Freeview viewers among those to benefit from deal struck with the ECB which will see 5 carry live coverage of four T20 games each year.
- BBC lost the rights to show these games live earlier this month.
- Games will be simulcast on Sky Sports.
TV channel 5 has boosted its summer of sport with the addition of four T20 games each summer for the next four years.
The move will safeguard access to live cricket on free-to-air TV and streaming platforms, including Freeview, Freesat and Freely after the BBC lost out earlier this month.
The BBC’s renewed deal with England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) meant it could continue to show some cricket, mostly in the form of highlights, but it lost the rights to other games it could previously show. The ECB previously indicated that it hadn’t received acceptable bids from any of the main free-to-air broadcasters for the live T20 games.
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.
The first Vitality IT20 internationals to be aired will be England Women v West Indies Women on 26th May, followed by England Men v West Indies Men on 8th June. England Women v India Women will be aired on 28th June and finally, England Men v South Africa Men on 14th September.
Channel 5 will the home of more live sport than ever this summer, with coverage of 23 out of the 63 matches in this year’s inaugural FIFA Club World Cup.
By: Marc Thornham | Last updated: 28/05/2025