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The New Home of Cricket: Breaking Down the Live Sports Announcement from Amazon Prime Video
For years, Amazon Prime Video was known in the Indian and Australian markets for its blockbuster movies, binge-worthy Originals, and speedy shipping benefits. However, a series of landmark acquisitions has fundamentally reshaped its identity, turning the streaming giant into a major global player in the fiercely competitive world of live sports. The announcement of live cricket streaming on the platform signaled a massive shift for fans, positioning Prime Video as the new digital destination for some of the world’s most popular cricket matches.
This article breaks down the key live cricket announcements from Amazon Prime Video, detailing the rights acquired, the tournaments involved, and what it all means for the modern cricket fan.
The India Play: Securing New Zealand Cricket
The first major cricket announcement that solidified Amazon Prime Video’s ambition came with the acquisition of exclusive streaming rights for New Zealand Cricket (NZC) in the Indian territory. This deal was a major power move, marking the platform’s official debut into live sports in one of the world’s most cricket-crazy nations.
Key Details of the NZC Deal
- Exclusive Territory: India.
- Duration: A multi-year deal covering the seasons from 2021-2022 through to 2025-2026.
- Coverage: Prime Video secured the exclusive right to stream all international men’s and women’s cricket matches played in New Zealand.
- Formats: This includes all formats of the game: Tests, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is).
The acquisition of NZC rights meant that matches, including key tours featuring the Indian cricket team, became an exclusive offering for Prime members in India. This strategic move not only added a high-value sporting property but also cemented Prime Video as the first Indian streaming service to secure exclusive live cricket rights from a major international cricket board, bypassing traditional linear television.
The Global Expansion: Becoming the Home of ICC Cricket in Australia
Amazon Prime Video has significantly broadened its cricket portfolio by securing major International Cricket Council (ICC) rights in a separate, but equally important, global deal. The announcement confirmed that the platform would become the exclusive home for all major ICC events in Australia.
The Landmark ICC Partnership (Australia)
The four-year partnership, running from 2024 to 2027, covers a massive 448 live games, making Prime Video the ultimate destination for Australian cricket enthusiasts.
The exclusive rights package includes:
- Men’s and Women’s World Cups: All matches from the ICC Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cups.
- T20 World Cups: Exclusive streaming of all matches from the T20 World Cups.
- Champions Trophy: Coverage of the ICC Champions Trophy.
- World Test Championship: The live stream of the highly-anticipated ICC World Test Championship Final.
- U19 Tournaments: Access to all Under-19 World Cup events.
This move immediately positions Prime Video as a powerhouse, offering fans in Australia a consolidated, exclusive service for international tournaments that had previously been scattered across various pay-TV and free-to-air channels.
Latest Acquisition: Major League Cricket (MLC)
Further strengthening its presence in the region, Prime Video also secured the exclusive broadcast rights for the Major League Cricket (MLC) season in Australia and New Zealand. This deal for the US-based T20 competition brings yet another fast-growing and star-studded league to its platform, appealing to the massive T20 fan base.
The Fan Experience: How to Watch Live Cricket on Prime Video
One of the biggest advantages for subscribers is the integration of high-quality live sports into an existing, well-established service.
Cost and Accessibility
Access to the live cricket matches, including the NZC matches in India and the ICC/MLC tournaments in Australia, is included at no extra cost with an Amazon Prime membership. This provides members with a single subscription that covers streaming video, music, and various Amazon shopping benefits.
Streaming Features for the Cricket Fan
Prime Video has also worked to enhance the viewing experience with features tailored for live sports:
- Multi-Device Streaming: Fans can watch all the action on the go using the Prime Video app across numerous devices, including smart TVs, mobile phones, tablets, Fire TV Sticks, and via a web browser.
- Highlights and Replays: For those who miss the live action (which often starts in the early morning for India-based matches), the platform provides full match replays and highlights packages, available shortly after the match concludes.
- Exclusive Content: The platform also complements its live offering with acclaimed sports docuseries, such as The Test, which provides an inside look at the Australian cricket team, offering a deeper connection to the sport.
The series of cricket announcements by Amazon Prime Video confirms a broader strategic vision: to use the universal appeal of live sports, especially cricket, to drive subscriptions and dominate the digital streaming landscape globally. As rights deals expire across the globe, the platform is rapidly evolving from a film and TV library into an essential, all-in-one entertainment and sports hub.
AISEO Friendly FAQs
1. Which cricket matches are available for live streaming on Amazon Prime Video in India?
Amazon Prime Video holds the exclusive India rights for all men’s and women’s international cricket matches played in New Zealand (NZC) across Test, ODI, and T20 formats until the 2025-2026 season. This includes all scheduled tours by Team India to New Zealand.
2. Is the live cricket streaming included in the standard Amazon Prime subscription?
Yes, live cricket streaming is included as part of the standard Amazon Prime membership in the relevant territories (e.g., NZC matches in India, ICC/MLC matches in Australia/New Zealand) at no additional charge.
3. Which ICC tournaments will be streamed on Prime Video in Australia?
Prime Video Australia is the exclusive home for all major ICC events from 2024 to 2027. This includes the Men’s and Women’s Cricket World Cups, T20 World Cups, the Champions Trophy, the World Test Championship Final, and all Under-19 World Cups.
4. Can I watch match highlights and replays on Amazon Prime Video?
Yes, for the live cricket matches they stream, Amazon Prime Video makes full match replays and highlights packages available on the service shortly after the live broadcast ends, allowing fans to catch up on the action on demand.
5. When did Amazon Prime Video first start streaming live cricket in India?
Amazon Prime Video officially began live cricket streaming in India on January 1, 2022, starting with the Test series between New Zealand and Bangladesh.
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