Key Points
- Willow by Cricbuzz will stream all four Team USA matches from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup free on YouTube, a first for ICC World Cup matches in the U.S. and Canada.
- Willow partnered with Jomboy Media to produce creator-led alternate telecasts for the USA vs. India and USA vs. Pakistan matches.
- The free matches air February 7 through March 8, while all 55 tournament matches remain available on Willow TV’s linear channel and streaming platforms.
Willow by Cricbuzz will stream all four Team USA matches from the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup for free on YouTube, marking the first time ICC World Cup matches will be available at no cost to consumers across the U.S. and Canada on the platform.
The matches, scheduled for February 7 through March 8, will be accessible on YouTube as well as on Willow and Cricbuzz’s own platforms, the sports broadcaster announced on Tuesday.
“The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup gives fans a chance to experience cricket at a true breakout moment in the U.S.,” said Todd Myers, the Chief Operating Officer of Willow by Cricbuzz. “More than a decade ago, major ICC World Cup matches in the U.S. required $100-plus pay-per-view access. We helped bring the sport into an affordable monthly subscription, and now we are taking the next step by offering free access to some of the most anticipated matches of the year, alongside new creator-led programming and a viewing experience built for how fans engage with the game today.”
Willow has also partnered with Jomboy Media to produce a creator-led alternate telecast for the USA vs. India and USA vs. Pakistan matches. The broadcasts will feature Jimmy “Jomboy” O’Brien, former England international Liam Plunkett and analyst Adam Bannon, and will stream on Jomboy Media’s YouTube channel, which has more than 2 million subscribers.
“I discovered cricket during (the COVID-19 pandemic) and instantly fell in love,” O’Brien said in a statement. “We’re excited to create new fans in the US for baseball’s older cousin.”
Marc Hatfield, the Partnerships Manager at YouTube, said the collaboration enables the platform’s sports audience to engage with both the main livestream and the alternative creator-led broadcast.
The four guaranteed Team USA matches will air against India (Feb. 7, 8:30 a.m. ET), Pakistan (Feb. 10, 8:30 a.m. ET), the Netherlands (Feb. 13, 8:30 a.m. ET) and Namibia (Feb. 15, 4:30 a.m. ET). Beyond those free offerings, all 55 tournament matches will be available on Willow TV’s linear channel through YouTube TV’s “NFL RedZone with Sports Plus” package and via Willow’s Primetime Channels service.
Willow by Cricbuzz is also launching updated website, mobile and connected TV apps designed to deliver faster performance and higher-quality video. The service remains available through major providers including DISH, Sling, Fios, Spectrum, Xfinity, Optimum, DIRECTV, DIRECTV Stream and Fubo, as well as direct-to-consumer subscriptions through Amazon, YouTube Primetime Channels, Triller TV and FloSports.
