Cricket fans in the UK might soon face a big disappointment as the highly anticipated Test series between England and Pakistan this October could end up being a complete blackout on UK television.
Despite the excitement surrounding the three-match series, no UK broadcaster has shown interest in securing the rights to air the matches. This development has raised serious concerns about whether fans will even get to watch the action unfold.
No Bidders for the Broadcast Rights
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had issued a tender last month, hoping to sell the broadcasting rights for the series. But, in a surprising twist, there hasn’t been a single bid from UK broadcasters. With the series scheduled to kick off on October 7 in Multan, the clock is ticking, and there’s still no deal in sight.
Sky Sports, which aired England’s last Test series in Pakistan back in December 2022, has reportedly informed the PCB that it won’t be bidding for this year’s series. TNT Sport, another potential broadcaster, has also declined to negotiate and has no plans to broadcast the matches.
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What’s Behind the Lack of Interest?
So, what’s going on? Why aren’t broadcasters jumping at the chance to air this series? Well, the reasons are a bit complex. Sky Sports, for example, has been the go-to network for England’s overseas Test series for nearly three decades.
But recently, they’ve been scaling back their coverage of these tours. Instead, they’re focusing on exclusive rights for England’s home series and major events like the World Cup, which will also take place in Pakistan next year.
The decision not to pursue overseas rights comes down to cost. Purchasing these rights and producing top-notch coverage is expensive, and Sky Sports doesn’t think it attracts enough new subscribers, especially during the busy football season.
As a result, they’ve been prioritizing overseas T20 leagues, where the local teams handle commentary and production, saving the network a lot of money.
TNT Sport, owned by Warner Bros., has filled in some gaps by picking up rights for Test series in countries like Australia, India, and New Zealand. But when it comes to England’s tour of Pakistan, they’re not interested. The broadcaster has been making cuts and recently opted out of extending deals for other sports, such as European rugby competitions.
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What Does This Mean for Fans?
For cricket fans in the UK, this situation is pretty frustrating. The prospect of not being able to watch England’s Test series against Pakistan on TV is a big letdown.
The struggle to keep an audience for Test cricket was highlighted earlier this week when many fans who had bought tickets for England’s Test series against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford didn’t even show up.
As the series draws closer, it’s still unclear whether a last-minute deal will be struck to bring the matches to UK screens. But with each passing day, the chances of that happening seem to be fading.
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