ESPN3 gains exclusive rights for remaining West Indies- Tri Nation Series Cricket in US

ESPN3 is looking to cement their claim as the leading provider of cricket coverage in the US. Or maybe their just trying to make their radio joke about cricket coverage being subdued false. ESPN3 has entered into an agreement to carry all the remaining cricket matches in the 2013 Tri-Nation Series. The agreement makes ESPN3 the exclusive provider of cricket in the US. The release also gives the dates and times of all remaining matches this year. Below is the press release from ESPN Media Zone. 

ESPN3 Enters into Sub-License Agreement with Zee TV to Carry the West Indies Tri-Nation Series Exclusively in US

Additional series from the Pakistan and Sri Lanka cricket boards to be delivered through December

ESPN and Zee TV have reached a sub-license deal for exclusive live coverage of the West Indies Tri-Series exclusively on ESPN3 in the US.  The agreement – which includes additional series from the Pakistan and Sri Lanka cricket boards – will give fans in the US access to the matches through the end of the year.  Featured opponents in the tests, ODIs and T20s include India, South Africa and New Zealand.

“ESPN3 is proving itself to be a leading destination for live coverage of major cricket events in the US, and following the ICC Champions Trophy with the Tri-Series in the Caribbean continues on our mission to serve fans with access to the second most popular international sport,” said John Lasker, vice president of programming and acquisitions, ESPN.  “We look forward to delivering these events across multiple platforms to veteran fans while also introducing this dynamic sport to new audiences.”

“We are very delighted to work with ESPN3 to distribute our cricket content,” added Sameer Targe, general manager, Asia TV USA.  “It is time South Asian programmers think outside the box to deliver their content that might otherwise not be seen on television across digital platforms to best serve sports fans.”

The current tri-series in the Caribbean between the West Indies, India and Sri Lanka concludes its final ODIs this week:

Date	Time (ET)	Match
Tue, Jul 9	9:30 a.m.	ODI #6: India vs. Sri Lanka
Thu, Jul 11	9:30 a.m.	ODI #7: West Indies vs. India vs. Sri Lanka Final TBD

Additionally on Sunday, July 14, the Pakistan vs. West Indies tour will begin its five ODIs and two T20s:

Date	Time (ET)	Match
Sun, Jul 14	9:20 a.m.	ODI #1: Pakistan vs. West Indies
Tue, Jul 16	9:20 a.m.	ODI #2: Pakistan vs. West Indies
Fri, Jul 19	9:20 a.m.	ODI #3: Pakistan vs. West Indies
Sun, Jul 21	9:20 a.m.	ODI #4: Pakistan vs. West Indies
Wed, Jul 24	9:20 a.m.	ODI #5: Pakistan vs. West Indies
Sat, Jul 27	TBD	T20 #1: Pakistan vs. West Indies
Sun, Jul 28	TBD	T20 #2: Pakistan vs. West Indies

Later this month through early August, Sri Lanka vs. South Africa will play seven events that include five ODIs and three T20s:

Date	Time (ET)	Match
Sat, Jul 20	5:00 a.m.	ODI #1: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
Tue, Jul 23	5:00 a.m.	ODI #2: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
Fri, Jul 26	5:00 a.m.	ODI #3: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
Sun, Jul 28	5:00 a.m.	ODI #4: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
Wed, Jul 31	5:00 a.m.	ODI #5: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
Fri, Aug 2	9:30 a.m.	T20 #1: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
Sun, Aug 4	9:30 a.m.	T20 #2: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa
Tue, Aug 6	9:30 a.m.	T20 #3: Sri Lanka vs. South Africa

Other series later this year feature Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand, Pakistan vs. South Africa and Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka.  The complete schedule (dates and times TBD):

Date	Match
November	3 ODIs and 1 T20: Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand
October/November	2 Tests, 5 ODIs and 3 T20s: Pakistan vs. South Africa
December	3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20s: Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka

In-depth pre- and post-coverage following each event will be available via ESPNcricinfoonline and on mobile platforms.

About ESPN3

ESPN3 is ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, a destination that delivers thousands of global sports events annually and accessible online via WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app, through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members and on Apple TV.  It is currently available to more than 85 million homes at no additional cost to fans who receive their high-speed Internet connection or video subscription from an affiliated service provider.  The network is also available at no cost to approximately 21 million U.S. college students and U.S.-based military personnel via computers connected to on-campus educational networks and on-base military networks.

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ICC Champions Trophy on ESPN schedule

If you're a fan of cricket, then take heed. Every match of the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy will be show live in the States on ESPN3. Below is the press release. 

Complete Coverage of the ICC Champions Trophy on ESPN Platforms

To tweet: http://bit.ly/ICCChampionsTrophy

Exclusive live coverage in the US on ESPN3, in the Caribbean and Latin America on ESPN Caribbean and ESPN Play

ESPNcricinfo to provide independent voice for news, scores, highlights, analysis and more to cricket fans globally

ESPN is gearing up for the highly-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy, delivering comprehensive coverage of the bi-annual cricket event to fans around the world. The tournament – second only to the ICC Cricket World Cup – features the eight highest-ranked ODI teams competing this year from three grounds in England: Sophia Gardens in Cardiff, Edgbaston in Birmingham and The Kennington Oval in London.

Australia is looking for a three-peat heading into this year’s tournament, previously beating out New Zealand in 2009 and the West Indies led by Player of the Tournament Chris Gayle in 2006.  They will compete against a strong field of national teams, including the local favorite England, and previous winners the West Indies, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.

