Channel 4 picks up 2019 Cricket World Cup highlights rights

Sunset+Vine to produce coverage for UK broadcaster

Channel 4 will broadcast coverage of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 on TV and online after picking up highlights rights in a sub-licensing agreement.

The deal will see action from every game shown free-to-air on the public service broadcaster’s main channel with programmes also being available to watch again on the All 4 on-demand service.

The highlights are part of a sub-licensing agreement which was struck with the global rights holder Star Sports and Sky, which holds the UK rights to live coverage of the World Cup.

Channel 4 has also announced that it will also show a special one-off documentary detailing England’s victorious 2005 Ashes series.

Sunset+Vine will produce both the documentary and the highlights of the tournament for Channel 4. The London-based production company was responsible for producing Channel 4’s live cricket coverage between 1999 and 2005.

The broadcaster and former England cricketer Isa Guha will present Channel 4’s coverage.

Channel 4 head of sport Pete Andrews said: “England are the number one 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.”

Channel 4 has not shown cricket since 2005 after losing the exclusive TV rights to England’s home Test matches to Sky. The last action to be broadcast by the channel was the 2005 Ashes series.

The ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, the 12th edition of the tournament, is taking place in England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July 2019,