Prime Minister wants the Ashes on free-to-air television

John Howard, the prime minister, will consider ways to screen the Ashes Tour on free-to-air television after the country's biggest broadcasters did not bid for series coverage. The Australian also reported the ABC were in secret negotiations to collect secondary rights for the tour behind Fox Sports, the pay television channel.

Howard said he wanted the five-Test series, which starts in July, to be available on free-to-air. "That continues to engage me," he said. "I would like to see the Ashes on television. There are a number of things I'm looking at." The newspaper said the ABC would present a plan to the Government when Russell Balding, the broadcaster's managing director, meets Helen Coonan, the communications minister, this week.

The Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has also publicly called for the series to be shown as Australia seek to win the Ashes for the ninth consecutive time. Nine and Seven have previously screened the Tests, but criticism over delayed coverage, time zones and other sporting coverage stopped them bidding.