Cricket
Features
Focused activations | Ben Stokes’ tweet helps Specsavers make the most of its ECB partnership
Opticians brand Specsavers used its title sponsorship of this summer’s Ashes series to focus on the resonances between its products and Test cricket, while a quick response to a Ben Stokes tweet showed the value in reactive marketing. Adam Nelson reports.
Surrey’s post-World Cup T20 sales fuel continuing ambivalence for The Hundred
Surrey County Cricket Club has seen a surge in ticket sales thanks to England’s victory in the ICC Cricket World Cup and a new family zone at the Kia Oval. Chief executive Richard Gould talks to Ben Cronin about the club's commercial successes and offers his take on the ECB Hundred.
ICC targets younger audiences with digital-first, data-led broadcasting approach
Adam Nelson reports on how the International Cricket Council revamped its broadcast coverage ahead of the 2019 Cricket World Cup, focusing on storytelling to attract new audiences and break digital engagement records
ECB hopes Cricket World Cup momentum fuels enthusiasm for The Hundred
The 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup has demonstrated that there is a significant market for the ECB's new competition, The Hundred, according to its managing director, Sanjay Patel. He tells Adam Nelson how the ECB intends to capitalise on England's stunning World Cup victory and extend the sport's moment in the sun well beyond this summer.
Free-to-air exposure brings new audiences to cricket, but F1 and Wimbledon still deliver
Sky Sport’s decision to share coverage of the Cricket World Cup with Channel 4 meant an additional 4.8 million are estimated to have watched the Cricket World Cup final. Ben Cronin, global head, Publicis Sport & Entertainment, interprets the viewing figures for a memorable Sunday of sport.
ICC opens up archive to broadcast rights-holders
The International Cricket Council has become the latest sports body to open up its archive of match footage and programming to its broadcast rights-holders amid the ongoing effect of the Covid-19 pandemic
County cricket deals continue as Middlesex signs up Knight Frank
Middlesex County Cricket Club has signed up independent real estate consultancy Knight Frank as a major sponsor
Facebook in talks for stake in Indian telco Jio
Facebook is in talks to acquire a 10-per-cent stake in Indian mobile telco Reliance Jio, according to the Financial Times
IPL 2020 fate in balance, economic consequences begin to be felt
The Board of Control for Cricket in India and franchises in the Indian Premier League are meeting on Tuesday to explore the possibilities for completing the 2020 season, which is currently suspended until…
Tony Singh, England and Wales Cricket Board – It’s good to be back on free-to-air but digital is key to the future
Highlights of our 'media: the world beyond football' at SDMS London. How are rights owners outside the big money football bubble are developing effective media strategies?
T20 World Cup splits men’s and women’s events to diversify sport’s audience and create ‘year-long spectacle’
Next year’s ICC T20 World Cup will see the men’s and women’s events take place separately for the first time, either side of the Australian winter. Event chief executive, Nick Hockley, tells Adam Nelson about his plans for the tournament.
Spurs and Somerset lead the way on growing retail through social, but clubs still leaving money on the table
Research from marketing agency Red Hot Penny suggests clubs across the UK need major rethink of how they convert social engagement into retail sales
ICC uses hybrid ticketing model to boost attendances at 2019 Cricket World Cup
One in three spectators at this year's ICC Cricket World Cup will be new to cricket. SportBusiness examines how the global governing body has marketed tickets for its showpiece event.
Heavyweight backers say mass migration has created opportunity for “Champions League” of cricket in Europe
Former Fifa and Team Marketing executives believe mass-migration has created a new opportunity for a club cricket competition in Europe.
Rights-holders welcome Ticketmaster’s closure of secondary sites
Ticketmaster’s decision to close its secondary ticketing platforms Seatwave and GetMeIn looks like a response to hardening of the political and legislative stance on secondary ticketing sites in Britain and Ireland. Ben Cronin examines what it means for rights-holders.
Data insights allow ICC partners to maximise digital activations
Two years ago the International Cricket Council hired data-driven sports marketing agency Two Circles help meet the rising demand that rights-holders demonstrate measurable impact against brand objectives. David Walmsley investigates how they did it.
It’s a woman’s world: Marketing the ICC Women’s World Cup
Sachin Tendulkar employed as an ambassador to grow the women’s game
Ticket ballot creates sense of demand outstripping supply
Advertising campaigns are not women-specific
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The Secret Fan | England v West Indies, Nottingham
Our resident fan engagement correspondent enjoys the most English of experiences: a rain affected one-day international cricket match between England and the West Indies.
Night and day | Q&A, Neil Snowball, CEO, Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Edgbaston became the first English county cricket ground to host a day/night Test match last week when England played the West Indies. Ben Cronin spoke to Warwickshire County Cricket Club's chief executive Neil Snowball to find out if the new format had been of commercial benefit to the county.
China Digest | Hisense joins Fifa line-up; Blow for Zhang; Suning closes in on Bundesliga; LatAM interest for investors
In this week's China sports industry round-up: Hisense joins the Fifa roster; Zhang faces fresh hurdle in AFC race; Suning close to Bundesliga rights; and more.
The Big Short | The evolution of short formats in sport
The introduction of shorter formats to placate broadcasters and attract time-poor fans can lead to some interesting conflicts of interest for rights-holders. Andy Fry asks how sports can evolve and keep their stakeholders happy at the same time.
Archive | Ecclestone’s premature valediction
SportBusiness International was premature in predicting the end of Bernie Ecclestone's Formula 1 career as he become embroiled in a bribery scandal in 2014. However a series of features from the time are relevant now the octogenarian CEO's reign over the sport has come to an end, writes Ben Cronin.
Howzat? | Why Investec exit signals finance sector shift
Ben Cronin, global lead of network client solutions, Publicis Media Sport & Entertainment, explains why financial brands are rethinking their sponsorship game plan.
Business school | ICC teaches associate cricket nations how to generate income
There are hopes that a new partnership between the International Cricket Council and CSM Sport & Entertainment will help developing cricket nations to create their own income streams. Greg Pitcher reports.
TVSM deal of the month: Cricket Australia first to take advantage of African entrant
TV Sports Markets' Richard Welbirg looks at Cricket Australia's media rights in sub-Saharan Africa
SportBusiness in Numbers |Sky has World Twenty20 blast
Live television audiences in the UK for cricket’s 2016 World Twenty20 in India increased by 90 per cent in comparison with those for the 2014 tournament in Bangladesh. Average audiences jumped from 145,000 (a 1.8-per-cent share) to 276,000 (a 2.9-per-cent share).
Sticky wicket | Why the Fanatix legal ruling is welcome news for rights-holders
A recent UK High Court ruling against the operators of Fanatix was regarded as a victory for rights-holders. But what are the true implications of the case in a sector with many grey areas? Frank Dunne reports.
Flicking the Switch
Rob Ridley asks Cricket Australia about its plans to host the inaugural day and night test next month, and whether it will help to create cricket’s new breed of 24hr party people.