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ESPN signs ICC highlights deal

January 25, 2016

ESPN has signed a four-year agreement with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to broadcast digital on-demand highlights of all ICC events to be staged between the 2016-2019 period

The agreement, covering the UK and Republic of Ireland, will allow ESPN to show in-progress, pre-match and post-match highlights across all ESPN branded websites and mobile apps.

The package includes the digital rights to the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2016, ICC World Twenty20 India 2016, ICC Champions Trophy 2017, ICC Women’s World Cup 2017, ICC U19 Cricket World Cup 2018 ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier, ICC Women’s World Twenty20 2018  and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019.

As part of the deal, ESPNcricinfo and ESPN.co.uk, will feature near-live clips of fours, sixes, wickets and other key moments through ESPN’s live match scorecard service. The in-play content will be complemented by full match highlights, up to five minutes, as well pre and post-event content provided by the ICC.

Charly Classen, Vice President and General Manager, ESPN – Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We are extremely proud of our coverage of international and domestic cricket, and are delighted we can expand that coverage with near-live in-match clips and full post-match highlights from the biggest tournaments in the sport. We are thrilled to expand on our longstanding relationship with the International Cricket Council in the UK and Republic of Ireland. With these highlights alongside our ball-by-ball coverage, ESPN will be offering cricket fans the perfect way to follow all of the action from the upcoming ICC World T20 and beyond.”

Meanwhile, Sunset+Vine, the UK independent TV sports production and media company, part of The Tinopolis Group, has followed up its recent win of the ICC’s Live Events Production Services contract 2016-2019, with the award of the ICC’s Non Live Programming contract for the same period.

Jeff Foulser, Chairman of Sunset+Vine, commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have now been recognised for the quality of our non-live programming production with the award of this significant contract from the ICC. We’re committed to delivering world class and comprehensive programming that best represents the ICC’s cricket interests, and look forward to starting work immediately.”

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