Channel Ten is hoping to dislodge Australian commercial broadcast rival Nine as the rights-holder for Cricket Australia’s Test matches, one-day internationals and Twenty20 contests, according to the Daily Telegraph.
The newspaper said that Ten wants to bid for the national team rights in addition to bidding for the next cycle of Big Bash League Twenty20 competition rights. The rights would cover the 2018 to 2022 seasons.
The Sydney Morning Herald said that Ten was likely to bid jointly with pay-television broadcaster Foxtel for the Big Bash League rights.
Ten chief executive Paul Anderson said that the broadcaster will consider bidding for “all forms of the game.” He added to the Daily Telegraph: “I think what we have shown is that we can be a very valuable partner for Cricket Australia.”
The news has emerged with Ten facing financial difficulties. The broadcaster’s current four-year, A$200m (€137m/$150m) facility with the Commonwealth Bank expires in December and Ten wants to seal a new A$250m facility, reports have suggested.