keepcricketfree.com
- Thread starter Stephen Bailey
- Start date
Stephen Bailey
Executive member
Sureshot said:
License?
andrew_nixon
Chairman of Selectors
It's license. You had it right the first time.Sureshot said:
Stephen Bailey
Executive member
lol, I wasn't on about the spelling! I was being sarky towards the TV license comment.
Stephen Bailey
Executive member
Nice new article on www.keepcricketfree.com by former Channel 4 chief David Brook:
Keep Cricket Free
Free to Air on TV
September is almost over but across the country kids are still playing cricket. In parks, playgrounds and school halls you'll see thousands of Freddie Flintoffs - and they're all under ten. England's Ashes victory has captured the public imagination. Yet would this have happened if the matches had not been broadcast free-to-air? Would Flintoff be favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year without more than 12 million free-to-air witnesses to his exploits?
As well as this new generation attracted to the game, millions of pensioners and others on fixed incomes gain real pleasure from watching Test Cricket, as many have done for more than fifty years and are desperately concerned that they have seen their last test match. This is why I am proud to be associated with keepcricketfree.com - the grassroots movement, set up by cricket fans earlier this month. With more than 11,000 supporters already (including the latest recruits, ex-England cricketers and broadcasters, Sir Geoffrey Boycott and John Snow, former Prime Minister Sir John Major and from the media Sir Michael Grade and, significantly, the BBC's new Head of Sport, Roger Mosey) we are committed to restoring the main home test series to free-to-air TV.
Many MPs share our concerns but feel it's a done deal and that nothing can be done before 2010. This is not the case. There are precedents in both the Republic of Ireland (football) and Australia (cricket) for government intervention to prevent live coverage of the national team from disappearing from free-to-air screens. Besides, when the test matches were de-listed in 1998, the government did so on the understanding that the main domestic test series would remain on free-to-air television. The government stated (documented in Hansard) that if this understanding were to be abused, then test cricket's listed status could be reviewed. What the government gave, it can take away.
Yet we don't want more regulation. The 1998 arrangement, with a mix of free-to-air and pay-TV, ensures the exposure of the game to the casual fan on Channel 4 or the BBC and the comprehensive coverage of one day internationals and domestic cricket for the committed fan that only Sky Sports can provide. Team England has gone from strength to strength in the last seven years funded with this mixed model. If it ain't broke, why fix it?
We have been told that the BBC showed no interest in bidding and that Channel 4's bid was substantially lower than Sky. We now know, however, that the BBC met with the ECB many times to try to resolve scheduling difficulties. The BBC were offered no co-operation with this - somewhat surprising when you consider the lengths the ECB went to in postponing the start of the Ashes series to give Sky prime scheduling time for the lengthy series of one day internationals. Were the ECB seduced by the premium Sky was prepared to offer for exclusive coverage?
If a largely unregulated pay-TV operator is offered exclusive rights to all cricket, then it is worth a significant premium because they are paying not just for the rights, but to deny the pictures to the rest of the nation, and there is nothing a free-to-air public service broadcaster can do about it. On this crucial point, government ministers should be careful about repeating their mantra that this is a free and fair bidding process.
Those who argue that the ?24 million premium paid annually by Sky over the Channel 4 offer is essential to the future of the game should consider the views of the independent advertising and media consultants Walker Media. They calculate the lost exposure to cricket from the disappearance of Channel 4's coverage to be worth over ?40 million per year. This loss of revenue from sponsorship and merchandise income is well known to boxing and rugby. Audiences are likely to fall from the peaks of 8.5 million viewers to the regular average audiences of 80 to 150 thousand viewers to test matches on Sky Sports. One can only imagine what the loss of sponsorship and endorsement revenue will be for individual cricketers. Npower, the Test Cricket sponsors, stated yesterday that they will be monitoring the move to pay-TV very closely.
