Top players could desert the game if Ashes Test matches are shown for free on terrestrial television, the England and Wales Cricket Board has warned.The sport is awaiting a government decision on whether to ring-fence the series for free-to-air broadcast.
But the ECB says independent advisors predict a loss of £137m in revenue should the Tests be listed.
An statement predicted a “collapse in the entire fabric of cricket...from the playground to the Test match arena.”
The statement added that the ECB has told the government, “it is not inconceivable that the funding shortfalls created by listing would precipitate a mass exodus of players from the international game, and their contracts with national cricket boards, to play instead in tournaments designed specifically to appeal to pay-TV broadcasters.”
The idea to make the Tests available for the nation to watch for free was put forward by an advisory panel led by former Football Association chief David Davies.
Live Test cricket has not been available on a free-to-air channel since the 2005 Ashes and Sky’s current deal lasts until 2013, meaning any decision now would not affect viewers until 2017.
The ECB has been canvassing independent advisors to assess the potential impact of any move to make the home Ashes Tests part of a crown jewels broadcasting event for the nation.
It has now submitted its findings to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), which is expected to announce its decision before the general election.
The ECB statement continued: “The independent economic impact assessment, based on a conservative assessment, demonstrates a probable loss of £137.4m for the 2014-2017 domestic broadcast contract.
“This represents a drop of 48 per cent in expected revenues from our domestic broadcast rights for the same period.”
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