Photo Credit: ICC
The International Cricket Council (ICC) is thrilled to announce the BBC as its audio rights partner for the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland for all ICC events from 2024 to 2027. The strategic partnership will also see the BBC producing the Audio World Feed ensuring cricket fans around the globe have access to high-quality, live commentary and coverage of every major ICC event.
The collaboration with the BBC means that fans worldwide can tune in to the action through the ICC’s digital platforms starting with the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup opening match USA against Canada on 1 June. This partnership underscores the ICC’s commitment to enhancing the accessibility and reach of cricket to its diverse and passionate fan base.
In the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, the BBC will leverage its extensive broadcasting platforms, including BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC 5 Sports Extra, to bring comprehensive coverage of ICC events. Additionally, the commentary and live audio feed will be accessible digitally via bbc.co.uk and BBC Sounds App allowing fans to follow the game wherever they are.
BBC Cricket coverage has been unparalleled with ICC men’s and women’s events covered since the first Women’s World Cup in 1973 through to the Men’s Cricket World Cup in India last year.
The partnership will cover all ICC senior men’s and women’s events and the semi-finals and finals of the men’s and women’s U19 World Cups from 2024 until 2027.
In addition to the live feed the BBC will also be producing Audio Podcasts that reviews every senior men’s event since 1975, including all ICC Cricket World Cups, ICC Champions Trophies, ICC T20 World Cups and the ICC World Test Championship Finals and for each senior women’s events since 2012, including all ICC Cricket World Cups, and ICC T20 World Cups, they will be available in the UK on BBC and globally on the ICC audio player.
ICC Chief Executive, Geoff Allardice said: “We are delighted to partner with the BBC, an organisation renowned for its rich history in sports broadcasting. This collaboration will significantly elevate the audio experience for cricket fans, providing unparalleled access to ICC events over the next four years through the ICC’s digital platforms.”
Adam Mountford, BBC Head of Cricket said: “It’s great news that we’ve extended our audio rights partnership with the ICC for another four years. We know from our 50+ years of broadcasting Men’s and Women’s world tournaments that these are events that really resonate with audiences and it’s brilliant that our new deal begins with England’s defence of their Men’s T20 World Cup title. Along with our partnerships with the England and Wales Cricket Board, Cricket Australia and other organisations around the world we have an amazing portfolio of live cricket for listeners to enjoy”
