Sky Sports has won a BAFTA award in the Sport category for its live coverage of the first Test between England and West Indies in 2020.
And it’s a celebration of voices being heard for the winners in the Sport category behind @SkySports’ coverage of England V West Indies Test Cricket! ? ? ? #VirginMediaBAFTAs #BAFTATV @SkyCricket pic.twitter.com/e3sXHM6pJB
Last July the Sky Sports Cricket production team broadcast the first major international sporting event since the global COVID-19 outbreak, setting the standard for broadcasting in bio-secure venues around the world.
But the programme left a powerful impact before a single ball had been bowled as pundits Michael Holding and Ebony Rainford-Brent combined to demand an end to institutionalised racism following the murder of George Floyd in America.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=MaJfif0Dq8Q%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Holding said: “We are all human beings so I hope that people recognise that the Black Lives Matter movement is not trying to get black people above white people or above anyone else. It is all about equality.
“When people say ‘all lives matter’ or ‘white lives matter’, please, we black people know white lives matter. I don’t think you know that black lives matter.”
Rainford-Brent added: “It can’t be a ‘black person’s problem’, it has got to be everyone’s problem. We have got to want a society that is representative and supports people from different backgrounds.
“That’s what it is for me. We need honest conversations, opportunities and people in positions of power. And then we can change the landscape.”
https://youtube.com/watch?v=HUOeeGDUdD8%3Ffeature%3Doembed
The pair were joined in a follow-up conversation by fellow pundit Nasser Hussain which explained the role education must play for racism to be eradicated – Holding’s comments gained over six million views on Twitter.
Reacting to the BAFTA success, Sky Sports’ director of cricket Bryan Henderson said: “It is so pleasing that such a special piece of work has received so much recognition.
. @SkySports’ coverage of England V West Indies Test Cricket triumphed in the Sport category! ?? #VirginMediaBAFTAs #BAFTATV pic.twitter.com/SvYizxt0Jl
“However, none of this would have been possible without the bravery and strength of character of Michael Holding and Ebony Rainford-Brent.
“What started as a team meeting to discuss the tragic events of George Floyd’s murder, turned into an outpouring of emotion from Ebony talking of her experiences of racism in society and in cricket.
This is wow! Cannot believe what I am watching on TV… we just won a @BAFTA ?! Really proud to have worked with the team on this and proud to have used our platform! @commboxkid @nassercricket @WardyShorts @JamesAJWilson1 Mikey, Rob and the @SkyCricket pic.twitter.com/kDGjXrLJyu
“We decided there and then to use our voice – the platform of Sky Cricket – to highlight injustice and hopefully in some small way make the world a fairer place, and cricket a sport for everyone.
“Thank you to Mikey and Ebony, two incredible people. Thanks also to Rob Noonan, James Wilson, Tom Hart and Tom Basciano who made the VT. And finally thanks to Ian Ward and Nasser Hussain for their wonderful supporting roles on air.”
Sky Sports Cricket saw off stiff competition in the Sport category from the Sky Sports F1 team for its coverage of the Bahrain Grand Prix.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=gE0lcCZ-yIA%3Ffeature%3Doembed
Following 24 nominations, Sky won a total of six BAFTAs, including Drama Series for Sky Original Save Me Too and Entertainment Programme for Sky Arts Life & Rhymes.
Earlier this year Sky Cricket won best Television/Digital Live Event Coverage – with Holding picking up Best Pundit – at the SJA Awards, while the team also scooped Best Programme at the recent RTS Broadcast Awards.
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