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Willow TV secures ICC media rights in USA and Canada until 2027

The deal covers the broadcast of 14 international events across men's, women's and Under-19 World Cups

The US market is of particular interest to the ICC, with its potential for growth  •  Gareth Copley/ICC/Getty Images

The US market is of particular interest to the ICC, with its potential for growth  •  Gareth Copley/ICC/Getty Images

The ICC has signed a four-year deal with Willow TV and Digital in the USA and Canada, giving Willow digital and broadcast rights for all men's and women's major events till the end of 2027.
The first direct live TV contractual relationship between the ICC and Willow will cover the broadcast of 14 international events across men's, women's and Under-19 World Cup and T20 World Cup competitions. All the senior men's and women's ICC events will receive TV coverage, beginning with the men's T20 World Cup in 2024, scheduled to be held in the USA and the West Indies.
"USA is an important strategic market for the ICC and the direct partnership with Willow will provide us with a number of exciting opportunities to strengthen engagement with fans in the region," Geoff Allardice, the ICC CEO, said.
The ICC had invited bids for media rights to global cricketing events over the next four (or eight) years for the Australian, US, Caribbean and Canadian markets last September.
This is the first time the ICC has unbundled its media rights, choosing to sell them territory by territory. In August last year, the ICC sealed a deal in the Indian market for an undisclosed sum. That winning bid, thought to be in the region of just over US$ 3 billion, came from Disney Star* and covers both television and digital rights to men's and women's global tournaments between 2024 and 2027. Days after the winning bid was announced, Disney Star announced it would in turn be licensing part of the rights to Zee Entertainment Enterprises in another landmark deal.
In January this year, the ICC struck an eight-year deal with Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland, giving them access to broadcast all World Cups between 2024 and 2031.
*Disney Star and ESPNcricinfo are part of the Walt Disney Company.