Sky Sports ups Women’s cricket coverage
January 16, 2018
Sky Sports is set to broadcast its biggest ever summer of women’s cricket, as part of a huge line-up of women’s sport in 2018. For the first time, Sky Sports will show 12 matches from the Kia Super League – nearly double the amount from last year – in addition to England women’s triumphant return to action against South Africa and New Zealand.
Viewing figures for women’s sport reached a record high for Sky Sports in 2017, which saw more people tune in to watch women’s cricket, netball, rugby and golf than ever before. Viewing was up 23 per cent, with the women’s cricket World Cup final being Sky’s most watched women’s sporting event ever, with a peak of over 1.1 million viewers.
Bryan Henderson, Head of Sky Sports Cricket, said: “Last year felt like a watershed moment for women’s sport, with my undoubted highlight being the moment England’s women clinched the World Cup at Lord’s. At Sky Sports, we’re proud of the contribution we’ve made to growing women’s sport, and we’re determined to continue that in 2018. We have an incredible line-up, across a range of sports, with cricket a huge part of the schedule again. We can’t wait to get started.”
Clare Connor, ECB Director of England Women’s Cricket, said “We are proud to continue working with Sky as we strive to raise the profile of women’s cricket off the back of an amazing 12 months, culminating in that unforgettable day at Lord’s. With two home international series on Sky this summer along with standalone Kia Super League games being broadcast for the first time, we are seeing the game continue to go from strength to strength.”