ESPN Extends Broadcast Rights Through 2013
Beyond NYCBeyond USA January 7, 2011 admin 0
St John’s Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board today announced an historic three year agreement with broadcast partner ESPN. Under the new deal, ESPN in the Caribbean and ESPN3.com in the US, will broadcast Caribbean T20 and other WICB regional tournaments live to audiences across the globe. Highlights packages of West Indies international home series will also air on ESPN in the Caribbean.
ESPN was host broadcaster for the inaugural Caribbean T20 in July 2010 and also will be host broadcaster for the second edition to be played from Monday, January 10 to Sunday, January 23 in Antigua and Barbados. Under the new deal ESPN and ESPN3.com in the U.S. will broadcast the tournament in 2012 and 2013 as well.
“The WICB is pleased to be working with ESPN once more. We see this as a mutual investment in the sport, in our players and the people across the Caribbean. The new three-year deal will further help to showcase the players in the West Indies and give them unparalleled global exposure. It will also give viewers around the world the opportunity to get a taste and feel of the unique flavour, style and vibe of cricket in the Caribbean,” said Dr Ernest Hilaire, Chief Executive of the WICB.
“The WICB and ESPN have formed a very close relationship and we are both working well together as we seek to create a framework for cricket in the West Indies,” Hilaire continued. “ESPN has demonstrated a passion for West Indies cricket and we are pleased to have them on board with us,” Dr Hilaire said.
“ESPN’s mission is to deliver the highest quality sports events to our viewers, and this agreement strengthens this commitment,” said Bernard Stewart, Vice President, ESPN Caribbean and Maritime Media. “With the WICB matches, we will be providing West Indies cricket fans the opportunity to watch their local heroes on live television, as well as expand the appreciation of West Indies cricket by presenting these matches to our international viewership.”
Under the new agreement and in addition to the CT20, ESPN will broadcast other WICB regional cricket events, including the semi final and final of the WICB Regional 50 Over Tournament, to their global audiences in the Caribbean, the U.S., Australia and New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East.
In the Caribbean, fans will be able to view the matches live on ESPN Caribbean or ESPN2 Caribbean. And in the US, the tournament and other WICB regional cricket events will be carried exclusively on ESPN3.com, ESPN’s 24/7 signature broadband sports network.
Additionally ESPN will also air one-hour highlights programmes to their Caribbean audience of West Indies Home Series in 2011 – when West Indies host India and Pakistan; and 2012 – when West Indies host New Zealand and Australia.
