Viacom18 Sports, India’s newest sports network, has announced a seven-year partnership with Cricket South Africa.
The deal is for exclusive digital and TV rights for all international cricket from 2024-2031. As part of the association, Viacom18 will present all senior men’s and women’s international competitions played in South Africa.
All matches will be exclusively aired live on JioCinema and pay-TV channels Sports18 – 1 SD & HD.
The Cricket South Africa partnership follows last week’s news that Viacom18 had concluded a 10-year partnership with SA20, South Africa’s newly-launched T20 league. Cricket South Africa and Viacom18 will work closely to enhance the showcase of international cricket from South Africa to the passionate fanbase in India.
The partnership will cover all international cricket from South Africa, including the Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela Series between India and South Africa. The deal includes other high-profile series like the Basil D’Oliveira series against England and tours from Sri Lanka, Pakistan, West Indies, Australia, and Bangladesh.
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“South Africa is one of the most competitive and formidable teams across formats in world cricket, and this partnership will offer some great contests to the cricket-loving fans in India,” said Viacom18 Sports CEO Anil Jayaraj. “The association with Cricket South Africa is a testament of our pursuit to offer fans unrivalled, high-quality broadcast experience of some of the best cricket action in prime-time.”
“CSA is pleased to partner with a broadcaster of Viacom18’s stature,” said CSA CEO, Pholetsi Moseki. “This is affirmation of our intention to beam to our waiting fans, the flavour of cricket that South Africa has in store, which is always exhilarating and entertaining. This partnership is the beginning of a journey which will offer the thrill of watching cricket brought by a broadcaster that values viewer experience as supreme.”
The addition of the Cricket South Africa rights strengthens Viacom18’s portfolio of sporting events, which already includes the Indian Premier League, SA20, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, NBA, Diamond League, LaLiga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and top ATP and BWF events.
