MARK Newton described BskyB's TV rights victory as "the best result for cricket".

Worcestershire's chief executive was delighted with yesterday's announcement from the England and Wales Cricket Board that the satellite broadcaster had won exclusive rights to televise UK cricket between 2006 and 2009.

The deal saw the end of live cricket on terrestrial television and led to an angry reaction from cricket fans nationwide.

Newton, though, believed that the £220 million deal will help clubs like Worcestershire to survive. "There was a distinct possibility, in the present television climate, that central funding could have gone down but this deal will see the present level continue and rise in line with inflation," said Newton.

"It's the best result for cricket because it offers financial stability. I understand the argument over terrestrial television coverage. However, I think Sky Sports have given cricket more coverage than ever and they are now in seven million homes with a young audience. Overall, we're happy with the deal."

Sky Sports will show ball-by-ball coverage of all seven home Test matches, a minimum of 10 one-day internationals and international Twenty20 cricket from the 2006 season through to the Ashes series in 2009.

Highlights of all international cricket, bar the day/night one-day internationals, will be shown in the primetime slot between 7.15pm and 8pm on Five, which will be making its first foray into cricket broadcasting.

Channel 4, which currently broadcasts six of England's seven home Tests in a partnership with BSkyB, could offer neither the funds nor guaranteed airtime the ECB were looking for.