Illegal streaming concerns Clarke
Giles Clarke, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has branded the illegal streaming of matches the biggest problem affecting the game.
Like many sports, cricket's financial future is underpinned by broadcasting rights deals, which can be compromised by pirate websites showing matches live on the internet. The ECB on Thursday announced a new six-year deal with the BBC to continue Test Match Special's exclusive radio rights for home internationals, with a new Sky television contract also in the offing.
Clarke appeared on TMS during Thursday's second Test against Pakistan and spoke about the problem of illegal streams. Clarke said: "We all have to be very vigilant."
He added: "There are a huge number of pirate websites streaming cricket on the internet taken from television broadcasts - we and our broadcasters closed down 700 during last summer's series against India. It's an extremely complex procedure, but it can be done and it has to be done.
"That is the biggest danger to cricket, because they take money out of the game without commercial benefit to us. They are being used by the bookmakers as well. The problem of pirate site streaming is very big for sport."
Comment 1 - 3 of 3
Well then put Test cricket back on 'normal' tv(cant spell the T word!) job done
Of course it is you greedy prat.
The reason folks will do this is the ridiculous costs that Sky have for coverage . I dumped Sky a couple of years ago , not because I couldn't afford it but I resented just how they hiked prices year after year . Most of the money is going to over paid prima donas like KP , only interested in cash and not cricket. So Mr Clarke of the very expenive silk suit , get Sky to be more competative instead of just screwing ever more cash out of them and subscribers
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account