Sky Sports has won a BAFTA Television award for its live coverage of the first Test between England and the West Indies in 2020.
The Sky Sports Cricket team saw off strong competition in the Sport category to claim the coveted prize at the 2021 ceremony, which was held in west London on Sunday, 6 June.
Other nominees for the award were Sky Sports F1’s coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix, Prime Video’s coverage of the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup final and the BBC’s live London Marathon programme.
In July 2020, the Sky Sports cricket production team broadcast the first major international cricket to be staged since the global COVID-19 outbreak, broadcasting from within a bio-secure venue at Southampton’s Ageas Bowl.
But it was the broadcaster’s output on the opening day’s play before a single ball had even been bowled, due to poor weather in Southampton, which left a powerful impact on viewers.
In a 15-minute piece broadcast before the start of play, Sky Sports commentators Michael Holding and Ebony Rainford-Brent combined to demand an end to institutionalised racism following the murder of George Floyd in the United States.
The pair were joined in a follow-up conversation by fellow commentators Ian Ward and Nasser Hussain, which explained the role education must play for racism to be eradicated.
Holding’s comments have since gained over six million views across social media.
Commenting via a special video message on the night of the BAFTA TV ceremony, which was broadcast on BBC One, Ebony Rainford-Brent said:
“Last year was such a powerful moment in history, where it was important that voices were heard and that media spaces used their landscape.
“I’m really pleased to have worked with the Sky team and created content around that, that cut through, so a big thank you to everyone who supported us.”
This is wow! Cannot believe what I am watching on TV… we just won a @BAFTA 😳! Really proud to have worked with the team on this and proud to have used our platform! @commboxkid @nassercricket @WardyShorts @JamesAJWilson1 Mikey, Rob and the @SkyCricket pic.twitter.com/kDGjXrLJyu
— Ebony Rainford-Brent (@ejrainfordbrent) June 6, 2021
Reacting to another BAFTA success for Sky Sports Cricket, following on from recent wins in 2014 and 2016 for its Ashes coverage, director of cricket Bryan Henderson told skysports.com:
“It is so pleasing that such a special piece of work has received so much recognition. However, none of this would have been possible without the bravery and strength of character of Michael Holding and Ebony Rainford-Brent.
“What started as a team meeting to discuss the tragic events of George Floyd’s murder, turned into an outpouring of emotion from Ebony talking of her experiences of racism in society and in cricket.
“We decided there and then to use our voice – the platform of Sky Cricket – to highlight injustice and hopefully in some small way make the world a fairer place, and cricket a sport for everyone.
“Thank you to Mikey and Ebony, two incredible people. Thanks also to Rob Noonan, James Wilson, Trevor Hart and Tom Basciano who made the VT. And finally thanks to Ian Ward and Nasser Hussain for their wonderful supporting roles on air.”
For a full list of winners from the 2021 BAFTA Television Awards, visit the official website.
