Queensland Premier Peter Beattie campaigns to have the 2005 Ashes shown on Free TV

[Hoggy31]

Free-to-air campaign for this year's Ashes

Cricinfo staff

January 20, 2005



The Queensland Prime Minister Peter Beattie is mounting a campaign to have the 2005 Ashes series aired on free-to-air television.

"Aussies should not be forced to pay to watch an Ashes series," he told the Melbourne-based Herald Sun newspaper. "As far as the average Aussie is concerned this is our nation's longest-running and most important international sporting event. Unless the ABC or SBS take it up Aussie cricket lovers will pay."

John Howard, Australia's Prime Minister, who is an enthusiastic follower of cricket himself, had told Beattie in a reply to a letter sent at the end of last year that the issue was one for the free-to-air broadcasters to decide. And today, he added that that if, for commercial reasons or other obligations, the Ashes could not be covered by commercial television, then the ABC should be given a crack at it.

Beattie wants more: "In light of the PM's response I am again asking that he does just this - if not the ABC - then SBS might be drafted."

© Cricinfo

[Mr Casson]

I never much liked Peter Beattie before, but I do now! Makes no difference to me though - I have Foxtel, but I won't be here anyway!

[membersstand]

Yeh saw that today. Good on him I say

[Josh]

We recently disconnected Cable knowing we won't see the ashes. This won't help. The stations are adament not to show it. Channel 10 is too hung on the simpsons, channel 9 wants wimbledon and channel 7 have no-one to do it.

ABC don't have the funding, neither do SBS. It's all just ********.

[membersstand]

Surely ABC can arrange a BBC feed...

[Josh]

They have to pay the host broadcaster in the end.

[SpaceMonkey]

This always confused me when watching the live channel 9 feeds on sky sports at night. Why do they always say hello / goodbye to local viewers during the days play...do they get to see certain sessions free if they live in the area of the ground? or only if its a sell out etc... and which channels is the free sessions shown broadcast on?
Just always interested me

[membersstand]

Yep, Channel 9 only show one session (2 hours of an ODI) to the home city unless the match is sold out.

[Josh]

Correct. And they always show the news & current affairs hour, which causes the lucky south-eastern state viewers to miss the first 15 minutes of a run chase, or the end of a days play if it's a test match.

[GotSpin]

I dont' care what they do as Long as I get to watch it. I will be sending some emails, lets say some not nice ones either if its not shown on either free to air or foxtel.

[GotSpin]

We recently disconnected Cable knowing we won't see the ashes. This won't help. The stations are adament not to show it. Channel 10 is too hung on the simpsons, channel 9 wants wimbledon and channel 7 have no-one to do it.

ABC don't have the funding, neither do SBS. It's all just ********.

Was thinking about the wimbledon thing, at the moment no aussies are exactly ripping the tennis court up and alreayd the ashes is mounting in expectation..wouldn't the damn *******s want the ashes instead which should get higher ratings

[GotSpin]

Correct. And they always show the news & current affairs hour, which causes the lucky south-eastern state viewers to miss the first 15 minutes of a run chase, or the end of a days play if it's a test match.

That doesn't happen in Test matches as much anymore because people get very angry if someone is about to get a 50,100, something is exciting happening

[Josh]

That doesn't happen in Test matches as much anymore because people get very angry if someone is about to get a 50,100, something is exciting happening

They took it off when McGrath was on 46, didn't they?? *******s...

And don't worry, there ain't a chance fox will pass on showing it if the FTA networks don't.

[GotSpin]

I would still rather watch it on channel nine

[Linda]

It feels more authentic on Channel 9..