The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has signed a four-year broadcast deal with Channel 5 to air live England international T20 cricket on free-to-air TV. Under the agreement, four live matches will be shown annually—two featuring the England Men’s team and two featuring the England Women’s team.
The matches will be simulcast with Sky Sports and available for streaming, enhancing accessibility for cricket fans across the UK. The agreement marks a notable return to cricket coverage for Channel 5, which previously aired England highlights between 2006 and 2019 and broadcast the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Live T20 fixtures on 5 for 2025
- England Women vs West Indies Women – Monday, May 26
- England Men vs West Indies Men – Sunday, June 8
- England Women vs India Women – Saturday, June 28
- England Men vs South Africa Men – Sunday, September 14
In addition to live internationals, 5 will stream highlights of county cricket’s Vitality Blast throughout the season via its digital platforms, bringing domestic T20 content to new audiences.
“We are thrilled to partner with the ECB to bring live T20 cricket to free-to-air TV,” said Ben Frow, Chief Content Officer at 5. “This collaboration brings a summer of live T20 cricket to our audience across the UK and adds to our growing sports offering.”
Vitality Blast and digital streaming expansion
The deal marks the first time that regular highlights of the Vitality Blast will be available via 5’s streaming services, boosting exposure for county cricket’s popular T20 tournament.
“With the international season getting under way this week, we’re delighted to welcome 5 back to cricket,” said Tony Singh, ECB Chief Commercial Officer. “This partnership ensures wide access to major T20 clashes and adds a new digital window for domestic cricket.”
Continued public broadcast presence
This new arrangement complements the ECB’s extended partnership with the BBC, which will continue to show England Men’s and Women’s highlights and live coverage of The Hundred through 2028. The ECB’s multi-platform strategy aims to grow the sport’s reach and visibility by leveraging both traditional broadcast and digital platforms.
