ECB and 5 partner to show live international cricket on free-to-air TV

• As part of a four-year deal, 5 will air four live international T20 matches a year across the spring and summer months

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has agreed a new four-year deal with 5 to bring four live international T20 cricket fixtures to free-to-air TV each year.

As part of the deal, viewers will have the opportunity to watch and stream on 5 two international England Men’s fixtures and two international England Women’s fixtures across the spring and summer months. The matches will be simulcast with Sky Sports, ensuring wide accessibility for cricket fans.

5 will also stream highlights from county cricket’s T20 Vitality Blast competition across the season.

The first Vitality IT20 internationals to be aired will be England Women v West Indies Women on Monday, May 26, followed by England Men v West Indies Men on Sunday, June 8. England Women v India Women will be aired on Saturday, June 28, and finally, England Men v South Africa Men on Sunday, September 14.

The channel previously broadcast the England men’s cricket team’s highlights every summer from 2006 to 2019 and was the terrestrial home of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2023.

Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer at 5, said: "We are thrilled to partner with the ECB to bring live T20 cricket to free-to-air TV. This collaboration brings a summer of live T20 cricket to our audience across the UK and adds to our growing sports offering."

Tony Singh, ECB Chief Commercial Officer, said: “With the international season getting under way this week, we’re delighted to welcome 5 back to cricket as the free-to-air TV home for four of the summer’s big IT20 clashes. We’re delighted that this partnership also means that for the first time viewers will be able to watch regular broadcast highlights of county cricket’s T20 Vitality Blast through 5’s streaming service.”

The deal follows the recent extension of the ECB and BBC’s partnership which sees the BBC continuing to screen England Men’s and Women’s international highlights and live coverage of The Hundred for the next four years.

Notes to editors - About 5

5 is the home of award-winning content from the UK’s third largest commercial PSB, a culmination of the creative transformation of Channel 5 over more than a decade. 5 is part of the Paramount Global family of brands.

Through a mix of live TV channels and bingeable boxsets, the free-to-air service allows UK audiences to watch or stream the breadth of programming from Channel 5 – including Milkshake!, its dedicated preschool brand – and a wide selection from the wider Paramount family of brands, including BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV Entertainment Studios, the opportunity to sample some of the biggest hits from Paramount+ and more.

In keeping with its PSB remit, 5 tells the story of modern Britain by reflecting the lives of people across the UK, featuring well-known faces and fresh new talent. Its programme roster spans original UK drama, premium factual, true crime, science, news & current affairs and kids’ content, which continue to attract critical acclaim.

Recent wins include BAFTA Television and RTS Awards for the documentary White Nanny, Black Child in 2024, along with a BAFTA nomination for Endurance Race to the Pole. Factual hit The Yorkshire Vet and the broadcaster’s series on air fryers also won RTS Yorkshire awards, while Michael Palin received the Radio Times Special Judges Award for his Channel 5 documentaries.

For more information please contact:

5 - Alex Fraser, Communications Executive alex.fraser@paramount.com

ECB - Jonathan Reed, Head of Media & Publications jonathan.reed@ecb.co.uk