Cricket Australia has underwritten commercial broadcaster Nine’s production costs by A$800,000 (€560,000/$747,000) in order to ensure domestic one-day competition the Ryobi Cup is afforded free-to-air television coverage, according to The Age.
The newspaper said the figure has convinced cricket’s primary broadcaster in Australia to agree to screen the 20 matches of the month-long event on its free-to-air digital television multi-channel Gem.
It is believed Nine will use the Ryobi Cup, which begins on September 29, to trial current players as commentators.
“It demonstrates our commitment to one-day cricket,” a Cricket Australia spokesman said. “The opportunity to get the Ryobi on free-to-air television was just really enticing.”