WICB spending US$700,000 to promote Caribbean T20 Champs

Dr. Ernest Hilaire, Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), says the organisation's financial burden will be alleviated for future tournaments with the unprecedented exposure expected for this year's Caribbean Twenty20 Championships.

The WICB signed a three year extension of their contract with broadcast partner ESPN to televise matches live around the world.

ESPN will also broadcast the semi-finals and final of the WICB Caribbean Twenty20 Championships, the regional 50 overs tournament under the agreement.

The broadcast partnership is costing the WICB US$700,000 but as Hilaire explains, the organisation will get value for money.

"We’ve been trying different things to build up the value of the tournament. We’ve invested in broadcasting so the (tournament) can be seen around the world. There are sponsors who are interested in it but it has to be broadcasted, so we are making that investment. We believe that the value of the tournament will grow as the cricket improve and become more attractive to viewers around the world," Hilaire said.