Misplaced Pages

TNT Sports 4: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from[REDACTED] with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editNext edit →Content deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 14:54, 2 October 2022 editEspyul (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,428 edits Separating bt sport espn and bt sport those are two different channelsTags: New redirect Manual revert← Previous edit Revision as of 15:23, 2 October 2022 edit undoViperSnake151 (talk | contribs)Autopatrolled, Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers109,671 edits expand lead; also this is still the same subject, you literally did a cut and paste moveTags: Removed redirect nowiki added Visual edit: SwitchedNext edit →
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Sports TV channel from BT Consumer}}
#REDIRECT ]
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = BT Sport 4
| logo =
| image =
| launch_date = 3 August 2009
| closed_date =
| picture_format = ] ]<br />{{small|(downscaled to ] ] for the ] feed)}}
| owner = ]
| country = ]<br>]
| area = United Kingdom<br>]
| sister_channels = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>]
| former_names = ESPN UK (2009–15) <br> BT Sport ESPN (2015–22)
| website =
| availability_note =
| online_serv_1 = BT Sport Player
| online_chan_1 = (UK only)
| online_serv_2 = Virgin TV Anywhere
| online_chan_2 = (UK only)
| online_serv_3 = ]
| online_chan_3 = {{nowrap|(Ireland only)}}
}}

'''BT Sport 4''' is a British sports television channel owned by ] and the ]. It is part of the ] group of channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The channel was established by ]<nowiki/>on 3 August 2009 as '''ESPN''' (or '''ESPN UK'''), after having acquired a share of rights to ]. It served as ESPN's first channel devoted to domestic sport, as its pan-European sister networks ] and ] were devoted to archive content and North American sport respectively. Alongside the Premier League, the channel acquired shares of the rights to the ], ], ], and ] among other properties. The channel also carried coverage of sport from the United States (such as the ], ], ], and U.S. ], some of which carried over from ESPN America), and ESPN original programmes.

In 2012, ESPN began losing many of its signature sport properties (including the Premier League) to ], and its forthcoming ] service. On 25 February 2013, ESPN announced that it would exit the UK and Ireland market and sell its operations to BT. The channel continued to operate under the ESPN, which was later co-branded as '''BT Sport ESPN'''. BT Group reached a long-term deal with ] to hold British rights to ESPN original programmes, and sports properties that are owned by ESPN outright or to which it holds international rights. In August 2022, ahead of the takeover of BT Sport by ], the channel dropped the ESPN branding with no change in programmes.

==History==
]
The channel launched on 3 August 2009 following ESPN's acquisition of partial UK broadcast rights to the ] six weeks prior, caused in turn by the financial difficulties of ], which ceased broadcasting in ] at about the same time.<ref name="ESPN snaps up" /> It marked ESPN's first foray into live coverage of domestic sports events in the UK. Prior to August 2009, ESPN's only operations in the UK were archive sports channel ], as well as the pan-European ] channel (then known as North American Sports Network), which focused on ]n sport.

On 13 June 2012, it was announced that ESPN had missed out on Premier League broadcast rights from the 2013–14 to 2015–16 season to Sky Sports and ], despite making a "strong bid".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18430036|title=Premier League rights sold to BT and BSkyB for £3bn|work=]|date=13 June 2012}}</ref> The news followed speculation that ESPN was reconsidering its position in the UK.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/115417-espn-could-quite-uk-fa-cup|title=ESPN could quit UK|publisher=Pocket-lint|date=9 May 2012}}</ref> In the following months, ESPN also lost the rights to Premiership Rugby, Premiership Rugby Sevens Series and American, Brazilian, French and Italian top-flight football to BT.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a405472/bt-poaches-premiership-rugby-rights-from-espn-sky.html|title=BT poaches Premiership Rugby rights from ESPN, Sky|website=Digital Spy|date=12 September 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a436090/bt-deals-further-blow-to-espn-with-new-rights-deals.html|title=BT deals further blow to ESPN with new rights deals|website=Digital Spy|date=6 November 2012}}</ref> On 1 February 2013, '']'' reported that ESPN had entered talks to sell off its remaining sports rights, believed to be worth more than £15m.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/espn-in-talks-to-sell-uk-sports-rights/5051306.article|title=ESPN in talks to sell UK sports rights|publisher=Broadcast|date=1 February 2013}}</ref> During The Walt Disney Company's first quarter earnings results conference call on 5 February 2013, Disney's chief financial officer Jay Rasulo confirmed that ESPN had "experienced losses" in the UK and was "exploring an exit".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a456612/disney-espn-may-leave-the-uk.html|title=Disney: ESPN may leave the UK|website=Digital Spy|date=6 February 2013}}</ref> On 25 February 2013, BT agreed to acquire ESPN's UK and Ireland TV channels business. The sale was completed 31 July, after which ESPN was operated as part of BT Sport.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/Showarticle.cfm?ArticleID=3C92E33B-6F97-420C-A5E2-3CDBC4D95929|title=BT Sport free for millions of homes|publisher=BT Group|date=9 May 2013|access-date=9 May 2013}}</ref> The value of the deal had not been disclosed, but BT was understood to be paying "low tens of millions".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/feb/25/espn-bt-vision|title=BT buys ESPN'S UK and Ireland TV channels|newspaper=The Guardian|date=25 February 2013}}</ref>

