As part of the deal with Etisalat, StarzPlay will also stream Etisalat’s CricLife and CricLife2 channels.
Etisalat has secured the rights from Star TV Network to broadcast the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup across the MENA region.
The broadcast rights for the MENA belong exclusively to Etisalat and the partnership with StarzPlay will give cricket fans access to all 45 matches taking place in the UAE and Oman from October 17 to November 14, 2021.
Viewers will be able to watch the tournament live on the CricLife Max channel via Etisalat’s eLife TV, Switch TV, eLife ON and the StarzPlay app in UAE. CricLife Max will show all matches from the tournament, along with highlights, pre-shows and post-match analysis, with full match replays on the other CricLife channels.
Under the deal with Etisalat, StarzPlay will also be streaming CricLife and CricLife2 channels, which have the rights for home matches of various cricket playing nations including India, Pakistan, South Africa, New Zealand, West Indies, as well as the T20 leagues.
Commenting on the deal, Khaled Elkhouly, Chief Consumer Officer of Etisalat, said: “There is no other provider better placed in the UAE to bring sports fans the complete depth and breadth of sports action. eLife customers have access to an unprecedented line-up to watch live sport from the best providers across the region. Our investment in bringing the very best of cricket action to the UAE and beyond will further solidify our drive. Partnering with StarzPlay not only for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but for our CricLife channels will mean more fans can watch their teams play in more places than ever before across the GCC.”
Danny Bates, Chief Commercial Officer of StarzPlay, added: “We have been steadily building on our focus to deliver live sporting events to our subscribers, and nothing beats the joy of bringing the action of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to the region. This is a prestigious win for us, and we thank our long-standing associates, Etisalat as well as Star TV Network, for their support. With cricket widely followed in the region, we are bridging a gap for our subscribers, who can now effortlessly watch all the live cricket action from this exciting T20 championship. Our aim is to become the ultimate TV entertainment destination and we will continue to explore new and innovative ways to offer the best sporting experience for our subscribers.”
Harry Griffith, Head of Syndication, Star TV Network, stated: “This is a ground-breaking collaboration which will provide the largest ever reach for an ICC event in the region. We are delighted to associate with Etisalat and StarzPlay to enhance the coverage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup across the Middle East. With the event being staged in the UAE and Oman it is crucial the tournament is more accessible than ever before. This is a truly exciting juncture for all cricket fans in the Middle East.”
