The West Indies Cricket Board has made a public appeal for television companies in the region to acquire the broadcast rights for its on-going tour to New Zealand.
The West Indies are currently playing the first of three Test matches in Dunedin and will contest five one-day internationals and two Twenty20 matches, with the latter series concluding on January 15.
In November last year, the WICB signed a seven-year global rights deal covering home international series with pan-Asian pay-television company Taj Television.
The governing body released a statement explaining that revenue from the Taj contract has played a part in ensuring that free-to-air broadcaster Caribbean Media Corporation can carry live matches, but that it does not “own or control broadcast rights for the West Indies v New Zealand series or any series played outside the region.”
The statement added: “While the WICB recognises that there continues to be a challenging financial climate regionally, cricket fans have been disheartened that they are not able to see the West Indies team play against New Zealand. From the responses, there are legions of fans who are desirous of viewing the matches and that represents obvious interest and demand.
“The WICB looks forward to cricket fans being able to view the matches on television with the favourable consideration and intervention of television companies.”