ESPN Caribbean will present live, exclusive coverage of the West Indies tour of New Zealand from today at 4:20 p.m. (ET) from Dunedin, a release from the company in Barbados said yesterday.
The announcement followed questions as to why there was no radio or television coverage of the series.
The ESPN Caribbean statement said that all matches will air live on ESPN Play (www.espnplay.com) – ESPN’s multiscreen live and on-demand broadband platform in the Caribbean.
West Indies have been engaging their hosts since December 2, 2013 and the series will run until January 15, 2014.
The tour culminates with two Twenty20 (T20) fixtures which will serve as the precursor for the Windies’ title defence of the I.C.C. World Twenty20 trophy, which will be broadcast exclusively by ESPN Caribbean in March 2014, the release added.
Last week, the West Indies Cricket Board encouraged television companies operating in the Caribbean to secure the television broadcast rights for the ongoing West Indies v New Zealand Test, ODI and T20 series. In a press release, the WICB said it recognized that the region continued to experience financial challenges; however cricket fans were disheartened that they were not able to view the West Indies team play against New Zealand.
“From response there are legions of fans who are desirous of viewing the matches and that represents obvious interest and demand,” the WICB said. The WICB press release came following an enquiry by Stabroek News with the board over the lack of TV coverage.
Date Time Match Venue
December 10th – December 14th 4:20pm 2nd Test Wellington
December 18th – December 20th 4:20pm 3rd Test Hamilton
December 25th 7:50pm 1st ODI Auckland
December 28th 7:50pm 2nd ODI Napier
December 31st 4:50pm 3rd ODI Queenstown
January 3rd 4:50pm 4th ODI Nelson
January 7th 7:50pm 5th ODI Hamilton
January 11th 12:50am 1st T20I Auckland
January 15th 12:50am 2nd T20I Wellington