Internet Desk : Cricket fans is Australia might miss out on all the action from the forthcoming ICC World Twenty20 in India, held between March 8 and April 3, after television networks failed to strike a deal with Star Sports for broadcasting rights according to reports in local Australian publications on Wednesday (February 24).
Country’s premier sports network Channel Nine and Fox Sports were believed to have expressed interest in televising the tournament, but couldn’t strike a reasonable deal with Star Sports, which possesses broadcasting rights to ICC’s major tournaments. Since the ICC is based out of Dubai, the Australian networks would have to pay an additional tax of 30 per cent on the original deal and the final figures are said to be working out exorbitant for the channels.
However, a Cricket Australia spokesman said on Tuesday that they hoped the event will be shown on Australian TV. “It’s our priority to have matches involving the Australian men’s and women’s teams broadcast to fans around the country. We are seeking regular updates from the ICC and Star India, and remain hopeful it can be resolved in the best interests of Australian cricket fans,” he said.
The termination of contract is held responsible for such a crisis . Channel Nine and Fox contract to share the broadcast of major ICC events expired at the end of last year’s World Cup. Fox Sports and Nine and Ten, the free-to-air networks, hinted that they had no deals in place yet. Nevertheless, given that negotiations are still on, Fox Sports’ pay-TV network could still crack a last-minute deal to televise the event.