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World Cup to be streamed for free after 'slap in the face'

After revelations the upcoming women’s ODI World Cup would not feature on free-to-air television, moves have been made to ensure fans don’t miss out

The upcoming women's ODI World Cup will be removed from behind a paywall in Australia after Alyssa Healy called the Nine Network's failure to purchase the rights for the event "a slap in the face".

Healy, her teammates and cricket fans more broadly responded strongly after cricket.com.au revealed on Sunday morning that Nine would broadcast every Australian men's match – and the finals – of this year's 2022 T20 World Cup to be hosted in Australia, and next year's ODI World Cup in India, but it would not do the same for the upcoming women's event in New Zealand.

The Australia wicketkeeper immediately took to Twitter to offer 20 Kayo gift vouchers to fans who cannot afford the subscription streaming service or a full Foxtel package for the month-long tournament.

News Corp, which owns Foxtel and Kayo, confirmed on Sunday afternoon they had made the decision to make the ICC event part of their "freebies pack" on their Kayo platform, making it more accessible and delighting Healy.

"It's a little bit of a slap in the face to say that we're not commercially viable," Healy said of the lack of traditional a free-to-air television broadcaster, with her comments coming before the announcement the tournament will be on Kayo Freebies.

"That someone doesn't want to stick their hand up and say, 'we're going to put this on the telly so that everyone can watch it'.

"It's a little bit hard to take in that regard.

"Not having it on free-to-air excludes a fair chunk of our population who don't want to pay or can't afford to pay for subscription TV."

The Kayo announcement is a positive step for fans, who are also unable to travel to the event in New Zealand due to the country's border closure.

However, the lack of free-to-air television coverage still detracts from the overall broadcast footprint of the event.

"I feel like the momentum is there, and it sends a really powerful message to see our female athletes have an opportunity to share in the spotlight," Australia vice-captain Rachael Haynes said on Sunday.

"The visibility is extremely important.

"I am disappointed it's not on free-to-air TV in Australia."

The opening Ashes T20I on Thursday night attracted an average audience of 302,000 on free-to-air broadcaster 7mate and paid service Foxtel, a 46 per cent increase on the average T20I audience for the 2017-18 Ashes, despite running up against Nick Kyrgrios' showdown with Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open tennis.

Aussies take first-up points on back of McGrath magic

It was also a 16 per cent increase on the first T20I against India earlier this summer. 

Nine and Foxtel have been in a separate joint venture arrangement to share broadcast rights for International Cricket Council events since 2008.

It sees Foxtel sub-licence the Australian broadcast rights from the ICC's global broadcast rights partner, India's Star Sports, and then on-sells to Nine certain matches to meet the conditions of Australia's anti-siphoning legislation.

Nine simulcast Australia's matches and the final of the 2018 and 2020 women's T20 World Cups.

An audience of 825,000 tuned into the final of the 2020 event at the MCG, despite it being aired on secondary channel GEM.

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Nine also televised the finals of the 2017 Women's ODI World Cup, and streamed all of Australia's group games on 9Now.

It is not clear whether Nine sought or were offered the rights to this year's ODI event, with a statement from Channel Nine telling cricket.com.au on Sunday: "Nine's sub license agreement with Foxtel only includes rights to the Men's T20 World Cup."

The women's ODI World Cup would appear to be protected under Australia's anti-siphoning laws, but Foxtel sources are confident it remains outside of the legislation.

Australia's anti-siphoning list – designed to ensure events of significant cultural interest are broadcast free-to-air – includes several cricket events, notably Test matches played in Australia and away Ashes tours.

The anti-siphoning list – officially known as the Broadcasting Services (Events) Notice – includes Australia's ODI World Cup matches that are played in Australia or New Zealand, and does not differentiate between men's and women's events.

Cricket fans in Australia can sign up to stream Kayo, including Kayo Freebies, right here

Commonwealth Bank Women's Ashes v England

Australia Ashes squad: Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Hannah Darlington, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Rachael Haynes (vc), Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Meg Lanning (c), Tahlia McGrath, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland

England Ashes squad: Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Katherine Brunt, Kate Cross, Freya Davies, Charlie Dean, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Sarah Glenn, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver (vc), Anya Shrubsole, Mady Villiers, Lauren Winfield-Hill, Danni Wyatt

Australia lead the multi-format series 4-2

Jan 20: Australia won by nine wickets

Jan 22: No Result

Jan 23: Match Abandoned without a ball bowled

Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval, 10am AEDT, 

Feb 3: First ODI, Manuka Oval (D/N), 2.10pm AEDT

Feb 6: Second ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT

Feb 8: Third ODI, Junction Oval, 10.05am AEDT