TNT Sports are not thought to have entered the market, despite holding the rights for a number of overseas cricket territories, including India. They will broadcast England’s tours of the West Indies and New Zealand later this year.
TNT Sports’ deal to show Australian international cricket expires this summer and it remains to be seen whether their lack of interest in the rights for Pakistan could precipitate a cooling of appetite for a deal for next winter’s Ashes tour. Sky hold the right for the men’s and women’s Big Bash and may be tempted to enter the market for Australian internationals.
In recent years, Sky have largely opted not to pick up rights for bilateral internationals, pouring their resources into their bumper deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board to show the home summer and the International Cricket Council to broadcast global events. Should their deal for Pakistan be completed, October will be a busy month of cricket on Sky as they show the Tests in the morning, then Women’s t20 World Cup matches from the UAE in the afternoon.
While it is increasingly common for broadcast deals to be finalised late in the day, especially in Asian markets, bilateral cricket’s broadcast value is dropping by the year as interest from networks drops.
BBC Test Match Special beat Talksport to the radio rights for the Pakistan tour. They hope to send a team, including Jonathan Agnew in his final month as cricket correspondent, on the tour.