Willow TV Live
Willow TV is the leading cricket broadcaster in North America. It brings live and recorded cricket matches to fans across the United States and Canada. For cricket lovers living far from South Asia, Willow TV has become the main way to follow the sport they grew up watching. It has grown steadily since its launch and now plays a central role in North America’s cricket broadcasting landscape.
What is Willow TV?
Willow TV is a 24/7 cricket-focused television network that offers live streaming and broadcasting of international cricket matches, domestic leagues, and exclusive cricket content.
Launched in 2010, the platform was designed specifically for cricket fans living in regions where the sport does not receive mainstream coverage, such as the United States and Canada. Over time, it has grown into a primary destination for watching major tournaments such as the IPL, the PSL, and international bilateral series.
The History of Willow TV
Willow TV launched on 27 August 2010 as a dedicated pay television sports channel. Founder Vijay Srinivasan built the channel to serve the Indian subcontinent diaspora living in the United States. At the time, cricket fans in North America had very few legal options to watch overseas matches live. Willow TV filled that gap by airing international cricket in English, targeted mainly at viewers with roots in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
In its early years, the channel operated under two separate names, Willow Cricket and Willow TV. In 2013, both brands merged into a single identity known simply as Willow, along with a unified logo. This simplified the brand and made it easier for fans to recognize the channel across different platforms.
A major turning point came in March 2016. Times Internet, a subsidiary of The Times Group, which publishes The Times of India, acquired Willow TV from its founder and earlier stakeholders. Times Internet committed $100 million toward the deal and the platform’s future growth. This investment allowed Willow TV to expand its reach and strengthen its position as the top cricket broadcaster in the region.
Willow TV expanded into Canada in May 2019, extending its reach beyond the United States. The channel has grown from a single pay-TV service into a multi-platform cricket network available through cable, satellite, streaming apps, and partnerships with major American streaming services.
In recent years, Willow TV has pushed further into free and accessible content. On 1 October 2024, the company launched Willow Sports, North America’s first Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV (FAST) channel dedicated entirely to cricket.
It offers live matches, classic games, and highlights at no cost through platforms like Amazon Prime Video Channels, Sling Freestream, Fubo, DistroTV, Plex, and YuppTV. The launch came shortly after Team USA’s landmark win over Pakistan in the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, an event that sparked a fresh wave of interest in cricket across North America.
Willow HD (Main Channel)
Willow HD is the primary and most widely available channel under the Willow TV network. This is where the majority of live matches are broadcast, including ICC events and major T20 leagues. Most users who subscribe to Willow TV through cable or streaming services are actually accessing Willow HD. It serves as the central hub for all major cricket content.
Willow Xtra (Secondary Channel)
Willow Xtra acts as a supplementary channel. It is mainly used when multiple matches are happening simultaneously, which is common during tournaments like the Indian Premier League or ICC events.
Instead of missing out on games, Willow splits the coverage between Willow HD and Willow Xtra, ensuring viewers can watch both matches live. This channel is especially valuable for serious cricket fans who follow multiple teams or leagues at once.
Read More: Star Sports Live
Broadcasting Rights Acquired by Willow TV
Willow TV holds an extensive collection of cricket broadcasting rights, making it the primary destination for the sport in North America. Here are the major rights the platform has secured:
International Cricket Council (ICC) Events
Willow TV holds exclusive ICC media rights for the United States and Canada through 2027. This deal covers major global tournaments, including men’s and women’s ICC events, giving North American fans direct access to World Cups and other international competitions.
Indian Premier League (IPL)
Willow TV serves as the official broadcaster of the IPL in the USA and Canada. The platform streams every league match, all playoff games, and the final each season across its various platforms.
Cricket Boards and Bilateral Series
Willow TV holds broadcasting rights connected to major cricket boards, including Cricket Australia, the England and Wales Cricket Board, Cricket South Africa, the Pakistan Cricket Board, and Sri Lanka Cricket. This gives it access to bilateral international series involving these countries.
Domestic T20 Leagues
The platform streams several major T20 leagues from around the cricket world. These include the Australian Big Bash League, the Women’s Big Bash League, the Pakistan Super League, the Caribbean Premier League, and the Lanka Premier League.
Major League Cricket (MLC)
Major League Cricket is the flagship domestic T20 competition in the United States. It also streams Minor League Cricket matches. The platform partners with several regional sports networks, including the YES Network, ROOT Sports, Bally Sports, Monumental Sports Network, and NBC Sports Bay Area, to bring MLC matches to local markets across the country.
Cricket Highlights
Willow TV also offers various cricket highlights and match previews. Watch every cricket series, t20 league, and ICC event matches highlight on Willow TV.
How to Watch Willow TV Online
For modern users, streaming is often the preferred way to watch cricket. Willow TV supports multiple devices and platforms, making it accessible almost anywhere.
You can watch Willow TV via:
- Official website streaming
- Android and iOS apps
- Smart TVs (Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV)
- Streaming bundles like Sling TV
The platform typically offers HD streaming, match replays, and highlights, allowing users to catch up even if they miss live games.
Willow TV Subscription Plans and Pricing
Willow TV operates on a subscription-based model, and pricing depends on how you access the service.
There are generally two options:
1. Standalone Subscription
Users can subscribe directly through Willow’s online streaming platform.
2. Bundled Packages
Willow TV is often included in sports or South Asian channel packages offered by streaming platforms and cable providers.
Pricing varies by provider, but it is generally considered affordable compared to broader sports packages.
Outside North America, different networks usually hold broadcasting rights, so Willow TV may not be directly available in countries such as India, Pakistan, or the UK.
Willow TV offers dedicated cricket coverage, ensuring fans never miss important matches. Its multiple-channel system allows simultaneous streaming, and its availability on various platforms makes it highly convenient.
Conclusion
Willow TV has changed how cricket fans in North America follow the sport. Before its launch, watching live overseas cricket in the United States and Canada was difficult. Today, Willow TV offers a full range of options, from paid subscriptions to free streaming through Willow Sports, making cricket more accessible than ever before.