Australia's top cricketers believe the revenue share model they are fighting to retain is even more important at a time when the sport's next broadcast deal is uncertain, with Big Bash broadcaster Channel Ten in crisis.
The network's dire financial predicament is casting doubt on cricket's hopes of a bumper new media rights contract and the players' bid for a lucrative new pay deal.
Cricket Australia maintained a close eye on Ten's position on Tuesday when the network's shares were placed in a trading halt, amid fears billionaire shareholders Lachlan Murdoch (through his investment vehicle Illryia) and Bruce Gordon (through his vehicle Birketu) will not guarantee a $250 million debt renewal.
This is due in December, when Ten will be broadcasting the BBL and the WBBL in the final year of its five-year deal.
Ten's concerns come at a time when the cricketers are fighting for a new pay deal. The Australian Cricketers Association estimates there will be $2.5 billion in revenue pour into the sport over the next five years. But that could change if there is a lack of tension in the market for the new round of international and broadcast rights.
Nine has made it clear it wants to retain international matches but also grab the BBL and WBBL. A new deal had been expected to treble the $100 million contract Ten inked in 2013.
"It further emphasises how the revenue share model is relevant with uncertain financial times in the game," an ACA spokesman told Fairfax Media on Tuesday.
The ACA and CA are at loggerheads over the set-percentage pay structure, with players arguing for a fixed percentage, of 22.5 per cent, to come from revenue before costs while the governing body argues that is economically unviable.
The players believe the percentage model, which was struck 20 years ago, has a proven history of withstanding the game's peaks and troughs. Players say they would accept a pay cut in tough times.
Ten's weakened position is likely to mean it would need Fox Sports to help bid for the BBL rights, with some matches likely to be exclusive to pay television. Rupert Murdoch's Foxtel already owns 15 per cent of Ten and the two organisations are increasingly operating as one.
Should Ten go into administration, the network would continue to operate, but there could be restrictions on the money it would be allowed to invest in new deals.
Channel Seven has expressed interest in cricket over the years. It has been noted its contract with Tennis Australia to broadcast the Australian Open expires in 2019.
It has also been noted Ten's latest woes come in a week when Parliament has resumed, and media chiefs are campaigning for reforms that would transform broadcast restrictions.
CA, led by head negotiator Kevin Roberts, and the ACA, led by Alistair Nicholson, have commenced informal negotiations in a bid to end the impasse over a new memorandum of understanding. They have until June 30 to at least find some common ground otherwise contingency plans will have to be enacted. This includes offering tour-by-tour contracts, with an Australia A tour of South Africa next month the first on the list.
Players say they want progress in discussions this month before they would consider such an offer.
