Amazon Video now to live stream New Zealand cricket games in India

New Delhi, November 10: In a major development, Streaming giant Amazon Prime Video has forayed into live cricket as it has signed a deal with New Zealand Cricket and acquired the rights for broadcasting New Zealand Cricket matches in India.

 

 

With this announcement, Amazon Prime Video becomes the first Indian streaming service to secure exclusive live cricket rights from a major cricketing board.

 

 

The New Zealand cricket board has decided to join hands with Amazon Prime Video to extend “the team’s global reach and to build closer relationships around the world”.

 

As part of the deal between Amazon and the New Zealand Cricket Board, Prime Video will become the one-stop streaming destination for all international cricket matches to be played in New Zealand for both men’s and women’s cricket, across ODI, T20, and Tests starting late 2021.

 

The deal includes Team India’s tour of New Zealand in early 2022, and a second tour, the dates for which will be announced later. The rights for the 2020-2021 season starting later this month is intended to be syndicated by Amazon.

 

Gaurav Gandhi, Director and Country General Manager, Amazon Prime Video, said in a statement, “Over the last few years Amazon Prime Video has become the go-to destination for world-class entertainment in India – be it our Amazon Original Series or the biggest blockbuster movies across languages.”

 

He added, “... We are thrilled to work with New Zealand Cricket on this endeavour as they have a strong, passionate, and much-loved cricket team, and the cricketing rivalry between the two countries has been fantastic. We are happy to make this collaboration with New Zealand Cricket our first live sports offering in India, and are confident that our Prime members will be delighted with this initiative.”

 

Under this deal, Prime Video will become the one-stop streaming destination for all international cricket matches to be played in New Zealand for both men’s and women’s cricket, across ODI, T20, and Tests starting late 2021. The deal also includes Team India’s tour of New Zealand in early 2022, and a second tour, the dates for which will be announced later. The rights for the 2020-2021 season starting later this month is intended to be syndicated by Amazon.

 

NZC chief executive David White said the deal was one of his organisation’s most significant, coming at a time when the global sports rights market was being impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and when technology was transitioning from linear to streaming.

 

This is the latest addition in Amazon Prime Video’s growing line-up of live sports around the world, including Thursday Night Football, the Premier League, ATP Tour Events, WTA, the US Open, UEFA Champions League, Autumn Nations Cup, and the Seattle Sounders FC.