In January 2015, BT reached a long-term rights deal with ESPN, allowing the network to maintain its affiliation with ESPN International, and its rights to original programmes and sports properties owned by ESPN outright or to which it holds international rights.<ref name="bt-espndeal">{{cite web|title=BT Sport and ESPN deepen relationship with long-term collaboration|url=http://www.btplc.com/news/articles/showarticle.cfm?articleid=%7B60a32774-3b2c-4b26-90de-44a829925ea7%7D|publisher=BT plc|access-date=17 July 2015}}</ref> On 9 June 2015, BT rebranded the channel as '''BT Sport ESPN'''.

On 11 May 2022, BT Group announced that the BT Sport channels would become a joint venture with ] (WBD), and merge with ] UK at a later date..<ref>{{cite news |last1=Metz |first1=Axel |date=12 May 2022 |title=BT Sport subscribers to get major package upgrade completely free of charge |publisher=TechRadar |url=https://www.techradar.com/uk/news/bt-sport-subscribers-to-get-major-package-upgrade-completely-free-of-charge |access-date=12 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Frater |first=Patrick |date=2022-05-12 |title=Warner Bros. Discovery and BT to Launch Sports Venture in U.K. and Ireland |url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/warner-bros-discovery-bt-sports-uk-ireland-1235264924/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022-05-12 |title=BT and Warner Bros Discovery join forces to create pay-TV sport business |url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/may/12/bt-and-warner-bros-discovery-join-forces-to-create-pay-tv-sport-business |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> On 1 August 2022, the ESPN branding was dropped from the channel, which was renamed BT Sport 4; the channel continues to primarily carry U.S. sport (such as ] and college sports).<ref>{{Cite web |title=BT Sport ESPN to rebrand as BT Sport 4 |url=https://www.mediamole.co.uk/entertainment/broadcasting/news/bt-sport-espn-to-rebrand-as-bt-sport-4_489865.html |access-date=2022-10-02 |website=Media Mole |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Availability==

===Before August 2013===
A carriage and retail agreement for both residential and commercial customers was struck with ], who sold the channel through their ] platform.<ref name="3 August Launch">{{cite magazine |date=7 July 2009 |title=ESPN announces channel details for its Premier League debut |url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/article/918595/espn-announces-channel-details-its-premier-league-debut |magazine=Media Week}}</ref> British Sky Broadcasting's Sky Media also acted as ad sales house for the channel.<ref name="Sky Media Ad Sales">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/article/916585/espn-secures-outlets-ad-sales-premier-league-tv|title=ESPN secures outlets and ad sales for Premier League TV|magazine=Media Week|date=30 June 2009}}</ref> Some events were also transmitted on ] including the ], ] and ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a304407/sky-3d-to-show-espns-winter-x-games.html|title=Sky 3D to show ESPN's Winter X Games|website=Digital Spy|date=17 February 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a316499/sky-to-broadcast-fa-cup-final-live-in-3d.html|title=Sky to broadcast FA Cup Final live in 3D|website=Digital Spy|date=26 April 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnmediazone3.com/wpmu/uk/?p=1405|title=ESPN 3D Production of 2011 NBA Finals Featuring the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks Available on Sky 3D in UK, Irish Homes and Pubs|publisher=ESPN|date=1 June 2011|access-date=2 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110721063054/http://espnmediazone3.com/wpmu/uk/?p=1405|archive-date=21 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 22 July 2011 ESPN was available without additional charge to full Sky Sports Pack subscribers in Ireland.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sky.com/ireland/tv/standalone-channels/espn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914005927/http://www.sky.com/ireland/tv/standalone-channels/espn/|archive-date=14 September 2011|title=ESPN – now at no extra cost with Sky Sports|publisher=Sky|access-date=22 July 2011}}</ref>

ESPN is available on ] in standard and high definition as a part of the XL pack. M, M+ or L pack customers can subscribe to ESPN and BT Sport. A discount was previously available to Sky Sports subscribers.<ref name="ESPN VM">{{cite web|url=http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-and-ESPN-announce-channel-deal-ahead-of-Premier-League-football-season-14e.aspx |title=Virgin Media and ESPN announce channel deal ahead of Premier League football season |publisher=Virgin Media |date=29 July 2009 |access-date=6 August 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130806141814/http://mediacentre.virginmedia.com/Stories/Virgin-Media-and-ESPN-announce-channel-deal-ahead-of-Premier-League-football-season-14e.aspx |archive-date=6 August 2013 }}</ref> After the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport on 1 August 2013, Virgin Media customers lost access to ESPN channels, despite Virgin Media and BT being in talks for more than 2 months prior to the switch over.<ref name="ESPN VM2">{{cite web|url=http://www.cable.co.uk/news/virgin-media-in-talks-over-bt-sport-deal-801590928/ |title=Virgin Media in talks over BT Sport deal |publisher=Cable.co.uk |date=28 May 2013 |access-date=6 August 2013}}</ref> ESPN and ESPN HD returned on 15 August after BT signed a wholesale deal with Virgin Media for the carriage of BT Sport.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/ShowArticle.cfm?ArticleID=45262846-58D9-4D23-9DA8-3FB9234B29AB |title=BT and Virgin Media sign wholesale BT Sport deal |publisher=BT Group |date=15 August 2013 |access-date=15 August 2013}}</ref>

