ESPN win right to broadcast Premier League games

[ReddOrDedd]

ESPN snaps up Premier League TV packages - England - ESPN Soccernet

 

 

 

ESPN has won the rights to broadcast 46 live Premier League matches in the United Kingdom for the 2009-10 season, and has also been awarded a contract for the 2010-13 seasons.

 

The sports broadcaster, parent company of Soccernet, picked up both 23-match packages on offer in Monday's auction. ESPN's 46 live games will be split between Saturday evenings and Monday nights in the coming season. For the three seasons from 2010-11 to 2012-13 ESPN has the rights to a single package of 23 matches previously awarded to Setanta.

 

The Premier League ended its association with Setanta on Friday after it failed to meet a final deadline over a £30m payment which had been due this month. Setanta was also stripped of its Scottish Premier League contract on Monday.

 

"We are clearly delighted that our bid for exclusive media rights to the Barclays Premier League matches in the UK has been successful," said Lynne Frank, ESPN Managing Director in Europe, Middle East and Africa. "This is a huge step for our business, and we look forward to working with the Premier League, football clubs and distributors to bring UK sports fans all the excitement they expect in Premier League football."

 

"Premier League football is one of the world's most sought after sports properties, and we are very excited to be expanding our business in the UK with England's top football product," said Russell Wolff, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, ESPN International. "This move demonstrates our commitment to British sports fans and our ongoing commitment to delivering football to fans around the world across a variety of media."

 

Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "The Premier League is extremely pleased to have added ESPN as a UK rights holder. They have a formidable worldwide reputation and experience in sports and I am sure we will enjoy a long and fruitful relationship with them."

 

ESPN plans to make its Barclays Premier League coverage widely available across multiple pay-TV platforms. As a first step to this distribution strategy, ESPN has reached an agreement for its coverage to be retailed by Sky to residential and commercial customers.

[Guest ShoePiss]

It would be great if they take up the slack in the states too

[chrisbonnie]

chuffed sky didnt get it, i hate their monopoloy on the game

[Spy Bee]

So is it basically the same craic as Setanta was?

[drewy]

So is it basically the same craic as Setanta was?

 

Sky where never going to get the 2010-13 package as that would have broken the EU rules.

 

Be interesting to see what they charge for two packages next season and then the single package from 2010-13.

[Flying Pig]

I hope ESPN doesn't go off when its rains.

[ReddOrDedd]

Sky where never going to get the 2010-13 package as that would have broken the EU rules.

 

Be interesting to see what they charge for two packages next season and then the single package from 2010-13.

 

 

I would be very surprised if ESPN didn't buy the 'second package' from Sky for 2010-13. Sky didn't even want it, and wound up with it accidentally because Setanta put in a ludicrously low bid for it.

[hamstrung]

So is it basically the same craic as Setanta was?

 

You'll organise it via Sky rather than direct with ESPN.

[The Dude Abides]

Balls. Hopefully RTE pick up those 3pm games Setanta were showing in Ireland.

[WaltonRed]

So what do Setanta customers do?

 

Will ESPN simly get in touch, or do we have to cancel Setanta and sign up to ESPN.

 

Oh for the good old days.

[ratcatcher]

Sly Sports had the right to buy one of the two setanta packages up for grabs but not both. Sly Sports couldnt bid for the single setanta package covered by the new deal.

 

Looks like espn will be ppv similar to setanta. Cant see espn making the games available on a match by match package though.

[drewy]

I would be very surprised if ESPN didn't buy the 'second package' from Sky for 2010-13. Sky didn't even want it, and wound up with it accidentally because Setanta put in a ludicrously low bid for it.

 

Which single package did they win? The Saturday evening or the Monday night one.

[ratcatcher]

Which single package did they win? The Saturday evening or the Monday night one.

 

Its a package of 23 games. The tv co decides when to screen them ie either sat or mon night. The packages werent sold as 'saturday' or 'monday' night games.

[discuit]

The last thing Sky wanted was ESPN getting involved. ESPN Could blow Sky out of the water if it got to a bidding rights battle.

[discuit]

What the hell is going on with the adverts on here Dave?

 

Meet the Manc players in Seoul?

[the walsh]

anybody know if the dogi boxes will pick espn. they pick up all the NTL stations at the moment so just wondering will it pick it up anybody know???

[rargh]

Sky - £40 a month.

Setanta, minus the footy, but for the boxing and UFC - £13 a month. Considering that they've lost their main selling point in live Premier League footy, I hope they bring the price down!

ESPN - another £13 a month?

 

If you like footy, boxing and UFC it's gonna cost you nigh on £70 a month.

[ReddOrDedd]

What I'm wondering is if Virgin Media, who give me Setanta for free with My XL TV package, will be offering a similar deal with ESPN.

 

If not, that's a right fucker for me, and everyone else who had Setanta's Prem games for nish.

[Unrighteous]

The last thing Sky wanted was ESPN getting involved. ESPN Could blow Sky out of the water if it got to a bidding rights battle.

 

Yup. ESPN are big business in the states. It's a sleeping giant, to be honest.

[OmarVizquel]

ESPN is horrible. They have a complete monopoly over sports in the USA and could probably take down Sky in a few years. I hate ESPN, but it's a necessary evil because they have rights to most of the US major leagues and events that I want to watch.

 

But I don't really get this UK deal. So my Setanta channel is going to be no more, and they'll add an ESPN channel?

[ReddOrDedd]

Yup. ESPN are big business in the states. It's a sleeping giant, to be honest.

 

 

Not to mention the Far East. It's far from a sleeping giant. It's a very active one indeed, which is about to get even more active.

[rargh]

ESPN is horrible. They have a complete monopoly over sports in the USA and could probably take down Sky in a few years. I hate ESPN, but it's a necessary evil because they have rights to most of the US major leagues and events that I want to watch.

 

But I don't really get this UK deal. So my Setanta channel is going to be no more, and they'll add an ESPN channel?

 

The way I see it, it's either going to be no more Setanta and ESPN in it's place, or Setanta minus the footy and ESPN on top of that to watch the match.

[hamstrung]

So what do Setanta customers do?

 

Will ESPN simly get in touch, or do we have to cancel Setanta and sign up to ESPN.

 

Oh for the good old days.

 

Depends if you want to keep Setanta for the rest of its broadcast. I assume its only a matter of time before they stop broadcasting.

 

The article suggests that ESPN will just appear as an encryptred channel on Sky. You will then ring Sky and pay whatever fee it is to get it switched on.

 

I don't think you'll organise anything with ESPN direct.

[odris]

Will it be on ESPN America but maybe they just re-name it to plain old ESPN?

[niallers]

Balls. Hopefully RTE pick up those 3pm games Setanta were showing in Ireland.

 

i agree, as if we weren't on sky on sunday we'd nearly always be on set at 3 on a saturday which was great.