Pooled rights deal may cause financial split

International cricket is headed for a major financial shift as Australia, England and South Africa lead a push to sell overseas television rights in a collective bundle overseen by a new, independent administrative body.

While the BCCI has expressed reservations about the concept, ESPNcricinfo understands that Cricket Australia, the ECB and CSA are adamant that a more collaborative approach to selling bilateral rights is the only way to minimise potential damage to revenue levels due to a shrinking of the Indian television market.

Their push for a new way to sell bilateral rights was a key part of discussions at a workshop convened by the ICC in Dubai this week. These meetings effectively signalled the death knell for the concept of two-tier Test cricket, but prospects are brighter for a Test Championship playoff, and formalised league structures for ODIs and international Twenty20 matches.

The recent acquisition of Ten Sports by Sony has cut the number of major Indian television rights bidders by a third, and both CA and the ECB are aware their current rich deals with Star Sports – worth up to US$8 million per international match – are unlikely to be matched next time around.

Overseas rights contracts for both nations are soon to expire, adding urgency to the boards’ desire for another approach that will mean less competition between nations and a better overall return.

“All countries are worried about the downturn in the Indian market and they feel a linked-together approach will be better,” a source told ESPNcricinfo. …

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