The ECB has announced a seven-year deal with ESPN STAR Sports (ESS) for its overseas broadcast rights.
It is understood that the deal is a significant increase on the previous contract, signed in 2008, which by its end was worth about $36 million (£23 million) a year and reflects the commercial growth of cricket in India since the establishment of the Indian Premier League.
The agreement, which runs from 2013 to 2019, will encompass more than 300 days of international cricket, including India’s next two tours to England in 2014 and 2018 and three home Ashes series scheduled for 2013, 2015 and 2019.
ESS, which has held the contract for the past five years, will continue to broadcast ECB’s domestic and home international programme in Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.
As well as covering all England’s home Investec Test, NatWest Series and NatWest International T20 fixtures, the deal will also give ESS the right to transmit 60 days coverage every season from all ECB’s key domestic competitions; the LV= County Championship, Clydesdale Bank 40 and Friends Life t20 competitions plus selected England Lions, England Under 19s and England Women’s matches.
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“This new agreement demonstrates the enormous appetite for cricket worldwide and the global pulling power of a successful England team and a vibrant county game,” David Collier, the ECB chief executive, said.
“In a challenging economic climate with all sports facing tough competition for funding streams, it will also provide an important source of additional revenue for funding the development of our game at all levels.
“TV audiences for cricket are expanding rapidly in Asia and the Middle-East and we look forward to working closely with ESS to give both our international and county teams the widest possible TV exposure over the next seven years.”