WICB signs three-year deal with ESPN

Last Saturday, the West Indies Cricket Board announced the signing of an historic three-year agreement with broadcast partner ESPN. Under the new deal, ESPN in the Caribbean and ESPN3.com in the US will broadcast Caribbean T20 and other WICB regional tournaments live to audiences across the globe. Highlights and packages of West Indies’ international home series will also air on ESPN in the Caribbean.

ESPN were host broadcasters of the inaugural Caribbean T20 in July 2010; they will be host broadcasters for the second tournament, to be played from Monday, January 10th to Sunday, January 23, in Antigua and Barbados. 

Under the new deal, ESPN and ESPN3. com in the US will broadcast the tournament in 2012 and 2013 as well. 

“The WICB is pleased to be working with ESPN once more. We see this as a mutual investment in the sport, in our players, and in the people across the Caribbean. The new three- year deal will further help to showcase the players in the West Indies and give them unparalleled global exposure. It will also give viewers around the world the opportunity to get a taste and feel of the unique flavour, style and vibe of cricket in the Caribbean,” said Dr Ernest Hilaire, Chief Executive of the WICB. “The WICB and ESPN have formed a very close relationship, and we are both working well together as we seek to create a framework for cricket in the West Indies,” Hilaire continued.

“ESPN has demonstrated a passion for West Indies’ cricket and we are pleased to have them on board with us,” Dr Hilaire continued. 

“ESPN’s mission is to deliver the highest quality of sports events to our viewers, and this agreement strengthens this commitment,” said Bernard Stewart, vice- president of ESPN Caribbean and Maritime Media. “With the WICB matches, we will be providing West Indies Cricket fans the opportunity to watch their local heroes on live television, as well as expand the appreciation of West Indies Cricket by presenting these matches to our international viewership.” Under the new agreement, and in addition to the CT20, ESPN will broadcast other WICB regional cricket events, including the semi- final and final of the WICB Regional 50-Over Tournament, to their global audiences in the Caribbean, the U.S.A, Australia and New Zealand, Africa and the Middle East. 

In the Caribbean, fans will be able to view the matches live on ESPN Caribbean or ESPN2 Caribbean. And in the U.S, the tournament and other WICB regional cricket events will be carried exclusively on ESPN3.com, ESPN’s 24/ 7 signature broadband sports network. 

Additionally, ESPN will also air one-hour highlights’ programmes to their Caribbean audience of West Indies Home Series in 2011 – when West Indies hosts India and Pakistan; and 2012 – when West Indies hosts New Zealand and Australia.