ICC roped in Endeavor Streaming for new cricket OTT platform

ICC has established ICC.tv, the world’s first entirely free streaming platform. The new platform made its official debut by broadcasting the World Test Championships Final between New Zealand and India in areas where the ICC has no broadcasting partners. In addition, to live events, the OTT service will provide match analysis and interviews.

As per ICC report, its ICC.tv coverage of the final used “34 cameras and best-in-class enhancements” in its broadcast of the match and produced its own “30-minute pre-matchday build-up, lunch and tea interval shows, and a post-matchday wrap-up show.”

The free service, which is accessible through the web, iOS, Android, Chromecast, and Airplay, offers fans exposure to a range of cricket material, including features and archive video.

Peter Bellamy, senior vice president of Endeavour Streaming, said that Endeavour was pleased to be providing this product alongside the ICC. “We’re focused on providing the ICC with a robust experience with the capabilities needed to drive significant growth in their international fan base,” Bellamy said.

ICC head of digital, Finn Bradshaw, added: “The ICC is pleased to be able to serve our global fan base with this new platform, bringing fans in certain countries the pinnacle of Test cricket live and free on ICC.tv.”

In addition to the final, ICC.tv presently offers previous ICC awards, episodes of ICC Cricket 360o, the documentary Cricket in Colour – Story of the 1992 Cricket World Cup, and other content. The ICC is yet to declare what additional events will be accessible on the site, and it is unclear if material from the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be featured.

The ICC announced that the tournament would be relocated to the UAE and Oman owing to the COVID-19 situation in India; nevertheless, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would retain the event’s official hosts.

ICC acting CEO, Geoff Allardice, said the priority is to deliver the competition safely and in full. “Whilst we are incredibly disappointed not to be hosting the event in India, the decision gives us the certainty we need to stage the event in a country that is a proven international host of multi-team events in a bio-secure environment,” he further added