UK pay-TV broadcaster Sky Sports has retained its exclusive rights to air both the men’s and women’s editions of Australian T20 cricket’s Big Bash League (BBL) for another four years.
The new agreement, struck with Cricket Australia (CA) governing body, will see Sky Sports continue its coverage of the tournament across December and January, starting with the 2025-26 season, with most matches played in the mornings for UK viewers.
The renewal builds on Sky Sports’ original four-year deal covering the 2021-22 to 2024-25 seasons, with the last campaign becoming the most-watched BBL season under the current contract.
The 2024-25 season also saw average attendance hit 22,076 – the highest per match since the 2017-18 campaign and the second highest among all Australian sports leagues.
Bryan Henderson, Sky Sports director of cricket and NFL, said: “We're really excited that the Big Bash Leagues will remain a key part of our comprehensive cricket offering on Sky Sports, bringing world-class T20 action to our audiences during the winter.
“This four-year extension means we can commit to showcasing one of the most entertaining tournaments in the global cricket calendar, at a time when both the men's and women's competitions are going from strength to strength.”
The rights consolidate Sky Sports’ portfolio of cricket rights, which includes India’s iconic Indian Premier League T20 competition and its equivalent Women’s Premier League, as well as South Africa’s T20 competition, SA20.
Kate Ingber, CA’s executive general manager of legal and business affairs, added: “This latest agreement with Sky Sports helps us ensure the WBBL and BBL will continue to grow its global audience, entrenching its long-held reputation as one of the world's premier T20 tournaments.”
Domestic coverage of the BBL and WBBL is provided by free-to-air broadcaster Seven, as well as by pay-TV's Foxtel and streaming service, Kayo.
The new rights deal comes as the BBL continues to build its commercial tie-ups this year, retaining international fast food chain KFC as the naming rights partner for the men’s edition for the next three years, and becoming an overall platinum partner of CA.
