Pay-television operator OSN has secured the exclusive broadcasting rights in the Middle East and North Africa region for all 18 International Cricket Council tournaments and qualifiers under the global governing body’s 2015 to 2023 rights cycle.
OSN secured the sublicensing deal with parent company Star. Pay-television broadcasters Star India and Star Middle East – both subsidiaries of media company 21st Century Fox – acquired the global rights to the competitions under an eight-year deal signed with the ICC on Sunday.
The ICC’s next eight-year cycle commences after the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. It features two editions apiece of the organisation’s flagship World Cup, World Twenty20 and Champions Trophy tournaments, along with qualifying events for the former two events.
India, the sport’s most lucrative market, will host the 2016 World T20, 2021 Champions Trophy and 2023 World Cup. England takes the Champions Trophy and World Cup in 2017 and 2019 respectively before the 2020 World T20 heads to Australia, offering further valuable representation of cricket’s core markets.
Two editions of the Women’s World Cup and Women’s World T20 are also included alongside four Under-19 World Cups.