Sky Sports extends partnership with ECB till 2017
MUMBAI: UK?s leading pay-tv sportscaster, Sky Sports, has renewed partnership with England Cricket Board covering television, mobile and online medium.
The exclusive deal with Sky means that there will no live cricket on free-to-view television.
The new deal begins in 2014 and continues until the end of the summer in 2017.
ECB?s current four-year deal with Sky which began in 2009 and will run through to 2013 is estimated to be in the region of ?280 million.
Sky Sports has been awarded exclusive live coverage of all of England?s Test matches played at home, including series against India (2014), Australia (2015), Pakistan (2016) and South Africa (2017), One-Day Internationals and T20 matches, plus selected fixtures including England Lions and women?s matches.
The broadcaster will also have rights to televise at least 60 days of domestic cricket each summer covering each of the major competitions and including every county.
The new deal will take Sky?s partnership with the ECB into its 12th year and also provides an option for Sky to extend the deal for an additional two years to cover tours by India in 2018 and Australia in 2019.
Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: "Cricket is flourishing in England and Wales, with increased participation, record attendances and success for England?s men and women. Through extending our partnership, the ECB can invest on and off the pitch and the game can continue to grow."
ECB Chairman Giles Clarke said, "Noone should be in any doubt that our partnership with Sky has been of immense benefit to the wider game. World-class support structures for our successful England teams, major ground improvements at county level, a flourishing coach education programme and a five per increase in participation at our ?Focus? clubs are all by-products of this relationship."
Sky first showed live coverage of the England cricket team in 1990 with the tour of the Caribbean, the first ever live ball by ball coverage of an overseas series. The broadcaster has shown cricket every month over the last five years and in 2010 celebrated its 150th live England Test match.
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