Sky Sports Beats ITV to IPL Rights from 2015

Sky Sports have snapped up the UK rights for the Indian Premier League from 2015 in a deal lasting three years.

ITV 4 will air the 2014 tournament but lost out to Sky along with BT Sport for the 2015 competition. 

According to the deal viewers will be able to enjoy 60 live matches each year. 

From next year, only Sky Sports viewers be able to enjoy the world’s top four domestic Twenty20 cricket competitions; the IPL, the ECB’s NatWest T20 Blast, Australia’s Big Bash League and South Africa’s Ram Slam T20 Challenge. 

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “It’s the cricket competition that everyone is talking about and from next year, only on Sky Sports can viewers follow the IPL live.  Sky Sports’ cricket coverage has never been stronger, offering something for everyone including all the major Test playing nations and all the best players.  We can’t wait.  Before then, our cricket continues with the best action including ICC World Twenty20 next month and England’s summer Tests against Sri Lanka and India.”  

The agreement is the latest in a series of long-term rights announcements made by Sky Sports, strengthening its unrivalled portfolio of live sport across six channels.  Last month, Sky announced agreements for British & Irish Lions, Super League, WWE, Scottish Football, Cricket New Zealand and speedway and last week a seven-year deal for live PGA Tour golf. 

This year’s eight week tournament will air from 3 April.