New Zealand Cricket yesterday released details of a new two-year deal with Sky for the broadcasting rights to all home domestic and international cricket matches.
Among the features includes a commitment from Sky to broadcast part of the HRV Cup twenty/20 games during the highly-prized Friday night time slot.
Those games will be played under lights, which means Otago will have to play away from home and sacrifice one home game, as the University Oval does not have lights.
Otago Cricket Association chief executive Ross Dykes said the loss of one home game was a small price to pay for the extra profile which will come from more television coverage.
"It has been agreed that this is a good opportunity for cricket to capture a television market," he said.
"All six major associations have worked together to ensure it can happen, without anyone being disadvantaged."
That means some sort of revenue-share for the loss of a home game but those details have not been worked out yet.
"I think it is a forward step in trying to promote domestic cricket. It is important the domestic game has a profile."
Dykes said getting lights for the University Oval was not a priority but said it was something the association would have to look at in the future. He suggested portable lights might be an option but, in the meantime, Otago will have to play night games away from home.
The new broadcasting agreement runs until March 2014 and will include tours by England, West Indies and India.
