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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.
[edit] Carriage[edit] United KingdomA 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. Sky Digital customers pay £9 a month if they already subscribe to Sky Sports or £12 a month if they do not. [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 for £8 a month if they already subscribe to any combination of the Sky Sports channels or £10 a month if they do not. [3] Top Up TV carried ESPN from 4 August 2009 for £9.99 per month. A connection fee of £20 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] Tiscali TV carried ESPN from 14 August 2009 for £9.99 a month along with ESPN America.[9] ESPN is also available on Smallworld Media for free when taken with 6 TV Mixes. Other customers can subscribe to ESPN for £9 per month if they subscribe to Sky Sports or £12 per month if they do not.[10] [edit] Republic of IrelandIn the Republic of Ireland, Sky Digital subscribers pay €12 if they subscribe to Sky Sports or €16 if they don't. 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] On UPC, ESPN costs €15 on its own or €10 to subscribers of either Sky Sports or Setanta Sports 1. ESPN America ceased to be part of the Setanta Sports package on that date and became bundled with ESPN instead. [edit] Content[edit] BasketballOn 30 July 2009, ESPN announced a deal to air EuroBasket.[12] On 30 September 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured a multi-year deal to show live National Basketball Association games. [13] 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. [edit] BoxingESPN screened their first live boxing event on 19 September 2009, broadcasting Friday Night Fights from America with Guillermo Rigondeaux topping the bill.[14] [edit] Football[edit] Premier LeagueThe 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.[15][16] In the Republic of Ireland, ESPN air the same 46 matches during the 2009-10 season.[17] 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.[18][19] Chris Waddle replaced Joe Royle on commentary in September 2009. 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.[20][21] Mark Chapman, Kelly Cates and Darrell Currie will also form a part of the line up. IMG Sports Media make the studio shows and ancillary programming.[22] The first Premier League match to be shown on ESPN was Everton against Arsenal.[23] [edit] Scottish Premier LeagueOn 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.[24] Ray Stubbs hosts, with Derek Rae and Craig Burley commentating.[25] [edit] UEFA Europa LeagueOn 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.[26][27] 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. [edit] Foreign club footballOn 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.[28] 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.[29] [edit] International football2010 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.[30] [edit] Pre-season footballESPN 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.[28] [edit] Mixed Martial ArtsOn 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.[12][31][32] Alongside ESPN, Five will air a one hour highlights show called UFC: Main Event and Five USA will air the second showing of The The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights.[33] [edit] Other sportsOn 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.[12] As part of the same announcement, it was revealed that ESPN will show Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters motorsport and Top 14 rugby 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][34] 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.[35] [edit] Future RightsESPN are understood to have tabled a bid for television rights to the FA Cup and 43 Guinness Premiership games.[36][37] The company also maintains an interest in the currently unattached television rights for the Indian Premier League.[38] [edit] See also[edit] References
[edit] External links
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