ITV to air nightly Ashes highlights show

ITV confirmed today that it will air daily highlights of England's attempt to retain the Ashes from next week, with a 10pm cricket highlights programme to be fronted by Channel 5 cricket presenter Mark Nicholas. The broadcaster has reached a deal with Cricket Australia and IMG Media, the sports rights company, to air a nightly one-hour show on digital channel ITV4 featuring highlights of the five-test Ashes series, which starts next Thursday, 25 November, in Brisbane. It emerged that a deal was being negotiated earlier this month . ITV4 will also broadcast highlights of England's Twenty20 and one-day international series against Australia scheduled for January and February. The highlights programmes will be presented by Nicholas, who is working for Australian broadcaster Channel Nine during the Ashes and previously anchored Channel 4 and Channel 5's cricket coverage in the UK. "There is huge demand to see England defend the Ashes and I'm delighted that we have secured highlights, free-to-air for UK viewers," said Niall Sloane, controller of sport at ITV. • To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email [email protected] or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. • If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication".