Amazon Prime Video has acquired the Indian territory rights to broadcast all international cricket matches played in New Zealand, the OTT platform said in a statement on Tuesday.
Amazon Prime Video has signed a six-year deal with the New Zealand Cricketing Board, making the Indian arm of the streaming platform the first to secure exclusive live cricket rights from a major cricketing board. The deal will start from late 2021 and last till 2025-2026. It will cover the broadcasting rights of all international cricket matches played in New Zealand, including men’s and women’s cricket, ODI, T20, and Tests.
The partnership will also include the 2022 tour of team India in New Zealand and its tentative second tour, that is yet to be announced.
“We are thrilled to work with New Zealand Cricket on this endeavour as they have a strong, passionate and much-loved cricket team, and the cricketing rivalry between the two countries has been fantastic. We are happy to make this collaboration with New Zealand Cricket our first live sport offering in India, and are confident that our Prime members will be delighted with this initiative,” director of Amazon Prime Video Gaurav Gandhi said in a statement.
Recommended
Chief executive of New Zealand Cricket David White said in a statement, “One of NZC’s key goals is to extend our team’s global reach and to build closer relationships around the world and, in terms of that particular objective, we don’t think we could be in better hands. India has always been important for viewership of NZC, no other country follows cricket like India, so it’s exciting to be announcing this agreement with India’s leading streamer.”
Amazon Prime Video has covered sports globally, including the Premier League, ATP Tour Events, WTA, the US Open, and UEFA Champions League. This is the first time the streaming platform is tapping the Indian market.
The streaming platform also offers sports documentaries, including The Test: A New Era for Australia’s Team, which is about the Australian cricket team in 2018-19, and All or Nothing: Manchester City, a behind-the-scenes documentary about international football club Manchester City.