Test cricket must be back on our screens free-to-air next summer in time for the main series against Pakistan in July. Sky can do this at a stroke, by offering to simultaneously transmit this second test series on the BBC or Channel 4, with appropriate and substantial compensation paid to Sky by the free-to-air broadcasters. Not only would this be returned directly to BSkyB's bottom-line, it will provide a free-to-air window for their cricket coverage that may well encourage many to subscribe to see the comprehensive coverage of the one day internationals and domestic game, as well as the overseas tours and first test series of the summer coverage. Both Sir Michael Grade, the BBC Chairman and Andy Duncan, C4 CEO, have indicated they would be prepared to return to the table to secure free-to-air coverage of test cricket.
However, if Sky and the ECB are not prepared to take this consensual approach, then the government should intervene to broker round-table discussions to ensure the understanding reached when cricket was de-listed in 1998 is honoured. We urge every cricket lover to check out the keepcricketfree.com website, contact their local MP, and write to the Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell.
There is an easy solution with a round-table meeting or a harder journey involving regulation and a DCMS enquiry. Moreover there is a further threat of intervention from the European Competition Commission, as European competition and media experts believe cricket's 'golden goose' could be illegal. With all-party support building rapidly around John Grogan, Labour MP for Selby, who will be tabling an early-day motion as soon as the House of Commons reconvenes, the political pressure is growing for a resolution.
NOTE TO EDITOR: The then Culture Secretary, Chris Smith's parliamentary answer in 1998 was as follows, following test cricket's removal from the A list of protected events:
"I expect to see that freedom used responsibly, with continued access for all viewers to a substantial proportion of live Test coverage.
"If these expectations are not fulfilled, then I may of course need to review the listed criteria again."
Keep Cricket Free
Free to Air on TV
September is almost over but across the country kids are still playing cricket. In parks, playgrounds and school halls you'll see thousands of Freddie Flintoffs - and they're all under ten. England's Ashes victory has captured the public imagination. Yet would this have happened if the matches had not been broadcast free-to-air? Would Flintoff be favourite for BBC Sports Personality of the Year without more than 12 million free-to-air witnesses to his exploits?
As well as this new generation attracted to the game, millions of pensioners and others on fixed incomes gain real pleasure from watching Test Cricket, as many have done for more than fifty years and are desperately concerned that they have seen their last test match. This is why I am proud to be associated with keepcricketfree.com - the grassroots movement, set up by cricket fans earlier this month. With more than 11,000 supporters already (including the latest recruits, ex-England cricketers and broadcasters, Sir Geoffrey Boycott and John Snow, former Prime Minister Sir John Major and from the media Sir Michael Grade and, significantly, the BBC's new Head of Sport, Roger Mosey) we are committed to restoring the main home test series to free-to-air TV.
Many MPs share our concerns but feel it's a done deal and that nothing can be done before 2010. This is not the case. There are precedents in both the Republic of Ireland (football) and Australia (cricket) for government intervention to prevent live coverage of the national team from disappearing from free-to-air screens. Besides, when the test matches were de-listed in 1998, the government did so on the understanding that the main domestic test series would remain on free-to-air television. The government stated (documented in Hansard) that if this understanding were to be abused, then test cricket's listed status could be reviewed. What the government gave, it can take away.
Yet we don't want more regulation. The 1998 arrangement, with a mix of free-to-air and pay-TV, ensures the exposure of the game to the casual fan on Channel 4 or the BBC and the comprehensive coverage of one day internationals and domestic cricket for the committed fan that only Sky Sports can provide. Team England has gone from strength to strength in the last seven years funded with this mixed model. If it ain't broke, why fix it?
We have been told that the BBC showed no interest in bidding and that Channel 4's bid was substantially lower than Sky. We now know, however, that the BBC met with the ECB many times to try to resolve scheduling difficulties. The BBC were offered no co-operation with this - somewhat surprising when you consider the lengths the ECB went to in postponing the start of the Ashes series to give Sky prime scheduling time for the lengthy series of one day internationals. Were the ECB seduced by the premium Sky was prepared to offer for exclusive coverage?
