Wow! We couldn’t see this coming as the Seven Network today by surprise has just acquired rights to air the upcoming Australian Tour of Sri Lanka with Two tests and two One Day Internationals.
As we all know, Fox Sports has usually been the home of overseas cricket for a long time since they’re a Pay TV network other than the odd away Ashes tour to England (next one coming up in mid-2027) currently held by the Nine Network.
But when it comes to deals involving the lower tier Test nations other than the Top 5-6, they don’t seem to be really interested even though it doesn’t cost them a lot of money to air those games.
So there you go, it’s a rare win from Seven who would want to take advantage of their investment with the game having got what they wanted following their contract renewal two years ago of the home Summer rights, especially with the upcoming one-off Sri Lanka tour deal being financially and time-sense attractive when games start from around 3pm AEDT.
Actually, all of the upcoming four games will be begin & finish off during the day too which is also a plus too by Seven.
Now what’s next? Since they’ve got the one-off Women’s Ashes Test happening at the same time of the 1st Test while we are still waiting for Steve Smith to finally achieve his 10,000th Test run milestone, there’s going to be rounds of channel switching along the way from the main channel to 7mate. The same will occur throughout this next tour when Seven has to be busy as usual during weekdays & weeknights with normal programming.
But at least, it’s all free-to view both on the Tele as well as 7plus online as sure 7plus will have mini match highlights and full replays too at any time on-demand.
And finally, what is Seven going to do with their broadcast presentation? Will they just take the World Feed along with sending 1-2 commentators of their own?
For example, Matthew Hayden and/or Justin Langer? Yeah, maybe – we’ll definitely hear the world feed commentary from the ground rather than Seven having to make their own unless it’s the away Ashes Tour (they have no rights there).
But what about their own studio coverage whether if it’s in Sydney or Melbourne or even on-site since Seven has the rights to do so? Also maybe, but will assume it will be done back home if that’s what they want as we’ll wait & see.
Here’s the schedule below:
- 1st Test: Wednesday 29th January-Sunday 2nd February
- 2nd Test: Thursday 6th February-Monday 10th February
- 1st ODI: Wednesday 12th February
- 2nd ODI: Friday 14th February
As said, it’s an odd deal in the making to see an Australian away cricket match on free-to-air outside of the Ashes tour in England. But with Fox Sports appeared to be disinterested when it comes to deals with lower Test nations as they don’t come long-term, we could see more of this for sure at the hands of CA’s other free-to-air broadcaster by the Seven Network/7plus.
Again, if Seven was to air the away series v South Africa early next year or against India in early 2027 for example, then they have to consult with Fox in order to gain access as a sub-licensing deal.
It could be interesting indeed especially with the Aussies who hasn’t played any Test matches in South Africa since the sandpaper gate aka ball-tampering scandal back in 2018 while they still haven’t won a Test series v India over in India since 2004.
If Sky Sport in NZ can do it with two-hour highlights for their Sky Open free-to-air channel when the Blackcaps were flying high on India’s home turf a few months ago last year, why can’t Seven through their strong relationship with Fox?
Food for thought.
