England cricket could be shown on free-to-air TV for first time in 24 years in major broadcast shake-up

ENGLAND cricket could be shown on free-to-air TV for the first time in 24 years in what would be a major broadcasting shake-up. The England and Wales Cricket Board are looking to broaden cricket‘s appeal by pushing it to free-to-air broadcasters. England cricket could return to free-to-air TV Credit: Getty ITV are said to be interested in showing The Hundred Credit: Shutterstock Editorial According to The Guardian, ITV are interested in acquiring coverage rights for The Hundred. It is understood the ECB will also offer free-to-air packages for a number of England’s men’s and women’s white-ball matches. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! ITV is also open to broadcasting Test cricket matches for the first time since 1968. No home Test matches have been broadcast FTA since Channel 4 covered England’s Ashes victory in 2005. But Channel 4 did buy the rights for England’s Test tour of India during the 2021 Covid-19 lockdown. The ECB won’t follow Australia‘s example by having a dedicated product for terrestrial TV, but will instead see Sky Sports share its portfolio with ITV. ITV are set to be taken over next year by Sky’s parent company, Comcast, in a £1.6billion deal, but is subject to regulatory approval. Although this would not begin until the next cycle of TV contracts start in 2029. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Cricket has been behind a paywall since Sky outbid Channel 4 for the rights in 2006. Before Channel 4 it was the BBC who showed cricket from 1938 until 1998. Sky are currently halfway through a four-year deal worth £220million a year, and is expected to retain them when the next TV contract rolls around for between 2029 and 2033. That package shows all England’s men and women home matches, the Hundred, T20 Blast and some county cricket. From 2033 the owners of The Hundred will take charge of selling rights as a stand-alone event separately from England matches. Comment now