BBC and Sky win live cricket rights

Live cricket is coming back to BBC TV for the first time in 21 years.

The BBC have announced a new five-year partnership with the England & Wales Cricket Board, which will bring over 100 hours of live cricket to the terrestrial channel from the year 2020.

The BBC also retained the exclusive live national radio rights with its iconic Test Match Special coverage.

The deal, which runs from 2020 to 2024, includes live TV coverage of two England men’s international T20 matches, a live England women’s T20 international, live TV coverage of 10 men’s matches from the ECB’s New T20 competition, plus up to eight live matches from the women’s T20 tournament and highlights of the England men’s side’s home international matches. The BBC has also re-secured an extensive package of digital clip rights to the English cricketing summer for online/mobile audiences.

Sky also agreed a new five-year TV deal with the ECB today, including live coverage of all England home tests, one-day internationals and T20 games, women’s matches and county cricket. And Sky Sports’ schedule will also include coverage of the new T20 and the women’s KIA Super League, as well as the England national side’s upcoming tours of Sri Lanka, New Zealand, South Africa and West Indies.

BT, which was also vying for the rights was left empty handed.