Live coverage of the Cricket World Cup - to be staged in the UK next year - will be shown on both Sky Sports and BBC Television and Radio following an agreement announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) today.

Sky Sports and the BBC will share TV coverage of the 42-match tournament to be staged in May and June of 1999 while BBC Radio will also broadcast commentary and updates on the games.

Both broadcasters, who have been ECB's partners over the past four domestic seasons, will share the production responsibilities for worldwide coverage of the event.

During the 30-match group stage of the Tournament coverage will alternate between Sky Sports and the BBC. Coverage of the nine-match Super Six stage, which will determine the Semi-finals, will be shared in a ratio of five matches to Sky Sports and four to BBC. Each broadcaster will telecast one Semi-final.

The Cricket World Cup Final on 20 June 1999 will be shown live on both Sky Sports and BBC Television and broadcast on BBC Radio.

UK viewers will be treated to more than 220 hours of live telecast as well as a package of highlights. Updates of the matches and live audio commentary will also be carried on the official World Cup Internet site and on BBC online services. Sky will also carry World Cup features on their own Website.

World Cup Tournament Director and ECB Marketing Director, Terry Blake, described the £8 million TV agreement as: ``a great deal for cricket and a great deal for viewers.'' He was also delighted that agreement had been reached with the BBC for live coverage on Radio Four's Test Match Special and Radio Five Live.

``We have worked hard to achieve the right balance between Sky Sports and the BBC and we are delighted to be working with two experienced broadcasters, both of whom are renowned for their cricket coverage.''

``The World Cup competition stretches over a five-week period and it is, I believe, a mouth watering prospect for the fans and our sponsors and a terrific opportunity for the game to promote its own millennium event.''

Vic Wakeling, Head of Sport, Sky Television, said: ``This is going to be the biggest sports event of 1999. It will capture the imagination of the nation and we are delighted to be showing so many key games live on Sky Sports.''

Jonathan Martin, Controller, BBC Television Sport, said: ``BBC Television is delighted to bring a share of the key matches of this important competition to all cricket fans.''

Mike Lewis, Controller, BBC Radio Sports Rights, added: ``There will be comprehensive coverage of the World Cup on Test Match Special (Radio 4 Long Wave), Radio Five Live and, in an exciting development, there will be commentary available on line for Internet users.''

Beyond the UK, the ECB has already signed agreements in Africa and Australia. Negotiations are underway in other parts of the World including Asia and the Indian sub-continent, North America and the Caribbean, New Zealand and more. The cumulative global reach of the World Cup is likely to exceed 2 billion in some 80-100 countries.

ECB also announced that it had secured three Global Partners Vodafone, NatWest and Pepsi-Cola and was hoping to reveal the names of two further Partners in the next few weeks.

Michael Browning, World Cup Event Manager, said: ``We have resisted the temptation to create huge additional infrastructure for the World Cup and have taken the option of appointing a small number of specialist consultants to help stage the event.''

The Marketing Communications Agency, Hill & Knowlton, joins our team of Commerical Partners which includes:

Advantage International (Sponsorship) CSI (Broadcast Services) CSL (Ticketing) Copyright Promotions Group (Licensing) Estadio Publicad (Signage and Venue Dressing) HHCL & Partners and John Ayling & Associates (Advertising and Creative) Keith Prowse and Peter Parfitt Sports (Hospitality) Rushmans (Accreditation and Media Facilities Management) Gullivers Sports Travel and Sportsworld (Travel and Tours)

Contributed by Robin (robin@cricinfo.com)