BBC radio grabs exclusive Pakistan cricket rights
As English cricket fans revel in the euphoria of winning the Ashes, the BBC has secured the exclusive radio rights to the team’s autumn Test series in Pakistan, saying the corporation was fully committed to cricket.
Roger Mosey, the director BBC Sport said: “Some of the debate about cricket rights in recent weeks has implied the BBC isn’t committed to cricket.
“In fact, with Test Match Special, BBC Radio 5 Live and our online services we are one of the UK’s biggest and best sources for cricket commentary and news. Covering the tour to Pakistan is further evidence of that commitment.”
The BBC also has non-exclusive rights to cover the C&G Trophy and Twenty20 Cup – the latter shared with the Wireless Group, which owns TalkSport Radio.
TalkSport said it will cover the Pakistan Tests in a similar way to how it covered the Ashes, despite not owning the rights. It will broadcast reports, analysis, phone-ins and interviews with former and current players.
But the Ulster Television-owned station would not reveal if it had bid against the BBC for the exclusive rights.
Sir John Major and others have criticised the BBC for not bidding for cricket TV rights, with BSkyB preparing to take over TV coverage from Channel 4. But Mr Mosey said a publicly funded organisation “has a duty to provide value for money for licence payers and that means offering fair prices for sport rights”.
The corporation refused to reveal how much it had paid for the rights to broadcast the Pakistan Tests and five one-day internationals on the radio.
Test Match Special on Radio 4 longwave and digital station BBC 5 Live Sports Extra will carry commentary of England’s three Test matches, the first of which starts on November 12, and the following five one-day internationals, as they try to recreate the success of their last tour to Pakistan.
England secured a famous victory in 2000 when Nasser Hussain and Graham Thorpe scored the final runs in the fading light in Karachi to take the series.
BSkyB’s four-year contract to cover England’s home Test matches live from 2006, struck with the England and Wales Cricket Board, has become increasingly controversial since the popularity of the sport has rocketed during the Ashes.
As part of the new ECB contract the BBC retained the exclusive rights for radio coverage of home Tests and one-day internationals but has to bid for overseas Tests.
(Article by MediaGuardian)
