Sky Sports have strengthened their claim of being the ‘home of televised cricket’ as they launch Sky Sports Ashes HD, a channel focused on this summer’s Investec Ashes series.
Sky Sports 2 HD and Sky Sports 2 will be automatically transformed into the channel on 30 June, running until 31 August.
The channel will also screen live county fixtures such as the YB40 and the Friends Life t20, and also the Women’s Ashes.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen tweeted: 'A full HD cricket channel from June 30.. Well done Sky Sports! Brilliant initiative for all is cricket lovers! Thank you, SKY!'
Sky have an agreement with the ECB to provide England internationals until 2017, and will hope this channel will outline their commitment to the sport.
They have impressed viewers with their coverage of cricket up until now with uninterrupted coverage, especially as the two Ashes series screened by Channel Four featured over 33 hours of interruptions for horse racing
England cricket legend and Sky Sports’ own Sir Ian Botham will be joined in the commentary box by 2009 and 2011 Ashes winning captain Andrew Strauss this summer, and is excited by the prospect.
He said: ‘The Ashes is the pinnacle of Test cricket and when it comes to television, cricket fans have never had it so good. Bring it on.’
Sky Go will mean that the channel will be available on PC and mobile devices, with managing director of Sky Sports Barney Francis adding ‘it couldn’t be easier for viewers to enjoy live cricket’.
It isn’t the first time Sky have dedicated a channel to a particular sport, with Sky Sports F1 HD being set up after they gained F1 coverage rights last year.
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