Sky Sports Dedicates Entire Channel To Cricket
Sky Sports is set to dedicate an entire channel to cricket this summer, providing coverage of men’s, women’s and youth matches including this summer’s Investec Ashes series.
Sky will rebranding Sky Sports 2 HD to become Sky Sports Ashes HD – offering 63 days of action between 30th June and 31st August, including ball-by-ball coverage of the Investec Ashes.
The channel will also screen live county fixtures and highlights, plus Friend’s Life t20 and England v Pakistan under-19 international, as well as support shows including archive highlights, Cricket Am and Cricket Writers on TV at no extra cost.
England cricket legend and Sky Sports commentator Sir Ian Botham said: ‘This is wall to wall cricket, on one channel, for the key months of the summer. The Ashes is the pinnacle of Test cricket and when it comes to television, cricket fans have never had it so good. Bring it on.’
Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, added: ‘There has never been a better time to be a Sky Sports subscriber, our six channels are offering more than ever before. The Ashes series is a key part of the biggest summer of sport we’ve ever had and with The British & Irish Lions Tour, back to back Ashes, every F1 race and our biggest ever football season, there really is something for everyone.’
‘With Sky Sports Ashes HD, it couldn’t be easier for viewers to enjoy their live cricket. The channel will be the home of televised cricket for the summer with an unrivalled schedule. We’re also pleased to continue our commitment to women’s cricket with live coverage of all three T20 internationals between England and Australia. I’m sure these will provide an exciting conclusion to the Women’s Ashes in August.’
This summer’s Ashes contest is the eighth to be shown exclusively live by Sky Sports, with former England captain Andrew Strauss joining a Sky Sports commentary box that includes Sir Ian Botham, Shane Warne, David Gower, Michael Atherton, Nasser Hussain, David Lloyd and Michael Holding.
Sky Sports 2 HD and Sky Sports 2 will automatically be transformed into Sky Sports Ashes HD and Sky Sports Ashes at 06.00 on 30th June and viewers will not have to do anything.
Marking a mammoth summer for the sport, the next Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club on 19th June features a cricketing double header, with former England captain Mike Gatting, MD Cricket Partnerships at ECB and the next MCC President, joining the governing body’s CEO David Collier for an exclusive interview on the day of the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final. Ensure your place in the room today.
