10 matches in an entire tournament of 34 matches including 2 group stage matches and all of Super Sixes and the Finals. This is the scheduling broadcast announced by ICC for the World Cup Qualifiers, starting on 04th Mar 2018.
With so much interest from audiences from Nepal and Afghanistan, it was a given that the question will be raised as to why even Live Streaming of matches was not available for the group stage matches. Here are some of the reasons/issues that the broadcaster face during the multi-day, multiple matches at various grounds, that will be happening around Harare and Bulawayo.
1) Commercially, not cost-effective as 4 matches will be played across 4 grounds on a single day and it’s not possible to have the required Technology, logistics, Cameras, Crews, Production facilities, Commentary team and Graphics team available at all the four venues. Again, only catering to certain countries interest should not outweigh the rest.
2) The total cost’s if everything gets streamed Live will cut into the eventual profits for all people involved (Cricket Boards of all countries playing in the tournament) in the production management of the event. If revenue generation is not enough to pay the Cricket Boards at the end of the event, then ICC has to bear the expenses for the overall event and thus the Cricket Board also gets lesser. As the cost of hosting a multi-nation tournament comes from the organizing fees paid by the member boards, not a viable option for sure.
3) Zimbabwe Cricket are under a huge amount of debt and with the organising fees paid by ICC to them for hosting the event, majority is being used to upgrade the facilities of the other grounds in Harare and Bulawayo to accommodate the players and officials. They are the main people here, right??
4) Global Production rights for ICC tournaments stays with Star and the digital rights also with them, which is used in showing the matches on their digital platform, Hotstar. Any other local broadcasters have to get the official permission from them to share the Live feed for matches and if they are not covering the matches, than any other arrangement with ground officials will be deemed illegal and the penalties/repercussions will be huge.
