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Record TV audience for 2nd Ashes Test
- Thread starter Swervy
- Start date
BoyBrumby
Englishman
When you read reports like that it makes it seem even more of a pity that a whole generation of kids will be denied the chance to see England in action after this year. There's obviously an appetite for it & England have the best test side we've had in at least a generation (certainly since I started following the game). It seems awfully short-sighted to banish what is a wonderful product to satellite.
Cricket has made the front pages of the papers today, I do fear that without terrestrial coverage it may soon be banished to the 8th page from the back of the paper again, such is football's hegemony in the UK.
Cricket has made the front pages of the papers today, I do fear that without terrestrial coverage it may soon be banished to the 8th page from the back of the paper again, such is football's hegemony in the UK.
Langeveldt
Soutie
You reap what you sow, and England's halcyon days could soon come crashing to a halt when kids realize they have to fork out (or make their parents) fork out such shocking amounts of money just to watch the national team play the national sport.. It's hardly a catering for the future type move..
This is complete conjecture, but i wouldn't be surprised if at some point soon Sky create a way for some of their output to be offered on a free to air (digital) channel.
I'm sure this whole thing was long discussed but people shouldn't dismiss out of hand the tremendous contribution Sky have made to cricket coverage in this country and what they can offer in the future. It is also slightly unfair to accuse the authorities over the decision when there was no other realistic offer on the table.
I'm sure this whole thing was long discussed but people shouldn't dismiss out of hand the tremendous contribution Sky have made to cricket coverage in this country and what they can offer in the future. It is also slightly unfair to accuse the authorities over the decision when there was no other realistic offer on the table.
BoyBrumby
Englishman
No, fair point. Until Sky came into being there was no way to watch England's tests played abroad live at all. I'm a fully paid up subscriber (although it was actually England's 6 Nations games going onto Sky that ultimately made my mind up & they're back on the Beeb again now anyway!) but I think that with the home tests going onto Sky there is less chance of youngsters stumbling across this remarkable game by accident.greg said:
Hopefully Fred will inspire a few more converts over the next few weeks.
age_master
Hall of Fame Member
it was also a record audience for SBS in Australia - beating the last football WC final during the last 10 minutes of the game.
Neil Pickup
Request Your Custom Title Now!
If this series continues like this I'm sure there'll be some terrestrial broadcaster who'll find a way!!BoyBrumby said:
luckyeddie
Cricket Web Staff Member
Watching reality tv is the national sport.Langeveldt said:
Come on, Rich. Cricket has NEVER been the national sport, not even of the privileged. Even going back to those halcyon days of Jonners and Arlott, the unwashed went to football and the fight in the high street afterwards, the hoi-polloi used to go to the puffs rugby and then punting on the Cam.
I've been going to test matches since the 1960's, and until the last 10 years or so (with the exception of Ashes tours) I never even had to buy a ticket in advance - just turn up and pay - even on a saturday for India, Pakistan, New Zealand even.
The day cricket becomes anything more than a minority sport is the day I have to queue up for more than 2 minutes to get in to a county game.
Craig
World Traveller
To be fair to the ECB Sky probably put the best offer forward so in a business sence this is merely a business decision for them to make extra cash (if done right hopefully back into England cricket). Although if it is not available on free-to-air then it again it may be no point in putting money back into the grassroots level.
Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
Excluding Twenty20?luckyeddie said:
luckyeddie
Cricket Web Staff Member
What a good idea!!!Samuel_Vimes said:
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Magrat Garlick
Rather Mad Witch
You sound like Hingston.luckyeddie said:What a good idea!!!
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FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
We had 346,000 tuning in to watch the final overs with Lee and McGrath at 3:57 in the morning on a free to air channel that rural areas don't get, in a country with 20 million people. Amazingly impressive numbers. For the prime time first session (7:30-9:30 pm) on saturday, 1.2 million.
