EXCLUSIVE: The ECB would be in BREACH of their £220m-a-year TV deal with Sky Sports if they axe the Hundred before 2028… and the controversial move would put future broadcast deals in jeopardy
- READ: The Hundred could be AXED with bombshell talks taking place over it
- A move to scrap it would risk jeopardising prospects of a terrestrial TV deal
- ECB due to go to market for a new terrestrial deal for The Hundred this summer
The ECB would breach their £220million-a year TV deal with Sky Sports if they dump the Hundred before 2028 in a radical revamp of domestic cricket revealed by Mail Sport on Thursday.
The controversial move would also risk jeopardising the prospects of securing a terrestrial TV deal for English cricket’s premier short-form competition, which is a key part of the ECB’s strategy to grow the game.
The Hundred’s existing terrestrial contract with the BBC expires in 2025 with the ECB due to go to market for a new deal this summer.
The BBC have made it clear that they do not have room in their schedule to regularly televise Twenty20 matches however, particularly on their main channels, whilst ITV and Channel 4 have similar reservations over the length of the format.
The ECB would breach their TV deal with Sky Sports if they axe The Hundred (Lewis Gregory of the Trent Rockets pictured lifting the trophy after winning the tournament last year)
Sky Sports’ current deal to broadcast coverage of The Hundred is worth £220million-a-year
It would also be challenging to secure a terrestrial TV deal for English cricket’s premier short-form competition, with the ECB due to go to market over a new broadcast deal this summer
Sky Sports have also invested heavily in the Hundred and would resist attempts to change the competition to a T20 format.
Whilst a negotiated settlement is more likely than any legal action the ECB would technically require approval from Sky to make such a significant alteration.
The ECB experienced more turbulence on Thursday when Sir Andrew Strauss left his role as an advisor at Lord’s after the recommendations of his strategic review into the structure of the first class game were not adopted.
In addition to his proposals being rejected by the counties the former England captain is also understood to have grown disillusioned at being excluded from recent discussions involving representatives of the 18 first class counties.
There was turbulence for the ECB as Sir Andrew Strauss left his role as an advisor at Lord’s
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