There had been plenty of conjecture over how fans would be able to watch both the T20 and ODI series between the two nations, with no domestic broadcaster putting their hand up to show the games.
The deal covers rights for five T20 matches and three one-day internationals. It was announced on Friday and started in time for the first match of the tour, which took place on Saturday morning, Australia time. The deal was brokered by the Pitch International agency.
Fox Cricket general manager Matt Weiss said, “It’s an important tour with places up for grabs for the ICC T20 World Cup later this year. As the home of cricket for fans in Australia, we will also have every match of the T20 World Cup live and exclusive leading into the Ashes Tour starting in December.”
West Indies had broadcasted all of their recent games against South Africa live on their YouTube channel but were yet to announce whether or not that would occur for the Australian games.
Cricket is a central part of Foxtel’s sports portfolio. Foxtel has domestic rights for Cricket Australia properties for the six seasons from 2018-19 to 2023-24, making it one of Foxtel’s biggest rights deals. The broadcaster also has deals for International Cricket Council World Cup; the Indian Premier League; and overseas boards including the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket South Africa. Last month, it agreed on a last-minute deal for the World Test Championship final.
As has been the case during international cricket in West Indies and New Zealand in the last year or so, Australia’s tour of West Indies 2021 will not be available on television channels in India. However, streaming platform Fan Code is streaming the whole tour at a nominal price. Fans, who wish to buy a pass for the entire tour (five T20Is and three ODIs), will have to pay INR 49 on the website or mobile application of FanCode. It is worth mentioning that the same is a 50% discounted price.