Ahead of the first Ashes test in Perth on Friday, SVG Europe spoke with Warner Bros. Discovery Sports Europe’s Scott Young to learn what he and the TNT Sports production team have planned for the 2025-26 England vs Australia series. The Ashes is one of world sport’s most storied contests, first played in 1882. The Test rivalry between England and Australia holds mythical significance for cricket fans. The prize is modest—a tiny terracotta urn—but the cultural weight attached to this sporting contest is substantial.
It’s a Test series, so matches run up to five days, with 6 to 7 hours of play per day, and the five-match series occurs every two years, alternating between the UK and Australia. Because of the format and history, the Ashes offers broadcasters something relatively unique in contemporary sport: long-form, undulating drama, enduring heritage, and a derby-like rivalry, with enough time and narrative space to explore evolving storylines.
In the UK, TNT Sports holds the rights to show the series under a broader deal with Cricket Australia. Previously, BT Sport aired England’s two most recent away Ashes series before its merger with Warner Bros.
“The Ashes is one of world sport’s most storied contests... It provides long-form drama and a derby-like rivalry with space to explore evolving narratives.”
Author’s note: The article outlines TNT Sports’ hybrid production approach and the significance of the Ashes’ format for storytelling and broadcast strategy, rooted in the series’ deep historical context.