Fox Sports is set to launch an aggressive bid for cricket broadcast rights, potentially partnering with incumbent international rights holder Nine Entertainment Co.

The pay-television operator is keen to win back at least some exclusive rights to the Big Bash League, which it telecast before losing the rights to Network Ten in 2013, and may even simulcast some international matches and other BBL games with Nine.

Fox's bold plans could also include a dedicated cricket channel, adding to the existing Fox Footy channel for the AFL and a new NRL channel that will launch with a new broadcast rights deal starting with the 2017 season.

Fox Sports want a piece of the cricket action, including exclusive rights to Big Bash League matches. Robert Prezioso

The move would be similar to the agreement Fox and Nine have for the NRL, under which Fox broadcasts all eight matches per round, three of which are also shown by Nine. Fox and Seven West Media also share rights to the AFL.

Fox's play for cricket could also help Nine in terms of costs, with Nine's chief executive, Hugh Marks, who is also keen to get a hold of rights to the BBL for Nine, as revealed by The Australian Financial Review, flagging that there may need to be a readjustment in how sports rights increase in price and that pricing increase was likely to come from BBL not international matches.