Cricket is heading back to Channel 4 — 15 years after they signed off with a record 8.4 million viewers.
The home of English cricket on TV from 1999-2005 is believed to have clinched a deal for showing ICC 2019 World Cup highlights.
Sky Sports has secured the rights to screen all 48 matches of the tournament, which England are hosting, live and the BBC struck a deal to show in-game clips online.
But the return of Channel 4 to mainstream cricket broadcasting would be welcomed by viewers, who followed producers Sunset + Vine’s award-winning coverage of the 2005 Ashes series in record numbers.
More than 8.4m watched the tense finale at Trent Bridge, when Michael Vaughan’s home side went 2-1 up.
And Channel 4 enjoyed its highest-ever audience share, beating the final of reality show Big Brother, when England’s 18-year wait to reclaim the urn was sealed at The Oval on 12 September 2005 — it was commentary box legend Richie Benaud’s last call behind the microphone in this country.
Jofra Archer reacts to first England call up that gives him a shot at World Cup inclusion
Lord’s will usher the return of live cricket on terrestrial TV next year, when new limited-overs format competition The Hundred is launched.
But Channel 4’s expected deal over hour-long World Cup highlights shows is another sign of the sport’s shift back towards free-to-air broadcasts.
The World Cup starts on May 30, and will see 10 nations battle over 48 matches at grounds across England and Wales for a title Australia won last time out on home soil four years ago.
England will be among the favourites to be crowned world champions, having warmed-up with white-ball series wins away in Sri Lanka and West Indies over the winter to sit top of the ODI world rankings.
A preliminary squad, to be led by captain Eoin Morgan, was named on Wednesday.
