Cricket Broadcasting Evolution: From Radio to Streaming
How cricket broadcasting transformed over 100 years — from BBC radio commentary to global satellite TV and the streaming revolution that is reshaping the sport's audience.
The Radio Era
Cricket commentary began on BBC radio in 1927 with the first live ball-by-ball broadcast from Old Trafford, England. The ABC in Australia began Test match radio commentary in 1934. John Arlott's distinctive voice on BBC Radio's Test Match Special (TMS) — begun in 1957 — became the defining sound of English cricket summers for decades. TMS remains on BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra today, the longest-running sports radio programme in the world.
Kerry Packer and the TV Revolution
Television transformed cricket in the 1970s. Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket (1977–79) introduced day-night cricket, coloured clothing, multiple cameras, and promotional broadcasting techniques borrowed from American sport. Packer's PBL Sports secured the Australian broadcast rights and demonstrated that cricket could attract mainstream television audiences when packaged correctly.
The Sky Sports Paywalled Era
Sky Sports' acquisition of live England home Test broadcasting rights from 2006 removed cricket from free-to-air television in England for the first time. The decision — prioritising revenue over reach — remains the most debated in English cricket's history. Sky's investment enabled ECB to fund new coaches, facilities, and player contracts, but reduced the cricket-watching public significantly, with some research suggesting fewer young people took up cricket as a result.
Indian TV Rights and the BCCI Billions
The real driver of cricket's broadcasting economy since 2000 has been India. Star Sports (later JioStar/Star) paid ₹16,347.5 crore for IPL broadcasting rights for the 2018–2022 cycle — the largest sports broadcasting deal in Indian history at the time. The 2023–2027 IPL media rights sold for ₹48,390 crore (approximately $6 billion), making it the second most valuable sports league broadcast rights in the world per game behind the NFL.
Digital Streaming: JioCinema's Free IPL
Reliance Industries' JioCinema broadcast the 2023 IPL free on digital streaming for the first time — attracting over 32 million concurrent viewers for the opening match, a global record for live sports streaming at the time. It demonstrated that cricket's future audience would come through free digital streaming rather than pay TV.
The Future: OTT and Global Streaming
Cricket broadcasting is transitioning toward OTT (over-the-top) streaming platforms. ICC events are available on platforms including Willow (USA), FanCode (India), and Kayo (Australia). Global sports streaming platforms including Amazon Prime, Apple TV+, and DAZN are increasingly competing for cricket broadcast rights. The era of traditional satellite TV exclusivity is waning, with free-to-air and digital combinations becoming the new norm for cricket coverage worldwide.
Frequently asked questions
When did cricket first appear on TV?
The first television broadcast of a cricket match was the 1938 Ashes Test at Lord's by the BBC — reaching approximately 5,000 television sets in London.
What was Kerry Packer's role in cricket broadcasting?
Kerry Packer's World Series Cricket (1977–79) revolutionised cricket broadcasting through day-night cricket, colour clothing, professional production techniques, and demonstrating cricket's commercial TV potential.
How much are IPL TV rights worth?
The 2023–2027 IPL media rights sold for approximately ₹48,390 crore ($6 billion) — making IPL the second most valuable sports broadcast rights per game globally after the NFL.