Live Tournament Coverage

Exclusive live coverage of the entire tournament will be available on ESPN3 in the US as well as on ESPN Caribbean and broadband player ESPN Play in the Caribbean and Latin America.  ESPN3 – ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network in the US – is available in more than 85 million households nationwide to fans who receive their Internet or video subscription from an affiliated service provider.  It is accessible online at WatchESPN.com, on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app and through ESPN on Xbox LIVE to Gold members.  ESPN Play is available to subscribers of participating cable systems by logging onto their provider’s website or ESPNPlay.com.

The complete live match schedule:

Date	Time (ET)	Match	Venue
Thu, Jun 6	5:15 a.m.	Group B: India vs. South Africa	Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Fri, Jun 7	5:15 a.m.	Group B: Pakistan vs. West Indies	Kennington Oval, London
Sat, Jun 8	5:15 a.m.	Group A: England vs. Australia	Edgbaston, Birmingham
Sun, Jun 9	5:15 a.m.	Group A: New Zealand vs. Sri Lanka	Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Mon, Jun 10	7:45 a.m.	Group B: Pakistan vs. South Africa	Edgbaston, Birmingham
Tue, Jun 11	5:15 a.m.	Group B: India vs. West Indies	Kennington Oval, London
Wed, Jun 12	5:15 a.m.	Group A: Australia vs. New Zealand	Edgbaston, Birmingham
Thu, Jun 13	7:45 a.m.	Group A: England vs. Sri Lanka	Kennington Oval, London
Fri, Jun 14	5:15 a.m.	Group B: South Africa vs. West Indies	Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Sat, Jun 15	5:15 a.m.	Group B: India vs. Pakistan	Edgbaston, Birmingham
Sun, Jun 16	5:15 a.m.	Group A: England vs. New Zealand	Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Mon, Jun 17	7:45 a.m.	Group A: Australia vs. Sri Lanka	Kennington Oval, London
Wed, Jun 19	5:15 a.m.	Semifinal 1: Group A winner vs. Group B runner-up	Kennington Oval, London
Thu, Jun 20	5:15 a.m.	Semifinal 2: Group A runner-up vs. Group B winner	Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Sun, Jun 23	5:15 a.m.	Final: Semifinal 1 winner vs. Semifinal 2 winner	Edgbaston, Birmingham

Daily In-Studio Programming

In addition to live match coverage, ESPN3, ESPN Caribbean and ESPN Play will present live daily studio programs that will highlight questions from fans and feature plays and players of the match with hashtag #ESPNCT13.  Barry Wilkinson, one of the Caribbean’s leading cricket broadcasters, will serve as host of the studio shows.  Ricardo Powell – a Jamaican native who represented the West Indies cricket team with a career total of 109 ODIs and two Test matches – will join Wilkinson during pre-match, innings break, post-match and highlight shows.  The programs will be produced in their entirety from the ESPN Long Horn Production facilities in Austin, Tex. and integrated through Bristol, Conn.  ESPN International will also deliver video-on-demand highlights from every match and published on digital platforms in the Caribbean and Pacific Rim regions.

Comprehensive Coverage from ESPNcricinfo Globally Across Digital Platforms

ESPNcricinfo is committed to delivering an independent voice for comprehensive coverage of all eight participating nations throughout the tournament.  The world’s leading multiplatform cricket destination will have reporters at all games to provide immediate match reports, the most in-depth match analysis, its unmatched statistical database –Statsguru – and the acclaimed independent 24/7 news service with two decades years of leadership in cricket journalism.

The editorial team in England will include George Dobell, David Hopps, Andrew Fernandoand Nagraj Gollapudi and will be backed up by other cricket specialists such as Siddharth Monga, Andrew McGlashan and Firdose Moonda as well as a host of feature writers and top voices from outside the mainstream in The Cordon.

ESPNcricinfo’s live ball-by-ball coverage of the Champions Trophy will also feature an innovative social scorecard – Match Companion – which brings fans closer to the action by enabling their voice to be heard as the matches unfold and serves as a second screen companion to viewing.

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Catch Cricket on ESPN3 May 30- June 4

I'm not going to try and comment on something I've never been able to watch, but if you enjoy Cricket or are interested in learning more of the sport, you can catch it on ESPN3 this weekend. 

Cricket on ESPN3 and ESPN Play: ICC Champions Trophy Warm-Up Matches Through June 4th

contacts: kristie.chong@espn.com; ardi.r.dwornik@espn.com 

ESPN is gearing up for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy and fans will get a taste of what’s to come with four warm-up matches beginning Thursday, May 30,  on ESPN3 in the U.S. and ESPN Play in the Caribbean and Latin America regions. The tournament – second only to the ICC Cricket World Cup – features the eight highest-ranked ODI teams competing from this year’s host country, England.   

Date	Time (ET)	Match	Venue
Thu, May 30	7:45 a.m.	Pakistan vs. Sri Lanka	Edgbaston, Birmingham
Sat, Jun 1	5:15 a.m.	India vs. Sri Lanka	Edgbaston, Birmingham
Mon, Jun 3	5:15 a.m.	Pakistan vs. South Africa	Kennington Oval, London
Tue, Jun 4	5:15 a.m.	Australia vs. India	Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Australia is looking for a three-peat heading into this year’s tournament, against a strong field of national teams, including the local favorite England, and previous winners the West Indies, New Zealand, India, Sri Lanka and South Africa.  

In-depth coverage of the ICC Champions Trophy from ESPNcricinfo will be accessible to fans before, during and after the tournament across online and mobile platforms worldwide.  

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