Australia / News
|
Cricinfo staff
February 10, 2005
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.

'South Africa aren't favourites anymore'
Bowl at Boycs: Geoff Boycott on England's prospects, what impresses him about Tendulkar, and the free-to-air issue
Cricinfo XI: Sahil Dutta and Andrew Miller recall 11 players who made their impact on a big occasion in style
'Collingwood is vital to England'
Switch Hit: A look at England's win in the first completed one-day game in South Africa, and the new referral system
Laker's 19 and Gregory's catches
Records that are vulnerable to the passage of time, and those that look safe forever. By Rob Steen
Shot selection: Never nice to photograph injuries
Access your Indian Rupee earnings from anywhere in the world.
Who is the best footballer in Europe?
Debate now on the new ESPN Soccernet Castrol Rankings Blog
FREE Cricket DVD offer at Cricshop
Cricshop.com - leading online cricket store
Rugby Union Autumn Internationals coverage
on www.scrum.com

