UK free-to-air broadcaster Channel 4 is reportedly close to reaching a deal to show highlights of this year’s Cricket World Cup.
The deal is expected to be announced next week in a sub-licencing agreement with CWC international rights holder Star and UK rights-holder Sky, according to the Times newspaper.
Under the agreement, Channel 4 will show highlights of all England’s matches, both semi-finals and the tournament’s final. The package is expected to be produced by Sunset & Vine, which worked with Channel 4 when it last broadcast cricket in 2005.
Sunset & Vine currently produces UK commercial broadcaster Channel 5’s highlights packages for England’s national cricket team.
Public broadcaster the BBC will also provide some coverage of the tournament through in-game clips on its website. The BBC did not bid for the free-to-air highlights package because of scheduling difficulties given short notice, according to the report.
ESPN holds the rights to broadcast online highlights packages in the UK and Ireland for the tournament.
The CWC 2019 will take place in England and Wales from May 30 to July 14. England faces South Africa in the opening match.
It will be the first CWC to have highlights available on UK free-to-air television since 2011.