Sky Retain Cricket Rights In New £300 Million Deal
BSkyB has secured the British TV rights to England’s home Test matches, Twenty20 and one-day internationals until 2013 in a new deal unveiled today.
As part of the deal, which is worth £300 million in total, Channel Five has also retained the right to continue broadcasting cricket highlights of England’s home Test matches.
Sky has screened England’s tests abroad since 1990 and has had exlusive live Test coverage since 2006, after winning the rights from Channel 4.
However, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has come under fire for its previous TV rights deal with Sky, which resulted in live cricket coverage coming off terrestial television in 2006.
Today’s deal means cricket fans will be unable to watch live England home Test match games until 2010, unless they subscribe to Sky Sports.
Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, said: “We held extensive talks with all broadcasters and were determined to be as flexible as possible in terms of our packaging and scheduling to allow the maximum number of bids for cricket from all areas of the broadcast industry.”
He added: “The ECB recognises and are grateful for Sky Sports’ loyalty to the sport – both at home and when the England team tour overseas.”
BskyB: 0207 705 3000 www.sky.com Five: 020 7550 5555 www.five.tv