US pay-television provider Dish, and its over-the-top subsidiary Sling TV, have agreed a long-term extension to their strategic partnership with cricket-dedicated broadcaster Willow TV International.
Willow is an official broadcast partner of the International Cricket Council, along with a number of national cricket boards.
The new agreement will bring cricket matches and events, including ICC competitions and India, Pakistan, Australia, South Africa and West Indies games to cricket fans in the US, in high definition, as well as providing arrangements for coverage of live overlapping matches.
The deal marks the first time that major ICC events, including the forthcoming World Twenty20, will be provided at no additional charge on the Willow cricket channel. Previously, many of these events have only been available via pay-per-view.
“We are proud to have supported the launch of the Willow cricket channel in 2010, and by extending this longstanding relationship, we are not only bringing our customers the best in live cricket for years to come, we’re delivering on our commitment to make Sling TV and Dish ‘your home for cricket,’” Chris Kuelling, senior vice-president of programming for Sling TV and Dish, said.