Channel 5 Bringing Live Cricket Back to U.K. Terrestrial TV

LONDON: Channel 5 has struck a deal with BT Sport to broadcast five live Twenty20 matches from Australia’s Big Bash League (BBL), as well as highlights of the final.

Channel 5 will share live coverage of the matches with BT Sport, which has the rights to show all 35 games of the Big Bash as part of a five-year deal agreed with Cricket Australia earlier this year. The deal marks the first time live cricket has been on a major terrestrial channel since the 2005 Ashes Series.

Mark Sharman, executive producer for Channel 5, said: “We’re delighted to give a terrestrial home to live cricket for the first time in over a decade. The competition complements our growing sports portfolio which includes international cricket, live boxing and top-class motor sports.”