Sunset+Vine wins 3-year host broadcaster contract until 2020 for Hero CPL

– 34 matches to be broadcast across 7 countries between August 8 and September 16, 2018

Sunset+Vine, the global TV sports producer and distributor, has been appointed as the host broadcaster for the next three years of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL), until 2020. The 2018 edition of the series takes place August 8 to September 16, 2018.
The Hero CPL, which first started in 2013, is a franchise-based T20 format cricket tournament that combines two of the most compelling aspects of Caribbean life – dramatic cricket and a vibrant Carnival atmosphere. Combining broadcast and digital viewership, over 197 million fans watched the 2017 season to make it one of the fastest-growing leagues in world cricket.
Under the terms of the deal, Sunset+Vine will be producing the World Feed for the six-team franchised competition – a total of 34 matches taking place across seven countries – as well as creating all pre- and post-match programming. There will be a total of 85 crew working on the Hero CPL which will be split across two teams. Three Outside Broadcast (OB) units will rotate across the eight venues. Huw Bevan will be Executive Producer.
Huw Bevan, Executive Director at Sunset+Vine, commented; “We are delighted to have reached a long-term agreement with the Hero CPL. It is a very special tournament. There’s nothing else quite like it. It combines the very best of Caribbean culture with world-class cricket to create the Biggest Party in Sport.
“For 2018, aside from the action, we are committed to showcasing the true essence of this unique sporting occasion and the beauty of the Caribbean. There will also be an emphasis on behind-the-scenes access to players that will enable us to capture the fun, relaxed nature of the tournament and take this to a growing global audience.”
Hero CPL Chief Operations Officer (COO) Pete Russell said: “Sunset+Vine have shown over the years that they are at the cutting edge of cricket broadcasting and we are delighted to have them sign a long-term deal to provide world-class coverage of Hero CPL.
“We saw last year the innovative and interesting way they go about bringing the tournament to life and they are the perfect partner for Hero CPL going forward. We are sure that this year’s tournament will have even more impressive coverage than we saw in 2017.”
For the 2018 competition, each team have a roster of 18 cricketers, with the top salary slot netting the players US$160,000. 2018’s draft saw a record 227 overseas players and 121 West Indian cricketers up for selection. Caribbean superstars Chris Gayle, Sunil Narine, Dwayne Bravo, Evin Lewis, and Lendl Simmons, alongside international icons, including Brendon McCullum, Sohail Tanvir, Shakib al Hasan, Martin Guptill, Hashim Amla and Shahid Afridi are all confirmed participants. Amongst those making their CPL T20 debut are former Australian limited-overs captain David Warner, while Jamaican star Andre Russell returns after missing CPL 2017.
The talent doesn’t end on the field. An exciting commentary team has been assembled which includes Ian Bishop, Daren Ganga, Tino Best, Michael Slater, Tom Moody, Alan Wilkins, Mel Jones, Danny Morrison, and Mark Butcher. This year’s tournament takes place between August 8 and September 16, 2018.