Pakistan, England Test series at risk of TV blackout, here's why

England’s upcoming Test tour of Pakistan this October faces the risk of not being broadcasted on UK television, as no broadcasters have shown interest in acquiring the rights for the three-match series.

According to a media report, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a tender last month to sell the broadcasting rights, but so far, there have been no bids from UK broadcasters. This has raised concerns about a possible TV blackout for the series, which is scheduled to start on October 7 in Multan.

Sky Sports, which televised England’s last Test series in Pakistan in December 2022, has reportedly informed the PCB that it does not plan to bid for this year’s series. Similarly, TNT Sport has declined to enter negotiations and has no plans to broadcast the matches.

In an unusual move, the PCB has hired a local marketing agency to sell the overseas broadcasting rights instead of working with global companies like IMG or Pitch International, which previously secured last-minute deals for cricket tours.

Sky Sports has been the home of England’s overseas Test series for nearly 30 years, but the network has been scaling back its coverage of such tours in recent years. The broadcaster has shifted its focus to maintaining exclusive rights for England’s home series and major international events like the World Cup, which is set to take place in Pakistan next year.

Sky’s decision is driven by the high cost of purchasing overseas rights and producing high-quality coverage, which they believe does not attract enough additional subscribers, especially during the busy football season. As a result, Sky’s winter cricket programming has largely focused on overseas T20 leagues, where local teams handle commentary and production.

While TNT Sport has filled some gaps by picking up rights for Test series in countries like Australia, India, and New Zealand, it has shown no interest in broadcasting England’s tour of Pakistan. The broadcaster, owned by Warner Bros., has recently made cuts and opted out of extending deals for other sports, such as European rugby competitions.

This lack of interest from broadcasters is likely to disappoint cricket fans in the UK, who may miss out on watching the series. The struggle to maintain an audience for Test cricket was highlighted earlier this week when many fans who had bought tickets for England’s Test series against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford did not attend the match.