Sky agrees deal for international cricket from the West Indies

UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB has acquired the media rights for four England cricket tours of the West Indies as part of an eight-year deal, from 2013 to 2020, with global rights-holder Asian pay-television broadcaster Taj TV.

The deal covers all live international cricket from the Caribbean involving all of the major Test-playing countries, which includes England’s next four tours of the West Indies, scheduled for 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019.

In total, Sky will show live coverage of 17 series from the West Indies over the next eight years, starting with the visit of Zimbabwe in March 2013. Zimbabwe’s tour includes two Tests, three one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches.

Sky acquired the rights from Taj TV, which itself acquired the global rights for international cricket played in the West Indies from the West Indies Cricket Board, as reported last month by TV Sports Markets (TVSM 16:20).