The Ashes starts November 21. TNT Sports won’t send full crews to Australia. Their approach for the 2025-26 series shows where sports production is headed.
Split operations: three-camera presentation setups at Australian venues. Main production team in London control centers. Commentary divided between on-site talent and remote studios.
The Economics Changed
Traditional broadcast production costs between $50,000 and $100,000 per match. Remote integration models drop that to $10,000—a 5-10x reduction.
Hybrid production environments are “fast becoming the operational standard.”
TNT Sports maintains on-ground presence while controlling production from London.
How It Works
Directors, producers, and technical teams integrate Fox Sports World Feed with local presentation elements from London.
Commentary splits across locations: Sir Alastair Cook and Graeme Swann work from Australian venues. Rob Hatch and Ebony Rainford-Brent cover from London studios.
Scott Young, TNT Sports’ group SVP of content, production and business operations, describes their editorial approach as “a little bit maverick.” The coverage targets UK audiences while respecting cricket traditions.
The Audience Side
The 2023 Ashes opener’s fifth day drew 2.12 million UK viewers on Sky Sports—the highest viewing figure recorded for a Test match on the platform.
Despite overnight timing challenges, engagement remains strong.
Distribution spans linear channels and the discovery+ streaming platform, with timeline markers for key moments. “The Edge,” a London studio show hosted by Craig Doyle with Sir James Anderson, provides Test reviews.
What Comes Next
Hybrid production cuts costs, shrinks carbon footprints, and expands talent pools beyond geographic limits.
The approach works for overnight coverage, where full on-site crews would operate during off-peak hours anyway.
TNT Sports knows audience engagement depends on on-field performance. An England victory in the first Test would drive interest through the series.
But the production model itself is here to stay. Broadcasters now choose how to blend on-site and remote elements, not whether to go hybrid.
Five matches. Two countries. One production model that cuts costs by 80% while maintaining broadcast quality.
Other sports networks are taking notes.