The npower Ashes is set to join the FIFA World Cup, the Olympic Games, the FA Cup final and the Grand National on the list of ‘crown jewels' sporting events which must be broadcast by a terrestrial broadcaster following a review undertaken by David Davies, the former FA executive director. The decision will lead to the five Test Series returning to terrestrial TV by 2015.
While the ECB would prefer the series to remain on satellite television, npower marketing director Kevin Peake said the decision to move the series back to terrestrial TV, as was the case in 2005, would ‘have an impact on our future within the sport'. He said that the Ashes on terrestrial television would deliver greater returns for sponsors' investments and would attract new businesses to invest in the game'.
While Peake acknowledged Sky's coverage of the npower Ashes he added: ‘We can't escape the fact that viewing figures for cricket on Sky have yet to match those that have been achieved on terrestrial television in previous years'.
.jpg)
.jpeg)
