Nine Secures Ashes Australian Broadcast Deal

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced a broadcast deal with Nine Entertainment Co for Australia’s next two Ashes tours of England.

The deal includes exclusive rights in Australia to the iconic Investec Ashes Series and the Royal London one-day international series and NatWest International T20 matches in 2015 and 2019.  England’s other home international series are not included in the package, link meaning the ECB can sell these rights to other Australian broadcasters.

Nine holds the Australian domestic broadcast rights for the upcoming Ashes Series which begins in Brisbane on November 21, 2013.

David Collier, ECB Chief Executive, said: “This broadcasting agreement confirms that the next broadcast contractual cycle will deliver an overall increase in revenues compared with the previous four-year period. Nine is one of the foremost cricket broadcasters in the world with a long and distinguished history of covering the game and this deal demonstrates the appeal of Ashes cricket.”

David Gyngell, CEO of Nine Entertainment Co., said: “Nine’s ongoing relationship with cricket is a source of great pride to me personally and to all Nine employees. The reach of the multi-channels has redefined the art of the possible for the free to air networks in Australia. We had great success with the Ashes from the UK this year and look forward to building on that with this new deal, it’s about how we creatively use these expanded opportunities at Nine.”