ECB welcomes TV decision

31 January 2006

The England and Wales Cricket Board welcomes the Culture Media and Sport Select Committee's conclusion that cricket should not be re-listed as a Group A “crown jewels” event nor should the four year agreement with Sky Sports, signed in December 2004, be unpicked.

ECB thanks the committee for recognising that there is no appetite to return to the “days when cricket was starved of funds.”

It is encouraging that MPs also noted the potential damage of re-listing in Group A is too great a risk to take and that they wouldn't want to jeopardise the investment in cricket and the achievements of the England team.

ECB understands the frustration at the absence of competitive bids which would have achieved a mixed deal of terrestrial and satellite broadcasters but also appreciates the observation that the ECB were restricted in their choice by the failure of BBC and ITV to bid and that this significantly reduced the amount that the ECB could obtain from the bidding process.

ECB refutes any criticism of the bidding process for highlights especially when the committee themselves find no compelling argument for the failure of broadcasters, other than Five, to bid for the prime time highlight packages.

ECB share the committee's wish that the broadcasters will take up the challenge and ensure that future broadcasting income to cricket is maintained and that broadcasters will choose to free up schedules to broadcast both home and away live international cricket.