42,000 and counting sign petition for cricket’s terrestrial TV return
In the wake of English cricket’s greatest success since the Ashes series of 2005, more than 42,000 signatures have been penned on a petition to secure cricket’s return to terrestrial TV.
Sunday’s Cricket World Cup final attracted a peak audience of 8.3 million whilst simulcast on Sky Sports and Channel 4/More 4.
That figure represented the highest number of domestic eyeballs on English cricket since the 2005 Ashes series – the last time International cricket was free-to-air in the UK.
The petition was set up by Ben Craig on the non-profit activism website 38 degrees, with his motive on the website stating: “I grew up on free-to-air cricket and my parents couldn’t afford Sky Sports. The next generation shouldn’t miss out.”
The ECB will be keen to capitalise on the increased attention and status cricket has experienced following the World Cup, something they previously failed to do following on from the ’05 Ashes.
Sky’s cricket coverage has been widely praised for it’s in-depth nature and frequent innovations, but viewing figures remain stuck in the hundreds-of-thousands as many across the nation refuse to acquiesce to a paywall structure to view cricket.
The chances of some form of agreement being manufactured between Sky and a terrestrial broadcaster remain unknown, but pressure from politicians, the sports administrators and the general public appears to be growing.
Latest
-
County CricketUmpire Sue Redfern makes history in County Championship match at Glamorgan
Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class match in England and Wales.
-
EnglandEngland’s summer ends in soggy fashion and prompts a call for innovation
The one-day international against Ireland at Bristol was abandoned.
-
EnglandEngland win ODI series against Ireland after play is abandoned at Bristol
Ben Duckett had scored a century and Phil Salt 61 off just 28 balls before rain stopped play.
-
EnglandMarcus Trescothick says Andrew Flintoff ‘sprinkling gold-dust’ on England team
Flintoff was initially enlisted for four ODIs against New Zealand but has hung around for the Ireland series.
-
EnglandAxed Jason Roy urged to remain positive with World Cup role still a possibility
The big-hitting opener was replaced by Harry Brook in England’s squad for the World Cup.
-
EnglandECB unable to commit to ICEC report’s equal pay targets for men and women
The ICEC report said women were treated as “second class citizens” in cricket.
-
EnglandECB set to publish response to damning report on discrimination in cricket
Richard Thompson, chair of the ECB, unreservedly apologised when the ICEC’s findings were published in June.
-
EnglandSam Hain reveals sleepless night before impressive England debut
The Warwickshire batter scored 89 to set up a win over Ireland in the second ODI.
-
EnglandWill Jacks pleased to take his chance to impress in England success
The batter made a dazzling 94 off 88 balls in the one-day international win over Ireland at Trent Bridge.
-
EnglandSam Hain and Will Jacks star as new-look England beat Ireland at Trent Bridge
Teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed collected four for 54 as Ireland were all out for 286.