BT Buys ESPN’s U.K. & Ireland TV Channels

LONDON: The BT Group is acquiring ESPN’s channels business in the U.K. and Ireland, including the ESPN and ESPN America networks and the live sports rights portfolio.

After the deal closes, expected to be done by July 31, BT will operate at least one ESPN-branded channel, expected to form part of the BT Sport TV package that will be launched this summer. The deal allows BT to continue to show a range of U.S. sports that are currently shown on ESPN America, including NASCAR and NCAA College Basketball. The acquisitions for the live sports rights portfolio includes the FA Cup, Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League, UEFA Europa League and the German Bundesliga.

ESPN will continue to own and operate its existing digital media businesses which include multisport news and information portal ESPN.co.uk, ESPNcricinfo, ESPNFC, ESPNscrum, ESPNF1 and broadband streaming service ESPN Player. ESPN Classic has been excluded from the proposed transaction.

Marc Watson, the chief executive of television at BT Retail, said: “We are delighted to have reached an agreement with ESPN for the acquisition of their U.K. channels business and that we have been able to add some exciting new sports rights to the ones we already have.

“The FA Cup, Scottish Premier League and Europa League rights will allow us to offer customers of BT Sport even more quality live football, including our first games from the Scottish top flight and our first European competition rights. There will also be the best of U.S. sports available courtesy of this deal, which will further broaden the appeal of BT Sport.”

Ross Hair, the managing director of ESPN for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, added: “We could not be more proud of the TV channels built and nurtured by our talented team over the past four years. The value of that hard work is reflected in this deal with BT and the continuation of ESPN on television screens across the U.K. and Ireland. The same passion, commitment and innovation will be at the heart of how we develop our strong digital media business into the future.”