeal to keep rugby and cricket off 'crown jewels' TV list | Media | guardian.co.uk

 

[harrisb]

i'm beginning to get angry with the ECB, me and my parents cancelled our sky subscription a few years back, when cricket was still on 4, and suddenly, bam, no more cricket on 4. And who are they to go on about grassroots cricket, they do next to nothing, it's mainly left to npower for their 'urban cricket'

so, the news of the ashes back on my tv was great.

However, the argument that it diverts cash away from grassroots is absolute crap, my local club's colts section has steadily gone downhill after the increase after the 05 Ashes, and it has forced them to up their charges, now, you have to pay for membership, each training session, and you have to have 2 different shirts or you can't train or play for any team.

Personally, ECB should have a spokesperson for the public who don't have sky.

 

[Skater]

Sky aren't in the wrong. It's the ECB who want to keep cricket on Sky.

 

[harrisb]

no, i'm not saying sky are in the wrong, apologies, i'm beginning to get angry with the ecb, not sky. i'll edit it

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

I have to agree with the ECB, not for the reasons they want cricket on sky but for other reasons.

cricket takes 7 hours a day to play, 5 days in a row (given all the draws) it can be on at strange times in the day, sometimes in the evening prime time slots. Then there is ODIs on top of that.

It's completely unfeasible to think a non-dedicated channel could properly cover it these days with hundreds of specialised channels.

 

[Skater]

Interesting update:
BBC plan to share 2013 Ashes | Sport | The Guardian

 

[Sureshot]

Sky aren't in the wrong. It's the ECB who want to keep cricket on Sky.

For very obvious reasons. The Terrestrial companies will never chose to invest the money in to the game like Sky do to the ECB.

 

[evertonfan]

Sky are brilliant for cricket. If you don't have Sky then it's just tough cookies, listen to TMS.

 

[IanG]

Goes to show the difference between countries. Having Test and ODIs and T20I on Free to Air here in Australia has never been a big deal. Mind you Channel 9 probably make back the money they shell out for the rights from the advertising.

Plus Cricket is on the Anti Siphoning laws list, which I assume is similar to the "Crown Jewels" list