might keep an eye out for the tv ratings for england games this year.
if they are still in decline or still low ECB will be under pressure when the new tv deals starts and would need the new t20 comp to be a success straight away it can't afford a slow start like the big bash, plus if the competition is 100% like the big bash not sure it would work here, frankly speaking I don't actually think vast majority of the population would want to watch a substandard competition, lets get the fact right big bash quality isn't actually that great, hardly top international barring a few west indian and maybe a few english players like buttler etc but vast majority are generally average international like Luke wright, joe denly etc top of that the best australian players don't play, it only really works because the tickets are cheap, great weather and australian love the cricket and it normally doesn't clash with any meaningful international if anything in recent times the big bash has been a greater draw than the one day international being played at the same time.
doubt we would see that phenomenon in england where the domestic t20 stuff is a greather draw that england one day games.
if the ratings for england international continue to fall and the new t20 competition fails to be anything better than the blast, then it would be very unlikely Sky would put a billion pound bid again.
not the greatest source of information.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/cricke ... -fans.html"Augusta National's acceptance of a take-it-or-leave-it offer from Sky that has been on the table for months for live coverage of this year's Masters golf demonstrates again that Sky are no longer prepared to bid over the odds for sports rights.
The Isleworth strategy is now to pay only what they believe the contract is worth — even if it means losing out on the rights, as they did with the US PGA Championship last year.
This could have huge repercussions for the Premier League in the current tender as there is no way Sky will offer £11m a match again. That is especially true given that BT Sport, with whom they now have a carriage deal to broadcast on each other's platforms, will be content simply to regain their current packages."
"The average live viewing figure for BT Sport's coverage of the Ashes was a disappointing 84,000 — not helped by the dull final Test in Sydney attracting an average of just 69,000 overnight viewers.
A BT spokeswoman said the figures would be boosted by those watching highlights on their app and website. But if Sky don't improve on BT's numbers when they show England's upcoming tour of New Zealand, cricket has a serious problem."
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... p-tie.htmlnumber for bt sport were not that great, probably didn't help that the cricket was dull and england didn't play well, if something similar happens for NZ then Sky would be a bit worried with the way cricket is going considering it is Sky 2nd most expensive sport at the moment.