ECB chief is delighted by increased TV deal revenue

The contract which runs from 2014-17 is part of a package which includes all England’s home Test, one-day international and Twenty20 series, selected England Lions and England women’s fixtures and 60 days of county cricket every season.

Channel Five will cotinue to have an early-evening highlights package for Test matches.

ECB chief executive David Collier said: “There is an overall increase in the broadcasting agreements.

“We can’t give an indication of exact numbers, because that is part of the agreements we have made with our broadcasters. But an overall increase is truly astounding in this climate.

“We are delighted with the increase. It is a tremendous achievement.”

Collier is also pleased by the length of the contract and added: “Counties want certainty over a period of years, and our clubs and county boards want certainty. That is what these deals give.”

Collier confirmed that there was, unsurprisingly, no BBC bid for live television or highlights packages. He added that the ECB was comfortable with the public service broadcaster’s concentration on radio coverage instead.

“The truth is we can only respond to people who bid,” said Collier. “We did not have a BBC bid for live television rights. That was no surprise.

“It has been made clear there are serious scheduling issues – let alone financial ones – for the BBC. There wasn’t a bid, but we are now in a situation where they have focused in on the radio rights. One of the things we put to them strongly was that, not only is Test Match Special important, but also local radio. We are putting together proposals with local radio stations to assist and support them.”

Collier added: “Sky have brought innovation to the game, and (channel) five have brought us peak-time viewing, which is so critical and allows families and working people to watch on ‘terrestrial’ for an hour.

“It is the right package for the game.”