BSkyB lands England Test coverage

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by Andy Mellon

Trouble is - though I like spending time down the pub in the evening - and that's ok, I have chronic asthma problems with smoke and spending 5 days in a pub, 7 times a year (30 days in total!!) might give me some real bronchial problems (sorry to get all medicinal) so that isn't really much of an option for me.

Even if there was a a pub in Utrecht and it HAD sky they wouldn't be showing the cricket on it.

[Goatman]

Originally Posted by Milo

I have heard many on this board explicitly say that they prefer to listen to it on Test match special anyway. This decision will really not affect them at all. The fact that channel 5 have got the highlights (when many in this country cannot access it) is more of a disgrace to me.

I like to watch the TV with the sound off and the radio commentary on.

No bloody radio commentary for me for the SA series either of course! Oh how my heart sings with joy this grey and dismal middag in the land of dampness and chewy cheese!

[Andy Mellon]

That's ok Captain. I'm not angry with you! All my vitriol is pointed towards the ECB at this moment in time - and for the foreseeable future!

[Notts Exile]

It hasn't affected football too negatively, however their highlights can be see by all. SKY's coverage is excellent, their subscription numbers keep on rising too. Eventually anyone who wants to watch decent sport on telly will have SKY.

For those who cannot get it I do have sympathy but they are in a very small minority. We have to hope that the ECB uses the money wisely.

[top edged for 4]

i have just had a read of the full statement on the ECB website

my particular favourite part is "The new agreements guarantee wide accessibility to cricket across a number of media platforms..."

i have written an email to the ECB expressing my disgust

for the first time in a decade we appear to have a team with bags of potential and now the idiots in charge have pulled the plug on any chance of raising the profile of the game

for cricket to survive we need kids to watch, this is highly unlikey now, most kids with satellite or cable will be watching CBBC or the disney channel

after the Zimbabwe fiasco this has proved a very sad year for the game

who appoints these idiots

[Richie Benauds Love Child]

You've got it dead right TEF4. Its stopped being accesable. I hope the difference in money is worth the decline in the sports uptake by young kids. And it had to be now doesnt it ? 10 years ago when we were having the crap knocked out of us by all and sundry - everyone can watch, now we win stuff the number will be greatly reduced.

[Notts Exile]

Originally Posted by top edged for 4

for cricket to survive we need kids to watch, this is highly unlikey now, most kids with satellite or cable will be watching CBBC or the disney channel

Surely as we're doing well now and people want to watch it those who have cable or satellite will tune in to SKYs coverage?

What are the odds on SKY offering Richie Benaud a contract??

[flanflinger]

Well, I have to say another victory for that great man David Morgan. Captain of short term thinking.

This is bad bad day. I really didn't think they would be that stupid. I have SKY sports, so it won't effect me, but even so I still think it is just plain wrong. Plus highlights on Five!! What are they thinking!! Channell Four have done a great job over the past five years, innobvative, sometimes a bit weird, but generally good, why take this away from them.

Couple of points. Andy, by the time this comes into force the Government may ban smoking from pubs in the UK. So that should make life a little easier for you. Secondly, your point about not watching away test for ten years is incorrect, as before SKY started covering away series nobody did, apart from highlights shown at about 1.30am the next day.

[top edged for 4]

I truely hope so Notts Exile

but saying that, as we are doing well surely it would be better if everyone with a television could get to see it, how many people started to take interest in cricket during Bothams Ashes when it was on the BBC

the extra money now is fantastic, but unless we have people playing the sport in twenty years time then all the money means nothing, we will have excellant facilitites but a rubbish side

[Milo]

I think Channel 4's scant disregard for cricket was clearly shown. The highlights were often put on at 1 in the morning and we regularly had to make way for racing, not only on the Saturday but also on Thursday and Friday afternoons with the major meetings at York and Sandown.

It is really no wonder why Sky were awarded the rights.