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Allens advises Fox Sports on Cricket Australia broadcast deal

By Gavin Smith
Technology & Outsourcing Technology, Media & Telecommunications

Allens has advised Fox Sports Australia on its six-year agreement with Cricket Australia to broadcast every ball bowled in every game of cricket in Australia from October 2018.

The deal, worth a total of $1.182 billion over six years to Cricket Australia, sees Fox Sports join forces with free-to-air television partner Seven West Media.

The landmark broadcast and digital partnership with Cricket Australia will see the launch of a dedicated FOX Cricket channel and includes rights to all men's international test matches and women's internationals, the men's one-day and Twenty20 internationals, all Big Bash League matches and 23 women's Big Bash League matches.

Fox Sports will broadcast 16 of the Big Bash League matches on an exclusive basis.

In a major step forward for digital broadcasting in Australia, the deal includes exclusive streaming rights for Fox Sports, giving subscribers access to a live stream of all matches on any device for the first time.

Allens advised Fox Sports in complex negotiations on the deal, including in relation to compliance with anti-siphoning legislation.

Allens has previously advised Fox Sports on its NRL, FFA, SANZAAR, Formula 1 and V8 Supercars rights deals.

'We are delighted to have continued our work with Pete Campbell, Christina Allen and the talented team at Fox Sports on another landmark sports rights deal,' said Gavin Smith , lead Partner on the deal and Head of Allens' Technology, Media and Telecommunications practice.

'This agreement is a real game-changer. It completes Fox Sports' coverage of all major sports in Australia meaning it will now be the only place to watch every game and race of every major sport in Australia.

'We look forward to watching as Fox Sports reimagines Australian cricket coverage.'

 

Allens legal team

Gavin Smith (lead Partner), Kon Stellios (Partner), David Rountree (Senior Associate), David Mierendorff (Senior Associate), Fletcher Stewart (Lawyer)

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Notes for editors.

Allens is a commercial law firm working throughout Australia and Asia. Through its integrated alliance with Linklaters it provides clients access to 40 offices in 28 countries around the world.