CRICKET WEST INDIES

Where will Caribbean fans be able to tune in to watch television coverage of Windies cricket next year? By the end of November the West Indies Cricket Board is hoping that that question will be answered conclusively.

The WICB has been involved in discussions with various regional TV operators in the past few months and last week, issued an Invitation To Tender (ITT) for Caribbean television rights for the Digicel Series 2011 and 2012, Women’s international cricket and all regional cricket from 2011 through to 2013.

Regional cricket includes the extremely popular Caribbean Twenty20, WICB Regional 50 Over and Four Day tournaments along with the TCL Under 19, Under 15 and WICB Women’s 50 Over League.

The WICB is keen on ensuring that fans all across the region have access to quality live, delayed and highlights coverage of international and regional cricket events. The WICB will engage in discussions and negotiations with the successful bidders to conclude arrangements which are in the best interest of cricket in the region.

Nelecia Yeates, WICB Commercial Manager said, “It is healthy that there is competition for rights in the Caribbean market and WICB hopes to develop productive and mutually beneficial partnerships with broadcast companies so that West Indies Cricket can be portrayed imaginatively to cricket and sports fans throughout the Caribbean.”

“Cricket fans in the Caribbean will be the ultimate beneficiaries of this competition as it will develop and drive the quality of the production and programming forward and we are very excited about this in particular,” Ms Yeates observed.