Sky Makes Fta Decision For Cricket World Cup Final
Sky has pledged that it will make the 2019 Cricket World Cup final available on free-to-air television should England make it to the conclusion of the ongoing tournament.
England secured its place in the semi-finals on Wednesday with a 119-run win over New Zealand, and now advances to meet either Australia or India at Edgbaston on 11th July. The winner of this match will go through to the final at Lord’s on 14th July, with England seeking to make its first World Cup final since 1992.
England entered into its home World Cup as tournament favourite and there have been growing calls for increased free-to-air coverage. Sky holds the live rights to the competition under its eight-year deal for International Cricket Council-organised events that was signed in October 2014.
Channel 4 and the BBC hold highlights and online clip rights, respectively, and Sky today said it will ensure as wide an audience as possible is able to watch the final should England qualify.
Sky has not yet specified how it intends to do this, but UK and Ireland Chief Executive Stephen van Rooyen said: “We are proud to be the broadcaster for a home Cricket World Cup – one of the world’s biggest and most exciting sporting events.
“Our aim has always been to celebrate what could be a ‘once in a generation’ moment of a home team in a big final on home soil. So, if England reach the final, we will make the match available to everyone so the whole country can be part of a rare and special big sporting moment.”
Should England not make the final, the match will continue to be available across Sky Sports channels on a day of sport that will also include Formula One’s British Grand Prix, Scottish Open golf and England in action from the Netball World Cup in Liverpool.
In this instance, viewers without a Sky subscription will be able to watch the World Cup final and the other events by paying £8.99 for a Sky Sports day pass with Now TV.
