Page 1 of Keeping cricket free-to-air !!

For those who are concerned that there will be no more cricket on terrestrial tv until 2009 (except for brief highlights on 5) there is a petition with additional info on the following link :-


http://keepcricketfree.com/

Apparently Channel 4 got their biggest ever audience as England won the Ashes - wonder how many people will be watching in 2006/07 for the Australian leg of this long running conflict when it`ll only be available live on Sky Sports ? :(

It seems that Richie Benaud has only retired from commentating in England because of the Sky situation. He begins a new 3-year contract with free-to-air Channel 9 on his return to Australia. Details and background on the Cricinfo site:-

http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/217764.html

This item was edited on Wednesday, 14th September 2005, 02:01

You have to pay for everyting else.
Why should the most boring sport get the green light. (:¦
I think i just answered my own question.

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You have to pay for everyting else.

Think you`ll find that the FA Cup Final, the Olympics, the Grand National and the Wimbledon tennis championships etc etc etc- are all free-to-air.........

This item was edited on Wednesday, 14th September 2005, 02:59

Even though I think cricket is the most boring sport on earth and couldn`t care less about "the Ashes", I do think it should remain on free/terrestrial TV - it`s one of those things like (mentioned above) the Olympics, FA Cup Final etc. that everyone should be able to see...

(....if they want to that is... ;) )

There are hundreds of free-to-air sports which the BBC, C4 & ITV do not bother to show by SKY and Eurosport do(e.g.US Open Tennis); I think we have a nerve in shouting about Cricket. The BBC were had it for years and got complacent, the coverage didn`t move on, it was boring, people didn`t watch and therefore made no effort to get it back....now it`s popular again (for reasons of better coverage, we are winning and better Cricket) we all want it back on the beeb.
...bear in mind also that SKY invest in 20/20, league and other international tests too, not just the high profile money making series` for them.
Before Cricket gets back to terrestrial , there are a few other minority sports up the pecking order which, in fairness, should get back to normal telly before Cricket (RFU, RL)

I love Cricket and this series was great, but if the BBC can punish us with 5 hours of horse eventing over a weekend, they don`t deserve the ashes. :D

Neil.

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wonder how many people will be watching in 2006/07 for the Australian leg of this long running conflict when it`ll only be available live on Sky Sports ?

When have `away` test seies , in Australia or anywhere else , ever been shown on terrestrial TV. I think the most that has been shown is recorded highlights. It is only since the advent of Sky TV that live , ball by ball , coverage has become available.

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we all want it back on the beeb. No, we want it kept free. Wether it be on BBC or any other terrestrial station.

All the best,

Dr 42%er.


It`s not easy being different. It`s not easy being cool....but somehow I manage....

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No, we want it kept free. Wether it be on BBC or any other terrestrial station.
Ok, but that wasn`t my point, it could be on any of the free-to-air channels, but if we were losing or it was boring (like it used to be), people would switch off and we wouldn`t have petitions raised to get it on free-to-air.

Also, it`s not really `free` is it, when it`s on `free-to-air`? You pay more on Sky, but value for money is the debate then.

Neil.

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Also, it`s not really `free` is it, Er yes. I don`t remember paying for Channel 4, who`s coverage has been exellent and showed the BBC how it should be done.

All the best,

Dr 42%er.


It`s not easy being different. It`s not easy being cool....but somehow I manage....

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Er yes.
Er no, you can`t watch Channel 4 without your value-for-money license fee. But I agree the coverage was excellent.

Neil.