West Indies hit four as Sky NZ seals long-term rights deal

Cricket West Indies has tied up a further multi-year broadcast rights deal, this time with Sky New Zealand for international and regional matches played in the Caribbean.

Under the “long-term” agreement, the pay-television operator will show exclusive live coverage in New Zealand of West Indies home fixtures and live games and highlights from local competitions such as the CG Insurance Super50 Cup.

Coverage will be available on Sky television channels and the Sky Go mobile app and Sky Sport Now streaming app.

It comes into effect for Sri Lanka’s tour of West Indies starting this week, which comprises three Twenty20 internationals, three one-day internationals and two test matches.

Other visitors to the Caribbean this year are expected to include South Africa, Australia and Pakistan, with New Zealand likely to return next year for a limited overs series postponed last year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Sky is the established home of top cricket in New Zealand, and holds rights to major ICC events in a deal running to 2023.

However, streaming service Spark Sport now holds domestic rights to international and domestic matches in New Zealand in a six-year deal that came into effect in 2020.

The rights deal with Sky is the fourth to be sealed by CWI in the past month, with multi-year agreements having already been announced with BT Sport in the UK and Ireland, ESPN in USA and SuperSport in sub-Saharan Africa.

Johnny Grave, the chief executive of CWI, said: “This landmark long-term agreement with New Zealand’s leading sports broadcaster will ensure West Indies matches and New Zealand tours of the West Indies can be watched live on TV and mobile devices. This partnership delivers on our strategy to deliver the best of West Indies cricket to fans all over the world.”

Sophie Moloney, the chief executive of Sky, added: “The West Indies have always delivered some of the most exciting and explosive cricket, appreciated by fans around the world. New Zealand cricket lovers are no exception, and we look forward to continuing our fantastic relationship on behalf of our customers.”