Spark Sport - English Cricket Broadcast

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JarrodM

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

#272675 8-Jul-2020 20:49

Spark announced today they’ve secured the rights to all ECB hosted cricket for the next four years (international and domestic) including NZ’s tour of England in 2022. Coverage starts tonight with the first test between the West Indies and England. I see there is also some archived content up too.

https://www.sparknz.co.nz/news/English_Cricket_moves_to_Spark_Sport/

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2519632 8-Jul-2020 20:51

So sparks got one of the ashes series too...?

Roll on 4k cricket. (Hopefully)

Only an hour to wait.

Jas777

838 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2519719 8-Jul-2020 22:14

I wonder if cricket is the right sport for Spark to hang their hat on?

Viewing numbers have been dropping for a while.

But then again, if can make people change to them to get free data for the cricket then it maybe a winner.

JarrodM

969 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2519724 8-Jul-2020 22:26

Of course the rain has delayed play, wouldn’t be an English summer without a bit of rain...

But a powerful opening Michael Holding and Ebony Rainford-Brent on the Black lives matter subject.

Apsattv

2388 posts

Uber Geek

#2519746 9-Jul-2020 02:07

Sucks for cricket fans , more content split across sky and Spark

mind you i'm watching it on cricket.com.au they have live official rights and its free

Jas777

838 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2520110 9-Jul-2020 14:36

Probably only going to get worse too.

Got to ask apart from diehard England fans how many new subscribers will it get Spark?

The timing of the games isn't exactly great and cricket is one of the sports where you have to watch it live, replays just don't cut it.

afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2520183 9-Jul-2020 16:19

The value proposition does depend on how much other groups were prepared to pay for the rights.

It might not be as expensive as it one was. Sky seems to be tottering on bankruptcy so not really able to compete much.

Maybe the cricket people looked at it from a point of view of any money is better than none ?

Anyone prepared to take a bet as to whether sky is still around in it current form in 5 years?

tdgeek

29743 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2520210 9-Jul-2020 17:12

afe66: The value proposition does depend on how much other groups were prepared to pay for the rights.

It might not be as expensive as it one was. Sky seems to be tottering on bankruptcy so not really able to compete much.

Maybe the cricket people looked at it from a point of view of any money is better than none ?

Anyone prepared to take a bet as to whether sky is still around in it current form in 5 years?

I will. It will be a smaller company Balance Sheet wise. It will have a lower profit, which becomes more acceptable of its a smaller company. Plenty of sport on there, plenty of docos, plenty of channels. The heyday is over, but it will be fine.

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afe66

3181 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

#2520222 9-Jul-2020 18:10

Ive got sky and have for years but not sure about the plenty of sport comment.

Of the sports I used to get sky for many have moved elsewhere

Premier league no

F1 no

nz cricket - sort of not in nz nor uk cricket

wrc - no

(NBA - no

NFL - no

Wimbleton isnt on

netball, AFL never been interested

Didnt get the rugby world cup which I watched happily online)

OK they have the rugby but as keen as I am about the rugby in that I have had a seasons ticket for nearly 10 years, Im only interested in the super championship.

I also not interested in the slightest in more studio heads talking.

Its a tired product, treading water.

As we get more and more used to netflix disney etc and buying content directly from producers maybe I'll buy that particular golf tournament or that particular tennis tournament.

Maybe buy the indian premier league directly and give the money to the BCCI ?

Other opinions are available of course.

Smaller company, less money, less negotiating money are more chance of someone else swooping in and stealing content.

Government decides to charge (more) for tv1,2 to be rebroadcast