Kia Super League To Be Broadcast Live
Sky Sports will broadcast live domestic women’s cricket for the first time on UK television this summer, with eight live matches announced in the Kia Super League (KSL).
In partnership with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Sky Sports has signed a deal to show matches from the KSL beginning in August 2017. As part of the new agreement Sky will become the first broadcaster in the UK to show live women’s domestic cricket.
Sky Sports will show six group stage matches from the KSL, each part of a double-header with a men’s NatWest T20 Blast match, and will also broadcast both games from the finals day live in September. The 2017 twenty20 season gets underway with defending champions Southern Vipers against Western Storm at the Ageas Bowl on Thursday 10th August. Customers can follow the matches on Sky Sports and Sky Sports Mix.
In addition to the six double-header group stage matches, Sky Sports will provide live television coverage of finals day, with BBC Radio covering every round of matches, alongside finals day.
This new set of rights adds to a schedule of women’s sport on Sky in 2017. In addition to showing the Kia Super League and the ICC Women’s World Cup this summer, Sky Sports also offers viewers live coverage of international and Superleague Netball, England Rugby’s Red Roses competing in the Six Nations, and women’s golf from the LPGA tour with all five majors for the first time including the British Open in July.
Bryan Henderson, Sky Sports head of cricket, commented: “Sky Sports is giving women’s cricket a platform like never before. With record excellent attendance figures for the inaugural Kia Super League last year, we can’t wait to show this domestic competition live in homes for the first time this summer. This is another example of Sky’s support of the women’s game, we hope our coverage this summer will help inspire the next generation of cricketers.”
Clare Connor, ECB director of England women’s cricket, said: “At the end of last summer I said that I was immensely proud of what the Kia Super League had achieved during its first season, but equally I stressed that there was still considerable growth potential for the competition. Moving into year two I am therefore delighted to announce the next historic moment in the development of the domestic women’s game in this country, with six Kia Super League group stage matches plus finals day due to be televised live on Sky Sports.”
Coverage of the Kia Super League this summer will follow the ICC Women’s World Cup, with live television coverage on Sky Sports in June and July, including the final at Lord’s on Sunday 23rd July.
