TNT Sports has significantly expanded its cricket portfolio by securing exclusive UK broadcast rights for the upcoming 2025–26 Ashes series, in a long-form deal with Cricket Australia that positions the broadcaster at the heart of one of global sport’s most iconic rivalries.
Under the agreement, TNT Sports will stream and televise all five Ashes Tests live across its broadcast channels, streaming platform discovery+, and digital/social assets. The landmark deal also includes full UK rights to every international fixture played in Australia between August 2025 and March 2026 — spanning both men’s and women’s matches.
This includes the Australian men’s limited-overs series against South Africa (August) and India (October–November), as well as the multi-format women’s series between Australia and India in early 2026. The agreement reinforces TNT Sports’ ambition to become a premier destination for global cricket content, particularly during the European winter off-season.
A Heavy-Hitting Winter Schedule
TNT’s upcoming cricket calendar now features a comprehensive winter lineup that extends beyond Australia. Viewers will also have access to England’s white-ball tour of Ireland in September (three T20Is), the trip to New Zealand in October (three ODIs and three T20Is), and a three-match T20 series in Sri Lanka in January 2026.
This build-up culminates in the Ashes – still considered by many as the pinnacle of Test cricket storytelling. England will be aiming to reclaim the urn for the first time since 2015 and break a 14-year winless streak on Australian soil. The narrative, filled with tension, rivalry, and history, is exactly the type of live event that strengthens a streaming platform’s appointment-to-view status.
Strategic Context: TNT’s Big Bet on Narrative-Driven Sport
For TNT Sports (part of the Warner Bros. Discovery portfolio), this deal is not just about content rights — it’s a strategic commitment to storytelling-driven live sport. The Ashes, with its roots dating back to 1882, offers year-defining narratives that transcend the sport itself.
By investing in long-form cricket content across multiple international markets, TNT is positioning itself as more than a broadcaster. It’s building a cricket narrative factory — covering every angle from heritage rivalries to emerging global power dynamics in the men’s and women’s games.
This winter’s cricket offering isn’t just a schedule; it’s a canvas. A streaming-led broadcaster like TNT can build episodic drama, leverage digital engagement between matches, and drive cross-format storylines that appeal to both traditional fans and newer digital-first audiences.
The Value for Cricket Australia
For Cricket Australia, the expanded UK broadcast partnership deepens its foothold in one of cricket’s most commercially valuable overseas markets. The inclusion of both men’s and women’s matches signals a growing parity in broadcast appeal, while also boosting global visibility for Cricket Australia’s product beyond the Big Bash League and ICC-tied events.
It’s also a signal that bilateral cricket — often under threat in the franchise era — still holds significant value when framed within meaningful narrative structures like the Ashes or high-profile India series.
Looking Ahead
With full production plans for the Ashes yet to be announced, all eyes will be on how TNT Sports maximises the storytelling, on-air personalities, and in-match production to build anticipation and engagement. The partnership sets the stage for one of the most compelling cricket seasons in recent years — one that will play out not just on the pitch, but across digital ecosystems and global fan communities.
TNT Sports has laid its wicket. Now it’s time for the game to deliver.
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