Ashes will return to free terrestrial TV
Live coverage of the next Ashes cricket series in the UK is set to return to free-to-air television, it has been revealed.
Cricket’s greatest showpiece, which this summer was only shown live on paid-for broadcaster Sky, will return to terrestrial television when the England-Australia series returns to the UK in 2013.
The move follows a review of leading sporting events led by David Davies, the former Football Association executive. Ministers are expected to fully back its recommendations on the Ashes, it is claimed.
A senior government source told the Sunday Telegraph: “It’s a no-brainer. This is one thing we can do that chimes in with the wishes of millions of voters.”
A peak of just two million viewers watched this summer’s deciding Test at the Oval when it was broadcast on Sky. By contrast, more than 7 million viewers watched the conclusion of the previous home Ashes series on Channel 4 in 2005.
Despite the welcome move for England cricket fans, the ruling is likely to anger Sky executives, who acquired the rights to screen the next home Ashes series as part of a �300m deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) last year.
Source: Various / Media Guardian
About the Ashes
The Ashes is one of the most iconic and historic rivalries in international cricket, contested between England and Australia. First played in 1882-83, the series takes place biennially, with both teams alternating as hosts. The competition gets its name from a satirical obituary published in a British newspaper after Australia defeated England at The Oval in 1882, proclaiming the “death” of English cricket. The “ashes” of English cricket were said to have been taken to Australia, and since then, the series has been referred to as “The Ashes.”
The Ashes is played as a five-match Test series, with each game lasting up to five days. The winning team is awarded a small urn, symbolizing the ashes of English cricket. Matches are often intense, with fierce rivalries and dramatic moments that capture the attention of cricket fans worldwide. Legendary players like Don Bradman, Ian Botham, Shane Warne, and Alastair Cook have all made their mark in Ashes history, contributing to the rich legacy of the series.
With both England and Australia boasting strong cricket traditions, the Ashes continues to be a fiercely competitive and closely watched event, symbolizing the prestige and heritage of Test cricket at its finest.
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