Report: ESPN Eyes U.K. Premier League Rights

LONDON, January 14: ESPN is said to be interested in bidding for the live rights to English Premier League matches in the U.K., taking on BSkyB and Setanta Sports.

According to Bloomberg News, ESPN is considering a bid for one or two of six packages available for British broadcasters. At present, BSkyB holds four packages, while Setanta Sports has two. Those packages are valid through the end of the current football season, which wraps this May. The bids for the next three seasons, through 2013, are due February 4.

"We’re interested in acquiring more sports rights, including the Premier League rights, if it fits the business," ESPN spokesman Damion Potter told Bloomberg. "But we don’t have anything to announce on the Premier League despite press speculation."

If ESPN does score the rights, it would likely launch an additional channel in the U.K., according to the Bloomberg report.

—By Mansha Daswani