| ESPN | |
|---|---|
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| ESPN logo | |
| Launched | 3 August 2009[1] |
| Owned by | ESPN Inc. (The Walt Disney Company/Hearst Corporation) |
| Picture format | 576i (SDTV 16:9) 1080i (HDTV 16:9) |
| Slogan | "It's great to be here" |
| Country | United Kingdom Republic of Ireland |
| Sister channel(s) | ESPN America ESPN Classic |
| Website | tv.espn.co.uk |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| BT Vision | Channel 34 |
| Top Up TV | Channel 34 |
| Satellite | |
| Sky Digital | Channel 417 Channel 442 (HD) |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media | Channel 529 Channel 530 (HD) |
| UPC Ireland | Channel 407 Channel 416 (HD) |
| Smallworld Cable | Channel ??? |
| IPTV | |
| TalkTalk TV | Channel 555 |
ESPN is a sports television channel in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland owned by American sports broadcaster ESPN Inc. The channel launched on 3 August 2009.[1] Programming is available in standard definition and high definition formats.
The channel marks ESPN's first foray into live coverage of domestic sports events in the UK, which has previously been dominated by terrestrial networks such as the BBC and ITV, as well as pay services Sky Sports and Setanta Sports, the latter having ceased trading in Great Britain.
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A carriage and retail agreement for both residential and commercial customers was struck with British Sky Broadcasting, who sell the channel through their Sky Digital platform. A discount is available to Sky Sports subscribers.[1] British Sky Broadcasting's Sky Media also acts as ad sales house for the channel.[2]
ESPN is also available on Virgin Media in standard and high definition as a part of the XL pack. M or L pack customers can subscribe to ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN HD. A discount is available to Sky Sports subscribers.[3]
Top Up TV carried ESPN from 4 August 2009. A connection fee applies to non Top Up TV subscribers, ex-Setanta digital terrestrial television customers or those without a viewing card.[4][5]
BT Vision carried ESPN from 4 August 2009 as part of BT Vision's Value Packs (Bronze, Silver and Gold).[6][7]
On both BT Vision and Top Up TV, ESPN only broadcasts from 14:00 - 04:00 on weekdays, 12:00 - 06:00 on Saturday and 12:00 – 04:00 on Sunday.[8]
TalkTalk TV (then known as Tiscali TV) carried ESPN from 14 August 2009, along with ESPN America.[9]
ESPN is also available on Smallworld Cable for free when taken with 6 TV Mixes. Other customers can subscribe to ESPN, a discount is available to Sky Sports subscribers.[10]
On 14 August 2009, a deal with cable company UPC Ireland (more popularly known by its trading name, Chorus NTL) and ESPN was reached. On that date ESPN and ESPN HD launched on UPC.[11] A discount is available to Sky Sports or Setanta Sports 1 subscribers. ESPN America ceased to be part of the Setanta Sports package on that date and became bundled with ESPN instead. On 4 January 2010, UPC and ESPN announced a new deal whereby ESPN (including its HD counterpart) and ESPN America would become part of UPC's Digital Select Extra and Digital Max packages.[12] Subscribers to the basic Digital Value package can still subscribe to ESPN and ESPN America as premium channels under the previous pricing arrangements.
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced a deal to air EuroBasket.[13] On 30 September 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured a multi-year deal to show live National Basketball Association games.[14] The channel show up to three live matches a week during the NBA season in standard and high definition, including one game at Sunday primetime. It will also carry NBA All-Star Games and action from the season playoffs and final. ESPN will also broadcast studio shows NBA Fastbreak and NBA Action.
Live pre-season coverage began on ESPN on 6 October 2009 when the Utah Jazz took on the Chicago Bulls as part of NBA Europe Live Tour. Coverage continued on 8 October 2009 for Utah Jazz against Euroleague Basketball's Real Madrid Baloncesto. The new NBA season officially gets under way on 27 October 2009.
ESPN screened their first live boxing event on 19 September 2009, broadcasting Friday Night Fights from America with Guillermo Rigondeaux topping the bill.[15]
The company announced on 22 June 2009 that it had secured the UK broadcast rights to the Premier League for four seasons, airing 46 games in the 2009-10 season and 23 games a year for the following three seasons, following a missed payment by Setanta Sports which voided their contracts.[16][17] In the Republic of Ireland, ESPN air the same 46 matches during the 2009-10 season.[18]
Premier League coverage is produced by Sky Sports in-house production team, with former BBC presenter Ray Stubbs hosting alongside Rebecca Lowe, with Jon Champion and Chris Waddle commentating.[19][20] Chris Waddle replaced Joe Royle on commentary in September 2009, however Royle does still feature regularly. Kevin Keegan is the lead analyst, while Guus Hiddink, Shaka Hislop, Frank Leboeuf, Danny Murphy, Peter Reid, Matt Holland and Ian Wright were also signed to provide analysis.[21][22] Mark Chapman and Kelly Cates will also form a part of the line up. IMG Sports Media make the studio shows and ancillary programming.[23] The first Premier League match to be shown on ESPN was Everton against Arsenal.[24]
On 7 December 2009, it was reported that ESPN had secured the rights to 25 live and exclusive FA Cup matches per season from the 2010-11 season.[25] The contract will run for four seasons and all matches will be broadcast in high definition.[26]
ESPN will televise two matches in The FA Cup First and Second Rounds (plus up to two replays per round), three matches from the Third to Fifth Rounds (plus up to one replay), two Quarter-Finals (plus up to one replay), one Semi-Final and simulcast of The FA Cup Final (on both ESPN and ITV) for each of the next four seasons. ITV will continue to have the first pick of the matches.
