Ashes 2005: The Greatest Series (10PM C4)

[WestMidsClaret]

That's all true, but another reason why we remember it so well and fondly is that it was the last occasion that everyone was able to watch live Test Cricket on terrestrial (BBC) tv.
Selling out to SKY etc. may have brought financial benefits to the ECB, etc., but we've lost so much.
(The same will be true I think if we lose the BBC. We won't fully appreciate this until it's gone).

BBC sold out to Channel 4.

[nil_desperandum]

BBC sold out to Channel 4.

You'd have to define the term "sold out"
Just to clarify.
The BBC was outbid by C4 in 1999. They therefore lost the "contract".
"The ECB decision to sell the rights for showing cricket on terrestrial television from 1999 to Channel 4 was not based entirely on the money offered by Channel 4. The ECB was impressed by a Channel 4 presentation which promised to do more to reach women, the young and ethnic minorities."

C4 was then outbid by SKY in 2005.
The then editor of Wisden wrote in 2005 that ‘the overwhelming majority of the British population will never come across a game of cricket in their daily lives. Never, never, never, never … the longer term consequences will take a generation to unfold. Some believe these could be serious. I think we’re looking at a potential catastrophe.’
There's nothing to suggest that the BBC sold out anything, they simply can't compete if ECB are going to award the contract on the basis of who can pay most.
The key issue is profit v accessibility.

[TVC15]

I agree that the BBC can’t keep compete with Sky - which is why I think it should be regulated to some degree to make sure there is some free to air of sports like football and cricket on a regular basis. Not sure how you do this in a supposed free market but the individual sports authorities themselves could work this out - eg every 3 years they take less money and put all England test and one day games on terrestrial

When the BBC lost the cricket to ch4 I think they were at fault - they decided to prioritise other things over cricket. Given they had F1 for a few years I can’t see how cricket would have cost them more than this.

[tiger76]

That's all true, but another reason why we remember it so well and fondly is that it was the last occasion that everyone was able to watch live Test Cricket on terrestrial (BBC) tv.
Selling out to SKY etc. may have brought financial benefits to the ECB, etc., but we've lost so much.
(The same will be true I think if we lose the BBC. We won't fully appreciate this until it's gone).

You'd have thought the ECB would have had the oversight to see this problem,i'm certain many people did have reservations at the time about selling their rights to SKY and others,but as usual the ECB put profit before the good of the game,and now they wonder why youngsters aren't taking up the game.

The Ashes tests should have been exempt from pay TV'S deal,OK! this might have lowered the price,but in the longer term it would have benefited the grass roots of the game.

There is a growing danger football is heading the same way,and many fans feel they're just cash cows now,the late notice for fixture changes due to TV coverage is an obvious example.

A minor correction i think it was C4 that broadcast the 2005 series,but your wider point is still valid,cricket is losing it's soul.

Even the WC coverage hasn't been great,and the white-ball game is seen as the likely saviour of the sport.

[nil_desperandum]

A minor correction i think it was C4 that broadcast the 2005 series,but your wider point is still valid,cricket is losing it's soul.
.

Yes I corrected that error and clarified in post 52.
As you say though, we're basically in total agreement.
Income from rights should not be the over-riding factor for the ECB, but sadly it appears t be the case.