Sky New Zealand, the dominant pay-TV platform of the island nation, has officially announced the renewal of its broadcasting partnership with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a further four years.
This significant agreement, which extends through to 2028, encompasses all home cricket matches played by the Indian men’s national team during the term of the contract.
Among the highlights of this deal is New Zealand’s tour of India, featuring a challenging three-Test series slated to unfold from October 16 to November 5 this year. Not limited to Test matches, the agreement also includes a range of Twenty20 fixtures and one-day internationals, culminating in a total of 72 matches scheduled to occur before the end of 2028.
The partnership is set to kick off on September 19, coinciding with the commencement of Bangladesh’s tour of India, which is expected to wrap up on October 13.
Following the Kiwis’ engagement on Indian soil, the BCCI’s home international lineup for the 2024-25 season will culminate with England’s tour, scheduled for January 23 to February 12, 2025.
Speaking on the renewal, Jonny Errington, chief content and commercial officer at Sky New Zealand, expressed enthusiasm about the deal: “Our customers undoubtedly cherish cricket, especially the exceptional standard of international play witnessed in India. We are thrilled to secure coverage of these matches, adding to our already robust cricket lineup.”
Sky NZ commands a well-rounded portfolio of cricket broadcasting rights across New Zealand, notably including exclusive rights to major tournaments conducted by the International Cricket Council (ICC) until 2028. This was underscored by a recent renewal in May for 16 ICC events, commencing with the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, which will also see New Zealand partnering with India as co-hosts for the 2028 iteration of the tournament.
On the domestic front, the exclusive rights for New Zealand cricket lies with TVNZ, following a three-year partnership that was announced in late 2022.
