Channel 4 are yet to officially confirm that they will broadcast the forthcoming Test series between India and England, despite a report in the Guardian suggesting a deal had been signed.
“We are still in discussions but nothing has been confirmed,” said a Channel 4 spokesman.
The Guardian report cited a tweet from account ‘Channel 4 Cricket’ as an official announcement, with a post by the user featuring a gif of Mambo No.5, the theme music for Channel 4’s cricket coverage when it last showed Test matches back in 2005, getting over 1,000 likes.
However, that account has changed its profile picture from the Channel 4 logo to a generic cricket image, deleted the Mambo No.5 tweet and now confirms that it is “not associated with Channel 4” in its bio. The reference to the tweet in the Guardian‘s report has since been removed.
[caption id=”attachment_193558″ align=”alignnone” width=”800″]
The now deleted tweet from Channel 4 Cricket[/caption]
Ali Martin, the author of the Guardian‘s report, has since tweeted to clarify the situation.
Ink not on paper but am told on good authority C4 bid "accepted" https://t.co/ZZnGIaHYfG
— Ali Martin (@Cricket_Ali) February 2, 2021
Channel 4 have reportedly emerged as the frontrunner to win the rights, owned by Disney subsidiary Star Sports, in recent days, overcoming competition from BT Sport and Sky Sport.
The Times‘ cricket reporter Elizabeth Ammon has also tweeted to confirm a deal is done, with all that’s left to come being the official announcement.
It’s done. We await a formal announcement
— Elizabeth Ammon (@legsidelizzy) February 2, 2021
