Australia set for new broadcasting deal

A new broadcasting deal has been struck between Cricket Australia and Channel Nine, which could result in cricket being broadcast live to all major Australian cities from March next year.

According to Friday's edition of The Sydney Morning Herald, Channel Nine have signed a seven-year deal with Cricket Australia which will allow full coverage of all matches, regardless of which city the viewer happens to be in.

At present, cricket fans in each host city are allowed to watch only the final session of a day's play, a move which is designed to encourage a greater number of people to fill the grounds instead. Only when the match is a sell-out are they permitted to watch the full coverage.

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia's chief executive, confirmed to the Sydney Morning Herald that a deal was imminent, although he added that negotiations were in progress. "There are some sensitivities which prevent us talking openly about where we are up to in negotiations," Sutherland said. "However, we want to deliver on our customers' needs. [They] are shareholders of the game and we want to deliver to them."