Star India bags New Zealand cricket rights till April 2020

After winning media rights of Indian Premier League (IPL), Star India has now picked up broadcast and digital rights for New Zealand Cricket till April 2020.

The rights for the Indian subcontinent and South-East Asia include all men’s and women’s International matches played in New Zealand for the next 3 years.

Team India is expected to play a total of 3 Tests, 10 One Day International and 3 T20s matches during this period in New Zealand.

“Star Sports is proud to become the home for New Zealand Cricket in India. In recent years, the New Zealand cricket team has delivered a strong performance on the field, taking it to number 1 in the T20 rankings. With two India tours to New Zealand over the next two years, Indian sports fans are in for very exciting cricket on Star Sports,” a spokesperson said.

The first tournament to be broadcast under Star Sports’ partnership with New Zealand Cricket will be West Indies’ tour of New Zealand beginning from December 1, 2017. The partnership will also see Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand and the tri series between Australia, New Zealand and England in early 2018.

David White, CEO, New Zealand Cricket, said, “We’re delighted to form this partnership with Star, India’s leading sports broadcaster, and a market-leader in the industry. It’s great to be aligned with such go-ahead, progressive broadcasters, well known for their innovative approach, and for putting fans and businesses first.”

Prior to Star, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) had rights of New Zealand Cricket, for one India series played earlier this year.

Incidentally, last month, SPN had acquired the exclusive media rights of Cricket Australia for next six years, which before that were with Star India.