Published: Feb 24, 2016, 09:08 AM (IST)
Edited: Feb 24, 2016, 09:08 AM (IST)
Australia cricket fans will miss out to view ICC World Twenty20 (T20) 2016 next month as all television broadcasters pass out the opportunity to purchase broadcast rights for the tournament. The tournament will be held in India from March 16 to April 6. Prior to ICC World T20 tournament, Australia will travel to South Africa for three-match T20I starting fro March 4. The importance of the tournament on Australia’s broadcasting list, that prioritises free coverage of important events has had no consequence as those rules do not compel the broadcasters to buy the rights, as reported on Sydney Morning Herald. READ: Australian spinners will face trouble in Indian subcontinent: Mahela Jayawardene
The major reason for Australian broadcasters to back out from broadcasting World Cup tournament is price being sought by the host broadcaster, India TV giant Star Sports. Not only in Australia, but New Zealand broadcasters have also given an impasse to negotiations. In the past two World T20 tournaments, in 2012 and 2014, Nine Network has fulfilled the broadcasting rules specifying all matches involving Australia and also the final be shown live on their primary channel. It also broadcast matches in the inaugural tournament, in 2007. READ: New Delhi doubtful as hosts for ICC World T20 2016
Nine has confirmed they do not have the broadcast rights for this year’s tournament, it’s commercial rivals Seven and Ten also miss out on broadcasting rights. The anti-siphoning rules specify that if TV rights for an event are unsold within 12 weeks of the event then pay TV broadcasters can secure the exclusive rights. But Fox Sports have also have also passed on rights in spite of showing all five preceding tournaments. Nine and Fox had a contract to show all ICC tournaments, but that expired after last year’s ICC World Cup.
To add to the woes of broadcasting rights, the tournament tickets have not yet been sold out. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which is running the tournament, announced on late Tuesday only five out of eight venues tickets will be sold for the tournament. There is still uncertainty as to whether one of the remaining venues, Delhi, will host matches, due to legal battles.
