ESPN Repositions U.K. Channel

LONDON: Following its acquisition of a package of Barclays Premier League matches, ESPN is launching a new high-definition channel in the U.K., in place of its existing ESPN America service, on August 3.

ESPN in the U.K. will be the sports broadcaster’s first HD service in Europe. It will deliver 46 Barclays Premier League matches this coming season, after Setanta Sports lost those rights when it went into administration. Replacing ESPN America, the new ESPN will also broadcast American and other international sports. It will be available in both SD and HD. 

Satellite platform Sky—which has the rights to the other packages of Premier League matches—will retail ESPN to both its residential and commercial customers. Sky will make ESPN available on a premium subscription basis, priced at £9 per month for Sky Sports subscribers and £12 per month for other customers. ESPN Classic, the broadcaster’s second channel in the U.K., showcases the greatest moments in sport, will remain in the ‘News and Events’ pack. In addition, Sky Sports’ in-house production team has been contracted to produce ESPN’s Premier League match coverage. ESPN plans to create original studio shows to support the Barclays Premier League matches and other sports coverage. 

Lynne Frank, the managing director of ESPN for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We hope football and sports fans will enjoy ESPN’s compelling mix of Barclays Premier League football, international sports and the best of the U.S. sports in both SD and HD. We look forward to working with Sky to deliver great sports content to their subscribers and will continue our discussions with all other pay-TV providers so that we can bring ESPN to as many sports fans in the UK as possible.”

Mike Darcey, Sky’s COO, added: “Our agreement with ESPN to retail its portfolio of sports channels ensures that we have certainty of distribution of all live Premier League matches to Sky homes, and further adds to the high-quality sports content our customers can enjoy, both in standard- and high-definition. We are also delighted to provide support in the form of production, advertising sales and commercial retailing.”