I can still watch the live action so I'm happy. There's still been a mix of cricket from around the world this winter, and of course, more effort from Sky goes into the England tours. I'm fine with that - although I don't see why they make them stand up in the studio now.

They've sold the chairs!
It does look ridiculous though.

I do like getting commentary from the host broadcaster for the England away games now but do miss the on site presentation, the coverage has suffered for that cost cutting. Shame they can't take the Host coverage of game breaks for non-England games. Like in NZ, stay with Sky NZ for the Lunch and Tea programming, surely that wouldn't cost much.

It's a common thing in broadcasting around the world these days, not just Sky doing it. And most people's reaction to it seems to be the same as yours.

I remember the tour of the West Indies in 2004. Sky sent a big team to the Caribbean and there was a, I think, 2 hour preview show the night before the first Test. It made it feel more important, somehow. I do miss that sort of thing but I think it's been a long while since they did anything like that.

I believe that Sky were host broadcaster for the first 2-3 series of England in W Indies (Following the Sky UK launch) as well.

Think it works well for the England games. It felt weird for the aus/nz games.

They had heavy links with the operation in 1990 (that very first televised tour), certainly - although it was jointly operated with TWI, IIRC. Gary Franses, who later headed up the Channel 4 coverage for Sunset and Vine, was one of the key figures in the coverage.

TWI were involved with televising WI cricket right through to the 2003 season (although I'm sure Sky had an input when it was an England tour), when Sky Sports took over the host broadcast contract (and were the centralised rights holder, responsible for selling on the rights to other countries) from 2004 onwards. Then, Ten Sports gradually got their foot in the door - initially being responsible for selling the rights onto Asian countries, then in selling all the rights (although Sky still produced the coverage), then (from 2013) producing the feed as well.

So that 2004 tour was the first time that Sky were the host broadcaster from the WI on their own terms, so it's probably no surprise that they sent a full team and hosted the whole show from location. In 2009, the next test tour, although it had a full Sky production and commentary team, the studio stuff was still hosted in the UK, with the commentators just doing 'down the line' interviews to Ian Ward/Charles Colville in the UK studio. Similar to how some NZ tours have been covered over the years.

Well done to Ian Ward winning his award for presenting last night.

And the Sky team winning for there Ashes coverage

Cricket returns to Sky this week

They are showing the SA v AUS T20 series - 2 games Fri 4th March & Sat 6th March before the World T20 kicks off on Tuesday 8th March

Still no news on county fixtures

Minor correction- South Africa v Australia T20 series is 3 matches. Third one is Wednesday 9th March.

Looks like bumble is working at the T20 world cup after all.
Sky are sending Bumble, Hussain, Nick Knight.
With Rob key in india doing features, interviews and covering the Ireland games from the ground, not sure he will be used as a commentator though.
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/new...ith-sky-sports

Also looks like Sky will have a studio for every games and essentially follow the last t20 world cup with Stars and loads of demonstration in the zone.

Sky aren't "sending" anyone. They are employed by the host broadcaster.

Do sky have an input as presumably they aren't freelancers?

Bit of both.
The comms have a contract with sky, Sky gives permission for them to work for the host broadcaster and plus they do also speak to the sky studio during intervals or at the hotel to be used on the website.

Basically if sky didn't have the rights the host broadcaster wouldn't be using the sky comms.

A bit more info on the coverage here:
http://www.skysports.com/cricket/ICC...-twenty20-team

Plenty of chat on social media tonight about the new county structure next year.
A couple of journalists are convinced that the TV rights are gonna rocket for the next deal.
Are BT really going to drive them higher? Or is this just hope?

Well previous deal was done before BT had bought any sports rights - when Setanta were on their last legs and Sky had almost no competition.

BT's entry has seen football rights rocket and also significant increases in other sports.

BT has won Australian cricket from Sky.

So everything suggests BT is likely to submit a competitive bid. Who will win - who knows? (*) But seems likely that the total rights price will increase significantly.

(*) Of course it's possible there will be more than one winner.

New Graphics for the World t20 and comms team announced for tournament.

Unless the changes are partly to try and tempt a terrestrial broadcaster to stump up for some T20 matches?

There's a suggestion that with the increased money a city bases T20 competition will be sold at a very low price to FTA in 2020

Sky team for opening match.
Ian Ward joined by Michael Atherton, Colin Smith & Ed Joyce.

Bet365 and the betting sites are also showing the games live.
looks like Sky go will get less viewers now.
Bet365 is ahead of the sky go pictures.
although sky go pictures are full screen.

I don't think that'll make any significant difference to skys figures. Most the people who will see ANY coverage will be on highlights on Sky sports news rotation due to the time zones

For once the scorebox graphic's aren't overpowering - but there's a blue line behind it and, again, a black band below both at the bottom of the screen. Why?

Are they running ads across it on the home feed? Is it for 4;3 TV's in other parts of the world? Just seems an annoying unnecessary waste of a bit of the picture, but at least it's reduced on "zoom"!

Anyhow, settling down now to get into the competition. Hup Holland!!!!