International news agencies have ended their boycott of Australian cricket after reaching a deal over media coverage rights.
Reuters, Associated Press and Agence France-Presse had all been refusing to cover the series between Australia and Sri Lanka in protest at Cricket Australia's demands. But they reached an agreement on Friday, allowing the agencies to start coverage of the second Test in Hobart, which started the same day.
"Reuters is very happy to resume its timely and premium coverage after CA withdrew its unacceptable restrictions to the freedom of coverage," Monique Villa, Reuters managing director, media, said in a statement.
"Cricket Australia has finally agreed to withdraw its request for a licence fee to cover the events and restrictions preventing Reuters from distributing news to all its media clients. "Reuters refused to discriminate among clients and is satisfied that Cricket Australia has finally abandoned its attempt to restrict our rights."
The dispute centred around Cricket Australia's demand that media pay for the right to distribute photographs from their event.