ESPN nabs Stanford 20/20 rights, eyes US cricket audience

Fri, Jan 11, '08

ESPN has inked a deal to broadcast the Stanford 20/20 cricket tournament live on the Internet -- for free to U.S. fans with access to the ESPN360.com broadband sports network.

According to information reaching CaribbeanCricket.com, the deal gives ESPN the exclusive U.S. broadband coverage for all matches of the 2008 and 2009 tournaments.

ESPN360.com will provide ball-by-ball live coverage of all 19 matches from the second annual tournament, which starts in Antigua on January 26. Each match will also be available for on-demand replay for a period after its completion.

Access to ESPN360.com is available at no charge, but users have to receive high speed Internet service through an ISP that that has a distribution agreement with ESPN.

Currently, the service available to approximately 20 million homes, through more than 25 Internet service providers, including AT&T, Verizon, RCN, Frontier, Cavalier, Charter, Mediacom, Conway, Grande Communications and number of others.

2008 Stanford Twenty20 Schedule (all matches start at 7 p.m. ET)

Jan. 25 -- St. Maarten (bye)
Jan. 26 -- Cayman Islands vs St. Lucia
Jan. 27 -- Dominica vs British Virgin Islands
Jan. 29 -- Turks & Caicos vs Montserrat
Jan. 30 -- St. Kitts vs US Virgin Islands
Feb. 1 -- St. Vincent vs Winner Match 1
Feb. 2 -- Trinidad & Tobago vs Winner Match 2
Feb. 3 -- Grenada vs Anguilla
Feb. 5 -- Barbados vs Winner Match 3
Feb. 6 -- Jamaica vs Bahamas
Feb. 8 -- Nevis vs Winner Match 4
Feb. 9 -- Antigua vs Winner Match 5
Feb. 10 -- Guyana vs Bermuda

Quarterfinals

Feb. 13 -- Winner Match 6 vs Winner Match 7
Feb. 15 -- Winner Match 8 vs Winner Match 9
Feb. 16 -- Winner Match 10 vs Winner Match 11
Feb. 17 -- Winner Match 12 vs Winner Match 13

Semifinals

Feb. 22 -- Semifinal 1
Feb. 23 -- Semifinal 2

Championship

Feb. 24 -- Final

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