Paramount+ locked Australian streaming rights for Cricket Australia’s home summer on Thursday, including men’s one-day internationals against India and selected Sheffield Shield fixtures, intensifying the fight with Foxtel’s Kayo for sports subscribers.
Deal terms
Cricket Australia said Paramount will simulcast free-to-air matches carried by Channel Seven while offering exclusive camera angles and condensed replays on its streaming app. Financial terms were not disclosed, but industry sources pegged the package above $80 million annually across three seasons.
The agreement lets Paramount bundle cricket with its AFL and A-League rights in one subscription, a pitch aimed at households cutting cable but still paying for live sport.
Viewer impact
Fans who watched Test cricket on Kayo may need a second app unless Foxtel negotiates sub-licensing for away tours. Paramount plans a 4K feed for day-night ODIs and a data-lite radio-style stream for regional users on satellite internet.
Production plans
Cricket Australia will keep host broadcast production in Melbourne, employing the same camera crew that covered the recent women’s Ashes. Paramount committed to hiring trainee directors from Indigenous media programs.
Regulatory angle
The Australian Communications and Media Authority may scrutinise whether streaming exclusives meet anti-siphoning rules for nationally significant events. Cricket Australia argued ODIs remain on free-to-air television, satisfying legacy requirements.
For subscribers, the summer menu now spans pink-ball Tests, Shield rookies and another app icon on the smart TV home screen.
Advertising inventory
Paramount plans to sell interactive ads during ODIs, letting viewers vote on player cameras from the app. Seven will retain linear ad breaks under its free-to-air contract.
Sports betting operators must follow responsible gambling codes; streaming overlays will include mandatory cooling-off links after 9 p.m.
Women’s cricket
Cricket Australia said women’s international matches remain on existing Foxtel and ABC arrangements, avoiding a split that frustrated WBBL fans last season.
Paramount hinted it may bid for WBBL rights in the next cycle if this summer’s metrics beat internal targets on watch time per subscriber.
Device support
The app will launch on Samsung and LG TVs in November, reducing reliance on Chromecast dongles that lagged during last year’s football finals.
Radio and podcast
ABC Radio Grandstand retains radio rights for Tests; Paramount will produce a daily podcast with former players explaining DRS decisions for streaming subscribers.
Pricing
Paramount did not announce a price rise with the cricket bundle, betting that live sport reduces churn among subscribers who joined for reality television libraries.
Kayo Sports said it will still carry away Ashes tours and BBL matches under existing contracts, preserving its pitch as the all-cricket app for travelling fans.
Free-to-air highlights packages will remain on Channel Seven’s digital app for users who do not subscribe to Paramount.