England’s upcoming Test tour of Pakistan in October is facing a potential TV blackout, as no UK broadcaster has bid for the rights to televise the three-match series. This development comes as a surprise, considering the success of England’s previous Test series in Pakistan in December 2022, which was televised by Sky Sports. During that tour, England made history by securing a 3-0 series win, showcasing exceptional batting and bowling performances.
Despite the success of the previous tour, Sky Sports has indicated that they do not intend to bid for the rights to broadcast the upcoming series. Additionally, TNT Sport has also declined to enter negotiations, leaving the series without a UK broadcaster. The Pakistan Cricket Board has engaged a local marketing agency to sell the overseas rights to the series, rather than a global company like IMG or Pitch International, further complicating the situation.
Sky Sports, which has been the home of England’s away Test series for nearly 30 years, has shifted its focus to maintaining exclusive rights for England’s home series and major events like the World Cup and T20 World Cup. The company has found it challenging to justify the cost of buying overseas rights and covering tours with its high production values, especially considering the limited number of additional subscribers they attract.
TNT Sport has picked up rights for Test series in other countries like Australia, India, New Zealand, and West Indies but has shown no interest in broadcasting the Pakistan tour. The lack of interest from broadcasters is disappointing for cricket fans, as it poses a challenge in building an audience for Test cricket. This was evident at the start of England’s series against Sri Lanka, where a significant number of ticket holders did not show up for the match at Old Trafford.
The current landscape of broadcasting rights for cricket reflects the shifting priorities of broadcasters and the challenges of attracting viewers to Test cricket. With no UK broadcaster bidding for the rights to televise England’s Test tour of Pakistan, fans may be left without access to live coverage of the series. It remains to be seen how this situation will impact the visibility and popularity of Test cricket in the UK and beyond.