Cricket Australia (CA), the governing body for cricket in Australia, has secured a landmark seven-year extension to its audio broadcast rights deals with the ABC, SEN, and Triple M, a division of Southern Cross Austero (SCA).
This development aligns with CA’s existing television partnerships with the Seven Network and Foxtel, ensuring comprehensive cricket coverage across all platforms through the 2030-31 season.
Fans can expect a significant boost in cricket content across the three broadcasters. The agreement heralds a greater focus on women’s cricket, with Triple M venturing into broadcasting women’s T20 Internationals for the first time. The deal also expands coverage of the ever-popular Big Bash Leagues (BBL and WBBL), ensuring fans don’t miss a single exciting moment.
SCA CEO John Kelly said the network was delighted to extend and expand its coverage to the women’s game and promised “the network’s trademark irreverent banter.”
CA’s Executive General Manager, Business and Legal Affairs, Kate Ingber, said the governing body was “delighted to extend and enhance our audio partnerships with the ABC, SEN and Southern Cross Austereo for a further seven years as we enter an exciting period for the game.
“Cricket is the sound of summer and we are fortunate to have partners who will provide such knowledgeable and passionate coverage of huge events including the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Women’s and Men’s Ashes and the Big Bash Leagues across their stations and digital platforms.”
The audio feeds from all three broadcasters will remain readily available on the CA website and app, along with the networks’ digital platforms. This has ensured maximum accessibility, allowing listeners to catch the action wherever they are.
The upcoming 2024-25 season promises to be a scorcher. The men’s team will battle against Pakistan and India. The women’s team will face off against New Zealand and England, with the historic 90th-anniversary women’s Ashes Test scheduled at the MCG.
ABC, the veteran broadcaster with a near-century of cricket coverage, will expand its portfolio to include KFC BBL matches while continuing its commitment to showcasing all internationals and the WBBL. These developments mirror the lucrative television deals with the Seven Network and Foxtel, valued at AUD$1.51 billion.
ABC, SEN, and Triple M are prominent Australian radio networks, with the latter two operating under the umbrella of Southern Cross Austero (SCA). ABC is a public broadcaster offering diverse content, including news, current affairs, and entertainment. SEN specializes in sports coverage, catering to passionate fans with in-depth analysis and live commentary. Triple M, on the other hand, is a commercial station known for its music-driven format and popular talkback shows.