ESPN's offer is thought to have been 60% higher than that tabled by the BBC, however, that bid is also understood to be for a longer contract period and still worth substantially less than the amount paid by Setanta.
As part of a four year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN has exclusive media rights for the inaugural Women’s Super League in 2011.[26]
On 16 July 2009, it was announced that ESPN had secured the broadcast rights to 30 live Scottish Premier League games per season across the UK and Ireland, for five seasons, starting with the 2009-10 season. Sky Sports also show 30 lives games per season during this period, including each of the Old Firm games. The SPL retains the right to opt out of the final two seasons of the deal.[27] Ray Stubbs hosts, with Derek Rae and Craig Burley commentating.[28] Darrell Currie is touchline reporter and regular studio guests include Colin Hendry, Mark Hateley, Terry Butcher and Scott Booth.
The first SPL fixture broadcast on the channel was Dundee United versus Hearts on 17 August 2009.[29]
On 1 September 2009, ESPN secured a three-year TV rights deal to broadcast matches from the UEFA Europa League, previously held by Setanta Sports. At a minimum, ESPN will broadcast one match from each kick-off slot.[30][31]
ESPN share the rights to the Europa League with Five and ITV. As part of the deal, ESPN serve as host broadcaster for any live home matches featuring British clubs that it is transmitting and have the rights to air matches over the internet and via mobile wireless technologies.
During the the 2009-10 season, ESPN show action from home sides Celtic, Everton and Fulham, as well as 45 other European clubs, including holders Shakhtar Donetsk.
On 28 July 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured television rights to show up to two live games per week from the Eredivisie, Portuguese Liga, up to two live games per week from the Russian Premier League and the remainder of the Major League Soccer season, including five playoff games and the MLS Cup 2009.[32]
ESPN signed a multi-year deal for up to five live games per week from the German Bundesliga, a selection of which is in high definition, as well as weekly preview and highlight programmes. ESPN showed the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana which took place on 8 August 2009.
On 5 August 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights for up to three live Serie A matches per week for the 2009-10 season as well as the Coppa Italia.[33]
2010 World Cup qualification matches from Denmark, Germany and Russia have been shown.
ESPN gained the rights to the international friendly between Russia and Argentina on 12 August 2009 and the UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification match between England under-21s and FYR Macedonia under-21s on 4 September 2009.
On 5 October 2009, ESPN secured a multi-year deal to show 150 classic FIFA World Cup matches from 1930 to 2006. The matches will be shown on ESPN and ESPN Classic.[34]
As part of a four year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN will show all of the England Under-21s home fixtures.[26]
ESPN showed Real Madrid's 2009 tour of North America, including live matches against Toronto FC on 7 August and DC United on 9 August, Benfica versus AC Milan on 8 August and Tottenham Hotspur versus Olympiakos on 9 August.[32]
In January 2010, ESPN showed Argentine Torneos de Verano matches, including the Triangular de Verano 2010 Mar del Plata contested between Boca Juniors, Estudiantes and San Lorenzo, the Triangular de Verano 2010 Salta involving River Plate, Racing Club and Independiente as well as the Copa Revancha Mendoza between Boca Juniors and River Plate on 24 January.[35]
On 25 January 2010, ESPN aired Match Against Poverty 2010, where a Benfica All-Stars XI took on a team of legends selected by Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, in Lisbon to benefit the United Nations Development Programme and SL Benfica Foundation.[36]
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights to Ultimate Fighting Championship events from UFC 101 onwards as well The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, UFC All Access, UFC Countdown, UFC Fight Nights and UFC Unleashed.[13][37][38]
Alongside ESPN, Five will air a one hour highlights show called UFC: Main Event and Five USA will air the debut showing of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. However, ESPN showed The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale live and in full.[39]
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they will cover the French Top 14 live.[13] In addition, ESPN will be broadcasting live international clashes featuring New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa.[40]
On 14 December 2009, ESPN agreed a three year deal for exclusive live rights to 43 matches per season from the Guinness Premiership, beginning with the 2010-11 season, including exclusive live coverage of the Guinness Premiership Final and one of the two semi-final matches.[41] The agreement also provides highlight rights for use on ESPN digital media such as ESPNScrum.com. Sky Sports will continue to show 26 live games per season plus the other semi-final.[42]
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they will cover the up to three live matches a week plus highlights from the Australian Football League including the four-week finals series culminating with the Grand Final.[13] As part of the same announcement, it was revealed that ESPN will show Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters live.
ESPN will also show some of the US sports available on ESPN America, including Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and National Collegiate Athletic Association.[1][43] ESPN aired the 2009 National Rugby League first Preliminary Final live on 25 September 2009, the second Preliminary Final on 26 September 2009 and the Grand Final live on 4 October 2009.[44]
On 3 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the first ever European Winter X Games. All competition finals from the Winter X Games XV at the French ski resort of Tignes will be shown live and exclusive from 10 - 12 March.[45]
On 4 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships held between 12 - 14 March at the ASPIRE Dome.[46]
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