Cricket Australia, the sport’s governing body in the country, has reportedly requested a second round of bids for its domestic broadcast rights.
First round bids under the tender were due on Monday and the Sydney Morning Herald newspaper today (Friday) said that CA has requested further offers, adding that it has now proposed putting more of its content on pay-television in an effort to drive a higher price.
Prized content such as Australia’s home Test matches and domestic Twenty20 competition the Big Bash League is on the market, with CA hoping for a total of at least Aus$900m (€566.4m/$698.8m) from its next five-year rights cycle, from 2018 to 2022.
Nine currently holds the rights to Tests and one-day internationals, and has broadcast summer Tests for about 40 years. The Herald said that Nine submitted a joint bid for the rights with fellow commercial broadcaster Ten, which holds rights for the BBL.
The newspaper added that CA asked the broadcasters, including pay-television operator Foxtel and commercial broadcaster Seven, as well as social media platforms and telcos to pick from 11 curated packages.
Bidders were reportedly asked to provide a breakdown of what each of the components of these packages was worth in their bids, which a number are said to have failed to have complied with.