The India vs England 5-match Test series is on the horizon. Yet, in UK there is a TV Blackout. With less than three weeks remaining, there is no official TV Broadcaster for the series. As a result, the UK Government is under pressure to get broadcasters for the mega series. With the rights still unsold, reports claim that the series is expected to be made free-to-air.
TalkSport in UK holds the rights for the radio commentary for the IND vs ENG Test series. With cricket fans set to miss out on an important series, there are calls to make the series free-to-air in TV.
“Bazball deserves to be seen by the entire nation, especially younger generations getting into cricket for the first time”, Jamie Stone, the party’s culture, media and sport spokesman, said.
“[Ben] Stokes and McCullum’s revolutionary playing style has inspired so many to pick up a bat and ball for the first time. The upcoming series against India is being billed as one of the most exciting match-ups in years, yet there is a serious risk nobody will be able to watch it,” Stone added.
This is however, not the first time that such a situation has unfolded. Two years back when England toured India in 2021 a similar incident unfolded. Following the Covid-19, Channel 4 was roped in at the last minute to be the official TV broadcaster for the series.
With no such provisions now, and the rights being unsold. It can assumed that IND vs ENG Test series will be free-to-air for all Bazball fans in UK.
“It is time the Government stepped in by getting broadcasters and cricket boards around the table to hammer out a deal. There is just a fortnight until the first Test and no plan whatsoever for it to be shown on British television. I would therefore urge you to include BBC, ITV and Channel 4 in your efforts to ensure the series is televised,” he wrote in a letter to Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer.
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