If a largely unregulated pay-TV operator is offered exclusive rights to all cricket, then it is worth a significant premium because they are paying not just for the rights, but to deny the pictures to the rest of the nation, and there is nothing a free-to-air public service broadcaster can do about it. On this crucial point, government ministers should be careful about repeating their mantra that this is a free and fair bidding process.
Those who argue that the ?24 million premium paid annually by Sky over the Channel 4 offer is essential to the future of the game should consider the views of the independent advertising and media consultants Walker Media. They calculate the lost exposure to cricket from the disappearance of Channel 4's coverage to be worth over ?40 million per year. This loss of revenue from sponsorship and merchandise income is well known to boxing and rugby. Audiences are likely to fall from the peaks of 8.5 million viewers to the regular average audiences of 80 to 150 thousand viewers to test matches on Sky Sports. One can only imagine what the loss of sponsorship and endorsement revenue will be for individual cricketers. Npower, the Test Cricket sponsors, stated yesterday that they will be monitoring the move to pay-TV very closely.
Test cricket must be back on our screens free-to-air next summer in time for the main series against Pakistan in July. Sky can do this at a stroke, by offering to simultaneously transmit this second test series on the BBC or Channel 4, with appropriate and substantial compensation paid to Sky by the free-to-air broadcasters. Not only would this be returned directly to BSkyB's bottom-line, it will provide a free-to-air window for their cricket coverage that may well encourage many to subscribe to see the comprehensive coverage of the one day internationals and domestic game, as well as the overseas tours and first test series of the summer coverage. Both Sir Michael Grade, the BBC Chairman and Andy Duncan, C4 CEO, have indicated they would be prepared to return to the table to secure free-to-air coverage of test cricket.
However, if Sky and the ECB are not prepared to take this consensual approach, then the government should intervene to broker round-table discussions to ensure the understanding reached when cricket was de-listed in 1998 is honoured. We urge every cricket lover to check out the keepcricketfree.com website, contact their local MP, and write to the Minister for Sport, Richard Caborn and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell.
There is an easy solution with a round-table meeting or a harder journey involving regulation and a DCMS enquiry. Moreover there is a further threat of intervention from the European Competition Commission, as European competition and media experts believe cricket's 'golden goose' could be illegal. With all-party support building rapidly around John Grogan, Labour MP for Selby, who will be tabling an early-day motion as soon as the House of Commons reconvenes, the political pressure is growing for a resolution.
NOTE TO EDITOR: The then Culture Secretary, Chris Smith's parliamentary answer in 1998 was as follows, following test cricket's removal from the A list of protected events:
"I expect to see that freedom used responsibly, with continued access for all viewers to a substantial proportion of live Test coverage.
"If these expectations are not fulfilled, then I may of course need to review the listed criteria again."
Stephen Bailey
Executive member
Sure you can link it to your site! More publicity the better, in whatever form. 
JamesyJames3
International Coach
stevie said:Sure you can link it to your site! More publicity the better, in whatever form.
how about if i get it tattood to my ass?
RoboRocks
Chairman of Selectors
Yeah but you will have to ass, I mean ask someone to read it for you :laugh :rtfl :laughJamesyJames3 said:how about if i get it tattood to my ass?
Stephen Bailey
Executive member
JamesyJames3 said:how about if i get it tattood to my ass?
Going to do plenty of kilt lifting then! :laugh
JamesyJames3
International Coach
stevie said:
aye maybe a wee bit!
Any publicity is good publicity tho right'?
Stephen Bailey
Executive member
JamesyJames3 said:aye maybe a wee bit!
Any publicity is good publicity tho right'?
Aye laddy. Too true, too true!
Stephen Bailey
Executive member
RabbleRouser
Club Cricketer
Thank goodnees for that! I hope this brings about some cricket back on C4 :upray
