Cricket will return to Channel 4 this summer for the first time in 14 years after the free-to-air broadcaster secured the rights to show highlights of the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup in England and Wales.
Ten countries compete in one-day international cricket’s biggest showpiece, starting with hosts and tournament favourites England taking on South Africa on 30 May, with all teams playing each other in a full round robin with the top four teams progressing to the semi-finals to decide who will play in the final at Lord’s on 14 July.
Channel 4 has confirmed that broadcaster and former England women’s cricketer Isa Guha will present its highlights programming throughout the tournament, featuring nightly action covering every match of the tournament for free-to-air audiences.
The highlights, which will air in a late-night slot after 11pm, are part of a sub-licensing agreement which was struck with rights holder Star Sports and Sky Sports respectively, the latter of which holds the exclusive live rights to the tournament in the UK.
Guha, who helped England secure the 2009 Women’s Cricket World Cup, is also part of the ICC TV commentary team that will cover all 48 matches during the tournament. She said:
“I’m excited to be part of the coverage and what is set to be one of the most thrilling and hotly contested World Cups to date. And the fact it’s being held in England and Wales makes it even more special.”
Other members of the commentary line-up that will feature on the terrestrial highlights programmes this summer include former Channel 4 cricket commentators Mark Nicholas, Michael Atherton, Ian Bishop, Michael Slater, Ian Smith and Wasim Akram.
In addition to Cricket World Cup highlights, Channel 4 will also show a special one-off documentary detailing England’s remarkable Ashes-winning performance in 2005, a series which captivated the nation and was broadcast live throughout that memorable summer on Channel 4 to audiences in excess of six million viewers.
The documentary will feature key figures from that memorable Ashes clash including England captain Michael Vaughan, Kevin Pietersen and Australia’s spin wizard Shane Warne.
It will also be available to watch again on-demand via All 4 shortly after broadcast, as will Channel 4’s nightly Cricket World Cup highlights shows.
Commenting on the return of cricket to Channel 4 screens for the first time in 14 years, the broadcaster’s head of sport Pete Andrews added:
“England are the no.1 ODI side in the world, they have a great chance of winning the World Cup on home soil.
“We’re delighted to welcome cricket back to Channel 4 and hope that this will allow everyone to enjoy an amazing event.”
Independent sports production company Sunset+Vine, who are the ICC’s host broadcasters for the 2019 Cricket World Cup and produced Channel 4’s BAFTA award-winning coverage from 1999 to 2005, will be responsible for both the documentary and highlights of the 2019 tournament for Channel 4.
The BBC, which itself returns to live televised cricket in 2020 as part of its multi-million pound deal with the ECB and Sky Sports, will also offer Cricket World Cup content but only in the form of in-game clips on the BBC Sport website, as part of a deal signed with the ICC in 2016.
The corporation is thought to have declined highlights rights due to scheduling issues, paving the way for Channel 4 to bring back cricket for the first time since 2005.
For more information about the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, visit cricketworldcup.com.
