Record TV audience for 2nd Ashes Test

[Swervy]

http://content.cricinfo.com/engvaus/content/story/215423.html

 

[BoyBrumby]

When you read reports like that it makes it seem even more of a pity that a whole generation of kids will be denied the chance to see England in action after this year. There's obviously an appetite for it & England have the best test side we've had in at least a generation (certainly since I started following the game). It seems awfully short-sighted to banish what is a wonderful product to satellite.

Cricket has made the front pages of the papers today, I do fear that without terrestrial coverage it may soon be banished to the 8th page from the back of the paper again, such is football's hegemony in the UK.

 

[simmy]

Not surprising at all really. More and more people are being converted to cricket also in this country. This series has already lived up to its hype. Most exciting test match I have ever seen. InFREDible it was!

 

[Langeveldt]

You reap what you sow, and England's halcyon days could soon come crashing to a halt when kids realize they have to fork out (or make their parents) fork out such shocking amounts of money just to watch the national team play the national sport.. It's hardly a catering for the future type move..

 

[greg]

This is complete conjecture, but i wouldn't be surprised if at some point soon Sky create a way for some of their output to be offered on a free to air (digital) channel.

I'm sure this whole thing was long discussed but people shouldn't dismiss out of hand the tremendous contribution Sky have made to cricket coverage in this country and what they can offer in the future. It is also slightly unfair to accuse the authorities over the decision when there was no other realistic offer on the table.

 

[BoyBrumby]

This is complete conjecture, but i wouldn't be surprised if at some point soon Sky create a way for some of their output to be offered on a free to air (digital) channel.

I'm sure this whole thing was long discussed but people shouldn't dismiss out of hand the tremendous contribution Sky have made to cricket coverage in this country and what they can offer in the future. It is also slightly unfair to accuse the authorities over the decision when there was no other realistic offer on the table.

No, fair point. Until Sky came into being there was no way to watch England's tests played abroad live at all. I'm a fully paid up subscriber (although it was actually England's 6 Nations games going onto Sky that ultimately made my mind up & they're back on the Beeb again now anyway!) but I think that with the home tests going onto Sky there is less chance of youngsters stumbling across this remarkable game by accident.

Hopefully Fred will inspire a few more converts over the next few weeks.

 

[jordyh]

Although it doesn't bother me, as a sky subscriber, I do believe that the home tests should be on channel 4 (or bbc, whatever). Most of my mates that I talk cricket with don't have sky, it justs seems a shame.

 

[age_master]

it was also a record audience for SBS in Australia - beating the last football WC final during the last 10 minutes of the game.

 

[Neil Pickup]

When you read reports like that it makes it seem even more of a pity that a whole generation of kids will be denied the chance to see England in action after this year. There's obviously an appetite for it & England have the best test side we've had in at least a generation (certainly since I started following the game). It seems awfully short-sighted to banish what is a wonderful product to satellite.

Cricket has made the front pages of the papers today, I do fear that without terrestrial coverage it may soon be banished to the 8th page from the back of the paper again, such is football's hegemony in the UK.

If this series continues like this I'm sure there'll be some terrestrial broadcaster who'll find a way!!

 

[luckyeddie]

You reap what you sow, and England's halcyon days could soon come crashing to a halt when kids realize they have to fork out (or make their parents) fork out such shocking amounts of money just to watch the national team play the national sport.. It's hardly a catering for the future type move..

Watching reality tv is the national sport.

Come on, Rich. Cricket has NEVER been the national sport, not even of the privileged. Even going back to those halcyon days of Jonners and Arlott, the unwashed went to football and the fight in the high street afterwards, the hoi-polloi used to go to the puffs rugby and then punting on the Cam.

I've been going to test matches since the 1960's, and until the last 10 years or so (with the exception of Ashes tours) I never even had to buy a ticket in advance - just turn up and pay - even on a saturday for India, Pakistan, New Zealand even.

The day cricket becomes anything more than a minority sport is the day I have to queue up for more than 2 minutes to get in to a county game.

 

[Craig]

To be fair to the ECB Sky probably put the best offer forward so in a business sence this is merely a business decision for them to make extra cash (if done right hopefully back into England cricket). Although if it is not available on free-to-air then it again it may be no point in putting money back into the grassroots level.

 

[Zinzan]

This test deserved a record audience !!

 

[Magrat Garlick]

The day cricket becomes anything more than a minority sport is the day I have to queue up for more than 2 minutes to get in to a county game.

Excluding Twenty20?

 

[luckyeddie]

Excluding Twenty20?

What a good idea!!!

( )

 

[Craig]

Watching reality tv is the national sport.

Come on, Rich. Cricket has NEVER been the national sport, not even of the privileged. Even going back to those halcyon days of Jonners and Arlott, the unwashed went to football and the fight in the high street afterwards, the hoi-polloi used to go to the puffs rugby and then punting on the Cam.

I've been going to test matches since the 1960's, and until the last 10 years or so (with the exception of Ashes tours) I never even had to buy a ticket in advance - just turn up and pay - even on a saturday for India, Pakistan, New Zealand even.

The day cricket becomes anything more than a minority sport is the day I have to queue up for more than 2 minutes to get in to a county game.

It is no different when going to a Pura or ING Cup match over here.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

What a good idea!!!

( )

You sound like Hingston.

 

[Swervy]

apparently 7.7 million people tuned in to watch the cricket last night at 6.30pm..the highest ever Monday night viewing figures for Channel 4

 

[Pothas]

You reap what you sow, and England's halcyon days could soon come crashing to a halt when kids realize they have to fork out (or make their parents) fork out such shocking amounts of money just to watch the national team play the national sport.. It's hardly a catering for the future type move..

Very true the fact that cricket is now leaving terestrial may finaly force my parents too get sky after years of asking and anoying and ironicly probably just before i leave home for university

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

We had 346,000 tuning in to watch the final overs with Lee and McGrath at 3:57 in the morning on a free to air channel that rural areas don't get, in a country with 20 million people. Amazingly impressive numbers. For the prime time first session (7:30-9:30 pm) on saturday, 1.2 million.

 

[GotSpin]

Wow, 346,000 in the morning. and then 1.2 million on saturday. Impressive. SBS must be licking their lips