BBC extends Ashes radio rights deal
August 7, 2017
The BBC is to continue to broadcast live radio coverage of the so-called Ashes Test Cricket series between Australia and England and including the Women’s Ashes, after renewing its partnership with Cricket Australia.
The new five-year agreement includes Test Match Special (TMS) coverage of this winter’s five-Test men’s tour down under, which starts in November.
TMS will also broadcast England’s home Ashes series in the summer of 2019.
The deal between the BBC and Cricket Australia grants exclusive UK radio rights for all international women’s and men’s cricket in Australia, and non-exclusive rights for the Big Bash League and Women’s Big Bash League Twenty20 competitions, up to the 2021-22 season. All the BBC’s coverage will also be available on Cricket Australia’s CA Live platform (website & app).
“We’re thrilled BBC radio will once again be the home of the Ashes in Australia for the next five years, and that we’ll also be covering some of the other great cricket competitions taking place in Australia over this period,” declared Ben Gallop, head of BBC Radio Sport and Digital. “This deal is a brilliant way to mark the 60th anniversary of Test Match Special, which remains one of the most-treasured programmes on the BBC.”
“We are delighted to be renewing our long-standing radio partnership with the BBC ahead of what we are expecting to be our biggest summer of cricket ever, including highly anticipated women’s and men’s Ashes series and the hugely popular WBBL and BBL,” added Ben Amarfio, Cricket Australia Executive General Manager Media, Communications & Marketing. “The BBC’s cricket coverage has long been an integral part of the sport in the UK and this agreement will mean millions of people in the UK will be able to enjoy all the action this Australian summer on BBC and CA’s digital products and for the next five years, concluding with the 2021-22 Ashes series in Australia.”
This winter’s series will go ahead following the recent resolution of a long-running pay dispute between Australia’s players and Cricket Australia.