TNT Sports and Discovery Plus have picked up the rights to show England’s upcoming Test tour of India, ending fears that the series wouldn’t be broadcast in the UK.
With a week to go until the hotly anticipated series kicks off, it was still unknown who, if anyone, would win the rights in the UK. There were reports that Disney were close to securing the rights, with Sky Sports, who have held the rights to cricket played in the UK since 2006, not in the running.
Channel 4 broadcast the 2020/21 series, which was also sold at the last minute, bringing Test cricket back to free-to-air TV in the UK, and there were calls for a similar deal to be made this time.
In the end, TNT Sports, formerly BT Sports, swooped. They have become an increasingly prominent figure in the UK cricket broadcasting space, securing long-term deals to show cricket in Australia, New Zealand and the Caribbean.
Their deal will extend long past the upcoming series, covering all international series played in India for the next five years, a stretch which includes England men’s tours in 2025 and 2028. The deal does not include the Indian Premier League.
📺 Here's how to watch @englandcricket men's tour of India: https://t.co/DE1VURelVe
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) January 18, 2024
Discovery Plus will be the streaming home for the series, while TNT Sports is the destination on TV.
TalkSPORT have won radio rights to the series, with David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd set to make a return to commentary on the tour. England are 3/1 to win the first Test with Betway.
