Live domestic and international cricket will return to the BBC from 2020 as part of a new broadcast deal.
The deal will see Sky retain the majority of rights while the BBC will broadcast 10 live matches from the ECB’s new Twenty20 competition as well as two England Twenty20 internationals.
The BBC’s deal, which also sees Test Match Special retain live radio rights and exclusive digital clips for their online platforms, will mean live cricket returns to a terrestrial broadcaster for the first time since it was on Channel 4 in 2005. It was last shown on the BBC in 1999. The Corporation will also take over highlights of international cricket from Channel 5.
The new deal will run from 2020 to 2024.
The BBC’s director general, Tony Hall said: “It’s long been our ambition to bring live cricket back to BBC television. I’m thrilled to see that ambition realised. Cricket is an integral part of the British summer and the BBC will be putting its full weight behind the nation’s favourite summer sport. Our aim will be to make the new T20 competition a huge success.”
Tom Harrison, chief executive officer of ECB, added: “BBC are valuable long-term partners, bringing cricket to listeners, viewers and a new digital audience. We are delighted they will go to another level with live coverage of International and domestic T20 – men’s and women’s – alongside prime-time highlights shows and a commitment to taking the game to even wider audiences.”
