Network Ten has moved to bolster its broadcast of this year’s Big Bash League cricket with all men’s games to be played in prime time, while it has also extended its coverage of women’s competition, as it moves into its final year of an existing deal with Cricket Australia (CA).

Cricket Australia is currently in the middle of media rights negotiation for the franchise which has proven to be a ratings blockbuster for Ten throughout the quiet Christmas period, regularly pulling metro audiences of 800,000 and more. Attendances at matches has also rocketed.

The women’s competition kicks off before the men’s on December 10 with the first match between the Melbourne Stars and Sydney Thunder being shown on the primary channel at 6:00pm, leading CEO Paul Anderson to claim it is “this will be the first time a standalone women’s sporting competition has been broadcast in prime time on a commercial free-to-air television network’s primary channel.”

It has also extended its coverage of the fledgling women’s league to 12 matches from 10.

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This year Ten will broadcast all 35 matches from the men’s competition in prime-time. Last year three of the games started in the afternoon. The 40-day competition kicks off on December 20 with champions Sydney Thunder taking on city rivals Sydney Sixers.

It has also extended its coverage of the fledgling women’s league to 12 matches from 10 last year, with the games attracting decent ratings in their afternoon slots last season.

Network Ten CEO, Paul Anderson, said: “The KFC Big Bash League has become an integral part of summer in Australia. Cricket Australia has created and built an incredibly popular and successful competition, and we are thrilled to be able to bring it to all Australians.

“Network Ten has always been a leader in broadcasting women’s sport and we are leading the way again this summer. We are proud to further cement our commitment to women’s sport through a landmark deal.”

Network Ten executive producer, Big Bash League, David Barham said: “The Women’s Big Bash League proved extremely successful last summer and we are delighted to be broadcasting 20% more women’s Big Bash this summer.

“Working closely with Cricket Australia, we have been able to structure the draw to ensure more Women’s Big Bash League matches can be broadcast live on Network Ten.”

Ten has also added journalist and broadcaster Roz Kelly to its commentary line-up, which features Adam Gilchrist, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Damien Fleming, Mark Howard and Andy Maher. However, the shows will need a new anchor with Mel McLaughlin jumping ship to rival, Seven. Mel Jones and Lisa Sthaleker will return as Women’s Big Bash League commentators.

Barham added: “The KFC Big Bash League has been a great success for Network Ten, beating all our ratings targets in years one, two and three.

“To have every match broadcast live around the country was again the priority for 2016-17 and we are delighted that we have been able to achieve it. With even more high-profile players joining the competition this year, we are expecting a great summer.”

Big Bash League manager Anthony Everard will be talking about how they made the competition a hit with fans plus the rise of the women’s game at the Mumbrella Sports Marketing Summit on July 28. For more details click the banner.