Facebook will carry digital content including match recaps, key moments, and other feature content in the subcontinent across four years © Getty Images
Facebook has gained exclusive digital content rights to the ICC’s global events in the Indian subcontinent. The deal, which is set to run until 2023, will bring eight major ICC events – two Men’s T20 World Cups (2020 and 2021), two Women’s T20 World Cups (2020 and 2022), the 2021 Women’s ODI World Cup, the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, and the World Test Championship finals of 2021 and 2023 – onto the social networking platform.
Financial details of the deal have not yet been disclosed.
The TV rights for all ICC events until 2023 belong to Star, who signed an eight-year deal in 2015.
Facebook will carry digital content including match recaps, key moments, and other feature content in the region across four years. As part of the deal, it will also carry post-match recaps for the rest of the world in this period.
“The combination of one of the world’s most-watched sports with one of the world’s largest platforms is exciting for the future of our game,” ICC chief executive Manu Sawhney said. “The record-breaking growth in digital consumption at this summer’s ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup demonstrated the continued power of cricket to connect and engage more deeply with diverse audiences around the world.
“Throughout the competitive bid process, we received tremendous interest from a range of platforms, all of whom recognise the phenomenal reach of cricket. In Facebook, we have a genuine partner who shares in our ambition to continue to grow and deepen engagement with cricket fans globally using its platforms.”
According to an ICC release, the recent Men’s World Cup garnered 4.6 billion video views across its digital and social-media platforms.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo