8 team English city-based Twenty20 league to rival IPL and Big Bash

[Donal Cozzie]

Unless the Headingley based team keeps the Yorkshire title (like Kings XI Punjab and Rajasthan Royals) I wouldn't watch this. But then it wouldn't really be aimed at people like me anyway, it would be aimed at the young and those who aren't into cricket already. But, if Sky show it you'd still have the same old problem of a low percentage of the population having the facilities to watch it. If it's going to work it needs to be on free TV like the BBL

Pretty much this. The other issue is, what free terrestrial channels in the UK would even show it if it was free to air? BBC show nothing but garbage these days mostly and have little interest in sport bar rugby and the odd championship match, would they give up 4 hours daily for this? Channel 4 maybe? But you're right anyway, without this being free to air participation levels in England will continue to fall while the ECB profits soar. I think its inevitable anyway, although I have no idea how they'll fit in an 18 county league as well as states in the article. Personally speaking what I like about the Natwest Blast is it doesnt have the same old same ole mercenaries like Gayle,Pollard etc. it actually has a bit of a local touch to it as you see little known guys playing well. Guess that'll mostly be gone now, which is a shame but in this world money talks.

[rajmarie]

lagta hai kuch der me to sirf T20 Leagues hi hoti rahegi saal bhar ke liye :phehehe:

:dance: Then IPL can expand to 7-8 months

[G_B_]

Dearie me~~!!!! Roughly 20 times the ost of a full HD package in india

it includes broadband and telephone (land line) packages. Problem is that its not that expensive going to the stadium. When a run of the mill football match in the premier league costs £50 (add another 20 for food and drink and transport) it starts looking really cheap. India will always operate on the principle of volume. The biggest problem in the uk is there are too many sports. Football cricket rugby (union and league). Then you have a shed load of minor sports. Snooker, horse racing , tennis (interest in there), hockey etc etc (there are plenty more i cant remember) . In order to sustain so many prices have to rise. Pay wall looks tempting. Its not just Murdoch, sports like Snooker and Horse racing are heavily dependent on bookies. People stop betting on the events and these sports will die. Many of these sporting events are free to air for that very reason. If there comes a point whereby there is such heavy betting on the cricket in the Uk. The bookies will force the ECB to take cricket free to air to encourage more betting. Ie they will tie up with a free to air channel and sponcer the whole match. Thus far its not happened. To look at cricket, 18 counties is just too much. Each county has their own ground and 30 odd players and support staff (including reserves etc). So you are talking about an eco system with about 500-600 people in total (including under 19 teams etc). The county game is in debt and heavily reliant on the ECB for pouring in the funds. To add to the problem new grounds just keep on adding. Rose Bowl Swansea Chester Le Street and the new kid on the block will be Bristol. I think by 2020 England and Wales will end up with 10 proper cricket only grounds about 15-30k. So there is major over capacity in a sport which is clearly playing second fiddle to the public interest in football.