ECB Extends Media Rights With Sky Sports

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has extended its media rights deal with Sky Sports until 2028.

The extended deal will see greater amounts of sport on the Sky Sports platform.

Sky Sports said the deal will include: 90 extra hours of live cricket guaranteed on TV each year, more women’s cricket, further coverage of The Hundred and more.

Sky’s investment from the deal has allowed for under 250 million (Euro) to be devoted to recreational cricket.

300,000 children have also taken part in ECB national programmes and 4,500 grants awarded to clubs from Sky’s investment.

ECB interim chief executive officer, Clare Connor, said: “We have a shared commitment to growing the sport and investing in more opportunities not only for people to watch and follow cricket in all its forms, but also to pick up a bat and ball.”

“Thanks to Sky and the support of other partners, we saw a record 14 million people playing, attending or following cricket in 2021.

“This year alone, 10,000 children will get the chance to have a free taste of cricket through Sky Dynamos Intros.

“Our shared values and vision with Sky will make cricket accessible to even more people over the coming years and will use the power of sport to inspire the next generation, while safeguarding the wonderful traditions which are such a key part of our game, she said.”

Sky’ investment also funds opportunities for children of all backgrounds to play the sport, also women and girls’ cricket.

Sky’s EVP and CEO UK and Europe, Stephen van Rooyen, added: “On screen, we will continue to push boundaries in our BAFTA-winning coverage, bringing Sky Sports viewers even more live action from 2025 – including more women’s cricket than ever before – with men’s and women’s England internationals and domestic cricket.”

“Sky’s investment over the last 30 years has contributed to a great deal of success on the pitch, and we hope to be at the forefront of much more to come, he said.”

There has been a 73% increase of total viewing hours of cricket on Sky since 2017, which will hope to grow with the extended deal.