Sky Sports Extends Big Bash League Broadcast Rights in UK and Ireland

Sky Sports has secured a four-year extension of its broadcast rights for the KFC Big Bash League (BBL) and Weber Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL), maintaining its position as the home of Australia’s leading domestic T20 competitions in the UK and Ireland.

The deal ensures continuity for British fans, who have had access to the BBL since its inception. With most matches played in morning timeslots, the leagues provide an attractive winter product for Sky Sports’ cricket portfolio, filling a gap in the off-season and offering exposure to both Australian and international talent.

Commenting on the renewal of the deal, and how it demonstrates the continued appeal of the Big Bash to global audiences, Cricket Australia’s executive general manager, Legal and Business Affairs, Kate Ingber, said: “From their very first seasons the Big Bash Leagues have enjoyed fantastic engagement with British fans who wake up to the excitement and drama of world class T20 cricket during the winter months.” 

Sky Sports director of Cricket and NFL, Bryan Henderson, described the competitions as “one of the most entertaining tournaments in the global cricket calendar,” noting the strategic value of extending the partnership at a time when both the men’s and women’s formats are “going from strength to strength.”

Renewal Follows a Period of Strong Commercial and Audience Growth for the Leagues

The 2024–25 BBL season was the most-watched under current rights agreements, while average match attendance of 22,076 marked the highest since 2017–18 and ranked second across all Australian sports leagues. Digital engagement has also been a focus, with the Big Bash app consistently topping the Apple and Google Play sports charts in Australia.

For Sky Sports, retaining the rights strengthens its year-round cricket content offering, complementing domestic competitions and ICC tournaments.

For Cricket Australia, the deal underscores the importance of maintaining international exposure as the league continues to position itself among the world’s top T20 competitions.

The agreement also ensures UK audiences will see leading English players compete in Australia this season, including Sam Curran, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Sophie Ecclestone and Heather Knight, reinforcing the league’s role as a global stage for talent.

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