News Broadcasting
BSkyB tightens grip on UK sports telecast with 4-year cricket deal
MUMBAI: One more of Britains crown jewel sports is set to fall completely off UKs terrestrial television map and into the all-encompassing embrace of BSkyB.
The £200 million that Rupert Murdochs DTH operator has put on the table in a deal announced yesterday will give Sky Sports exclusivity to all live international as well as domestic cricket action in the UK.
Englands cricket chiefs announced a four-year deal running from 2006 to 2010 that will make next summer’s Ashes series against Australia the last time that viewers in Britain get to see their national Test team live on FTA TV.
The four-year deal running from 2006 to 2010 that the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has entered into – which includes television, radio, mobile and internet rights to domestic and international cricket – will bring in a total of £220 million ($425.6 million). This is an effective increase of about 10 per cent on the current three-year deal when Channel Four and BSkyB had a joint contract to cover England home matches live. The ECB has signed deals with BSkyB, Channel Five, BBC Radio and TalkSPORT.
While the deal is being decried by many commentators in Britain as long sighted on the cash component and shortsighted on the long term future of the game, there is no getting away from one bald truth. And that is that it was only BSkyB that was willing to offer terms that actually increased the amount going into ECBs coffers. Channel 4 had as good as declared itself incapable of offering even what it has been doing thus far after reporting an operating loss of £2m-£3m a year on the game. As for the BBC, which realistically speaking was the only FTA broadcaster with the financial muscle to take on BSkyB, it had reportedly withdrawn from the bidding as early as October.
BBC Radio retains exclusive radio commentary rights while the Wireless Group, owner of Talksport, gets non-exclusive rights to provide live commentary of Twenty20 Cup matches.
While making its announcement yesterday, the ECB chose to stress the point that terrestrial TV was not totally excluded from cricket telecast. The softener as it were is that Channel Five gets to telecast a daily highlights package. The hitch of course is that Britain’s most recent mainstream channel is serious small fry when it comes to accessibility in comparison to the Beeb or 4.
And a point brought up by Lord MacLaurin, the former chairman of the board is worth noting. Cricinfo quotes MacLaurin as saying that he had promised the government in 1998 that coverage of Test matches would be kept evenly split between satellite and terrestrial television in return for them dislisting cricket. According to the Cricinfo report, until that time, TV coverage of Tests had to be on mainstream television as one of the so-called “crown-jewel” events that include Wimbledon, the Derby and the FA Cup final.
Taking the the cricket tale as a case study, it is not too far fetched to visualise a situation in 2010 wherein Murdoch has managed to get Wimbledon, the Derby and the FA Cup final onto his exclusive list.
News Broadcasting
Kamlesh Singh receives Haldi Ghati Award from MMCF
India Today Group editor honoured for three decades of journalism at Udaipur ceremony.
MUMBAI- Kamlesh Singh just turned a lifetime of sharp words into a shiny shield because when journalism wakes up a society, even the Maharana of Mewar wants to pin a medal on it.
The Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation (MMCF) conferred its prestigious Haldi Ghati Award on Kamlesh Singh, a senior editor at the India Today Group, during a ceremony in Udaipur on 15 March 2026. The national award, instituted in 1981-82, recognises “work of permanent value that initiates an awakening in society through the medium of journalism.”
Singh, who leads several editorial initiatives including Aaj Tak Radio, the Teen Taal community and The Lallantop, was presented the honour by Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Managing Trustee of MMCF. The citation highlighted his three decades of contributions to Indian media, innovations in digital journalism, mentoring young reporters, and his popular podcast persona “Tau” on Teen Taal, which fosters thoughtful public discourse.
The Haldi Ghati Award, named after the historic Battle of Haldighati symbolising valour and resilience, is one of four national awards given annually by MMCF. Past recipients include Tavleen Singh, Piyush Pandey and Raj Chengappa.
Other honourees this year included Padma Vibhushan Pt Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Vedamurti Devvrat Rekhe, Treeman of India Marimuthu Yoganathan, Vir Chakra Capt Rizwan Malik, and US-based researcher Molly Emma Aitken, who received the Colonel James Tod Award for contributions to understanding Mewar’s spirit and values.
In an era where headlines often shout louder than substance, the MMCF quietly reminded everyone that real journalism isn’t about noise, it’s about the quiet, persistent work that stirs society awake, one thoughtful story at a time.
