ESPN+ has expanded its cricket coverage by striking a five-year agreement with Cricket West Indies (CWI) for exclusive media and digital rights in the United States to all West Indies international home matches and regional tournaments.
The agreement with the ESPN streaming service covers a total of 124 matches, including Twenty20 internationals, one-day internationals, and Test matches. It also includes CWI’s marquee regional 50-over tournament, the CG Insurance Super50 Cup, which is also aired exclusively in the Caribbean by ESPN.
The partnership begins on February 7, with CG Insurance Super50 Cup matches, including the championship final on February 27. The first international event of the agreement begins on March 2, when Sri Lanka travels to the West Indies.
“ESPN is the sports channel for American households and sports fans and we’re delighted that West Indies cricket will now be enjoyed in the homes and on the devices of millions of Americans,” said Johnny Grave, Cricket West Indies chief executive.
“We have an ambitious strategic plan to increase West Indies presence and profile in North America and our new five-year agreement with ESPN is a crucial partnership that will help us achieve our goal,” Grave said.
CWI president Ricky Skerritt described the deal as the governing body’s “largest ever media rights agreement in the USA.”
“Broadcast media rights income is crucial to the future financial sustainability of CWI,” said Skeritt, adding that more media rights deals will be announced in the coming weeks.
In November, ESPN+, which has an estimated 11.5 million subscribers, secured a similar six-year rights deal with New Zealand Cricket.
John Stephenson
john@cricketinvestor.co.uk
#Cricketnews #ESPN+ #CWI
