MUMBAI: Viacom18 Sports Tuesday announced a seven-year partnership with Cricket South Africa (CSA) for exclusive digital and TV rights for all international cricket, from 2024-2031. As part of the association, Viacom18 will present all senior men’s international and senior women’s international competitions played in South Africa.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The development confirms news that has been circulating since the network last week announced a 10-year partnership to exclusively present SA20, Cricket South Africa’s recently launched premier T20 league, in India.
The media rights deal will cover all international cricket from South Africa, including two India tours. The deal includes other high-profile series like the Basil D’Oliveira series against England and tours from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Australia, and Bangladesh.
Specific to the India tours, the Boys in Blue are scheduled to visit the Rainbow Nation in 2027-28 for a white ball series that involves 3 ODIs and 3 T20Is and another India tour in 2031 the details around which are still to be confirmed.
“South Africa is one of the most competitive and formidable teams across formats in world cricket, and this partnership will offer some great contests to the cricket-loving fans in India,” said Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj. “The association with Cricket South Africa is a testament of our pursuit to offer fans unrivalled, high-quality broadcast experience of some of the best cricket action in prime-time.”
Welcoming the partnership, CSA CEO Pholetsi Moseki said; “CSA is pleased to partner with a broadcaster of Viacom18’s stature. This is affirmation of our intention to beam to our waiting fans, the flavour of cricket that South Africa has in store, which is always exhilarating and entertaining. This partnership is the beginning of a journey which will offer the thrill of watching cricket brought by a broadcaster that value viewer experience as supreme.”
The addition of the CSA rights strengthens Viacom18’s portfolio of sporting events, including the Indian Premier League (digital rights), SA20, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, NBA, Diamond League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and top ATP and BWF events.
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