TNT Sports is on the verge of securing live UK rights for England’s white-ball tour of Australia next month, with the potential for one match to be broadcast free-to-air (FTA) on Channel 5.

According to The Guardian, Channel 5 is in advanced discussions with Cricket Australia regarding a highlights package for the eight-match tour, and is also negotiating to secure live rights for one of the five T20 internationals.

Key details include:

• Channel 5 currently holds live rights for two home men’s and two women’s T20s each summer in a four-year deal that began this year.
• They have never broadcast an England match from overseas.

The opening T20 match of the five-match series, scheduled for 21 November in Melbourne, is of particular interest to Channel 5, as its start time of 8.15am on a Saturday morning is expected to draw a significant UK audience. If finalized, this deal would mark the first time an England overseas game has been aired FTA since Channel 4 covered a Test series in India during the final Covid-19 lockdown in 2021.

TNT Sports has previously broadcast England’s last three Ashes series in Australia, making their bid for this white-ball tour unsurprising, especially given interest from Sky Sports and Dazn. The collaboration between TNT Sports and Channel 5 hints at potential future partnerships, as both are owned by US media giant Paramount Skydance.

As the England squad prepares to travel to Australia next month following a challenging one-day international tri-series in Pakistan, the England and Wales Cricket Board has organized a 50-over warm-up game at the WACA on 7 November before the series kicks off on 13 November. Despite recent criticism regarding their preparations, Cricket Australia is reportedly confident the deal with TNT Sports will be finalized.