Reported in the Australian over the weekend, C7 particularly sour over the player drain this coming season. Could be an opportunity but not counting on it, especialyl with a minimum 30-45 day delay to the season. We can live in hope though, Seven's sporting cupboard becomes awfully bare if cricket is dropped.

Most likely that Seven will put any CA savings into securing Supercars from Ten (who have already announced not renewing contract). So maybe Ten does come into play for NBL - not Seven.

7 Nine and Ten Networks aren't looking for low ratings expensive sport, or even low rating free content which the NBL kinda do.

"ESPN and ten package would be great."

Hasn't TEN fucked the NBL over enough times for your liking?

"I believe the basketball should not start later than early December, it gives to many advantages to other sports to get rolling."

It would be an advantage, yes. But is it in any way practical? No.

"Last week, Channel 7 chief executive James Warburton delivered a scathing assessment of Cricket Australia's management, calling it a "trainwreck" and the "most incompetent" administration he has ever worked with.

Warburton warned Channel 7's historic $450 million cricket deal could be terminated with four years remaining on the contract.

“We are forced to consider all our options including terminating the contract, and we have put them on notice,” Warburton told The Daily Telegraph.

“This is not an acceptable product, and we will not support the season. Cricket Australia have an obligation to deliver a competition of no lesser standard than the past.

“How stupid to schedule international cricket against the BBL and drain the resources of a competition already under pressure. It’s a joke, and it rips off the fans.

“We paid a huge price and were promised the world. There is an obligation to deliver the best quality to the broadcasters.

“It’s the most incompetent administration I’ve ever worked with, with no appointed full time chief executive officer at a time when the sport needs strong leadership to steer through these extraordinary times.”"


Wow. You rarely ever see things worded that strongly.

It will be great if Ten get the NBL again so we can watch MASH before the games.

"It will be great if Ten get the NBL again so we can watch MASH before the games."

Yep. Apparently "Live" games shown after midnight. I'd much prefer to stay on SBS to be honest. But Channel 7 could be a good home if we actually come up with a paid broadcast deal, even a modest one for a couple of million.

"If they dump it they won't pick up the NBL as no one watches the NBL!!"

Yeah that's the thing. Everyone sees a sport-sized whole and they immediately think we can put the NBL in it. But the NBL, at best, might average 60-80'000 viewers. Unless you're going to put it in place of Dr Quinn Medicine Woman or reruns of Judge Judy there's no real reason why a big channel would pick it up.

Cricket Australia has tin ear. The season is too long already, yet they increased the length of it again. By extending it means the international stars can't sign and play. By extending it local international Aussie stars can 't sign and play. The thing that got BBL going was the best of the best, all international stars playing from England, Windies, India, Sri Lanka, etc, etc, Gayle, Flintoff, Pieterson, Warner, Dhoni.
It's now all about corporate sponsorship and not about the game.

All the players are on a Good WICKET and hope Channel 7 will BAIL them out if the need arises!

$450mil lol. Ridiculous deal in the first place.

Cricket Australia totally screwed up. They wanted that billion dollar contract, I suspect a few execs had the word billion as part of their bonuses/KPI.

Channel Ten offered close to the billion mark, plus they offered to show all the cricket in Australia for Men plus women's games too. They were doing the big bash right and had a good thing going.

Instead we have International ODI and T20s neglected with nonexistent crowds thanks to having zero public coverage.

We have a big bash extended fixture wise beyond what it ought to be, with shitty times (why early arvo?! And why why early arvo on a weekday??)

Perth day-night test was silly for a game that’s already prime time on the east coast without being a day-nighter.

Add in bizarre fixturing last year probably due to the "test championship" the heavy favouritism of home games on cricket these days and the MCG producing subpar pitches and the Warner/smith nonsense and it has to be said the past few years have been a shitshow for CA