SKY New Zealand Announces Multi-Year Partnership With Hero CPL

‘Biggest Party in Sport’ Debuts On Network June 29

The Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), heralded as the ‘Biggest Party in Sport’, is coming to SKY Sport, beginning June 30 at 12.30pm (NZ) on SKY Sport 2.

SKY Sport will air the Hero CPL, a franchise-based T20 cricket tournament that combines cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere, two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life.  SKY Sport’s partnership with the Hero CPL marks the first time the league will air on NZ television and all matches will be shown LIVE.

For the first time since the league’s 2013 inception, Hero CPL matches will also take place in the United States at the Central Broward Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Florida from July 28-31. In a multi-year agreement, SKY Sport will exclusively broadcast all 34 matches of the 2016 Hero CPL season, including the Florida dates. The Hero CPL season starts on 30 June and continues through to 8 August.

“SKY New Zealand is delighted to provide an exclusive home for the Hero Caribbean Premier League where the leagues vast worldwide following can be extended to our New Zealand audience,” said Richard Last, SKY’s director of Sport. “The addition of the Hero CPL is a great addition to SKY Sports’ LIVE and exclusive programming, we’re excited to see the likes of McCullum, Guptill, Elliot and other perform.”

Pete Russell, Chief Operations Officer of Hero CPL, said, “We are delighted to welcome Sky New Zealand on board as broadcast partners. New Zealand cricket is on a real high at present and there will be a strong Kiwi influence in this year’s CPL, with two of our six marquee players Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, heading a strong list of talented Black Caps who will no doubt enrich this year’s competition even further. The CPL is the biggest party in sport and we hope that fans in New Zealand and across the world will relish the carnival atmosphere off the field, and high skill levels, competitiveness and passion on it.”

The Hero CPL features the best T20 cricket stars from the Caribbean and around the world, including top names like Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Andre Russell, Dale Steyn, Kieron Pollard, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, plus Kiwis Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, Colin Munro and Anton Devcich.

The League is comprised of six teams competing for the championship title including reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders (formerly Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel), Jamaica Tallawahs, Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors, St. Lucia Zouks, St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots. 

Coverage on SKY Sport begins with Trinbago Knight Riders vs. St Lucia Zouks Thursday 30 June at 12.30pm on SKY Sport 2. SKY Sport will have live coverage of every CPLT20 match.