BBC Affirms Four-Year Contract Extension for England Cricket Team and The Hundred Tournament
Crickets, BBC Style: The Unexpected Twists!
The BBC's love affair with cricket continues as they ink a fresh deal with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for the next four years - transitioning from 2025 to 2028. But, hang on, there are some surprises in store!
Let's unpack this deal, shall we?
Firstly, The Hundred Coverage: You'll still get to witness all the action live on BBC TV and iPlayer as the broadcaster continues to cover the men's and women's Hundred tournaments. Eight double headers a season, plus the opening matches and finals, are all part of the package!
However, the twist comes when you look at Live England Cricket Internationals. Unlike before, the BBC won't be airing live matches anymore. Instead, they'll present you with highlights of England men's and women's internationals across their linear channels and on iPlayer.
Now, let's get to the T20 Internationals. These rights were separated from the main deal and will be awarded independently by the ECB. Seems like they didn't receive satisfying bids from major free-to-air broadcasters for these specific matches.
But wait, there's more! The BBC will retain Audio Rights for all England internationals up until 2028, meaning you can still enjoy the commentary on their radio service.
Lastly, the Highlights and Additional Coverage: The BBC promises to provide comprehensive highlights until 2029, peppering in live clips and other cricket content to keep you entertained. They'll also continue to rely on their Test Match Special audio service for additional cricket thrills!
As Alex Kay-Jelski, BBC Sport director, puts it, "Cricket isn't just a game of numbers, it's a game of stories." This extended partnership ensures that the BBC keeps spinning those cricket yarns for you, bringing the highs and lows of the game to life across the UK!
The deal between the BBC and ECB, spanning from 2025 to 2028, includes continuing live coverage of the men's and women's Hundred tournaments but restricts live England cricket internationals, offering highlights instead. Despite the changes, audio rights for all England internationals remain with the BBC until 2028, and they plans to extend their comprehensive highlights and additional coverage until 2029, encompassing live clips and variety of cricket content.