] carried ESPN from 4 August 2009. A connection fee applied to non-Top Up TV subscribers, ex-Setanta ] customers or those without a viewing card.<ref name="ESPN TUTV">{{cite web|url=https://www.topuptv.com/espn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305070503/http://topuptv.com/espn|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 March 2016|title=ESPN launching on Top Up TV|publisher=]|access-date=1 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="ESPN TUTV2">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a169184/top-up-tv-secures-espn-carriage-deal.html|title=Top Up TV secures ESPN carriage deal|website=]|date=4 August 2009}}</ref> On 26 July 2011 Top Up TV announced that ESPN would be available via a ] (CAM) when the CAM service was launched in August.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a331773/sky-sports-espn-to-become-available-on-top-up-tv-cam.html|title=Sky Sports, ESPN to become available on Top Up TV CAM|website=]|date=26 July 2011}}</ref>

] has carried ESPN from 4 August 2009 as part of BT Vision's Value Packs (Bronze, Silver and Gold).<ref name="ESPN BTV">{{cite web|url=http://www.btvision.bt.com/sport/espn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090802081704/http://www.btvision.bt.com/sport/espn/|archive-date=2 August 2009|title=ESPN and BT Vision update|publisher=]|access-date=1 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="ESPN BTV2">{{cite web|url=http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/Showarticle.cfm?ArticleID=664379DF-45F8-47DD-B65E-0E0F6C4C66EA|title=BT Vision signs up ESPN's news sports channel to offer fans football and sports|publisher=]|date=4 August 2009}}</ref>

On both BT Vision and Top Up TV, ESPN broadcasts from 14:00 – 04:00 on weekdays, 11:00 – 06:00 on Saturday and 11:00 – 04:00 on Sunday.<ref name="ESPN TUTV Hours">{{cite web|url=http://tv.espn.co.uk/gb/espl/help-feedback/faq/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011223002/http://tv.espn.co.uk/gb/espl/help-feedback/faq/|archive-date=11 October 2010|title=Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)|publisher=ESPN|access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref>

] (then known as Tiscali TV) carried ESPN from 14 August 2009, along with ESPN America.<ref name="ESPN TalkTalk TV">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a171538/tiscali-secures-espn-carriage-deal.html|title=Tiscali secures ESPN carriage deal|website=]|date=14 August 2009}}</ref>

ESPN was available on ] without additional charge when taken with the Ultimate HD TV Pack. Other customers can subscribe to ESPN.<ref name="ESPN Smallworld">{{cite web|url=http://www.smallworldcable.com/Cable-TV/espn|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713143946/http://www.smallworldcable.com/Cable-TV/espn|archive-date=13 July 2011|title=ESPN|publisher=]|access-date=24 July 2011}}</ref>

On 14 August 2009, a deal with cable company ] and ESPN was reached. On that date ESPN and ESPN HD launched on UPC.<ref name="ESPN UPC">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a171510/chorus-ntl-to-carry-espn-hd-in-ireland.html|title=Chorus ntl to carry ESPN HD in Ireland|website=]|date=14 August 2009}}</ref> A discount is available to Sky Sports or ] subscribers. ] ceased to be part of the Setanta Sports package on that date, and was bundled with ESPN instead. On 4 January 2010, UPC and ESPN announced a new deal whereby ESPN (including its HD counterpart) and ESPN America would become part of UPC's Digital Select Extra and Digital Max packages.<ref name="ESPN UPC2">{{cite news|url=http://www.irishtimes.com/business/upc-to-spend-20m-to-win-back-clients-1.1265321|title=UPC to spend €20m to win back clients|newspaper=]|date=4 January 2010}}</ref>

ESPN have offered a number of free periods, ranging between a weekend and a month.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/29/espn-premier-league-football|title=ESPN Premier League football to be free for first month on cable|newspaper=]|date=29 July 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/espn-free-weekend|title=ESPN free this weekend|magazine=]|date=22 January 2010}}</ref> In February 2012 a free weekend covered a ] match between ] and ], marking the first time that a Premier League fixture had been broadcast ] in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/25012012/58/premier-league-uk-fans-free-air-premier-league-match.html|title=Premier League – UK fans to see free-to-air Premier League match|publisher=Yahoo! Eurosport|date=23 January 2012}}</ref> During the same weekend the channel was also available on ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.technobuffalo.com/2012/02/03/u-k-sports-fans-get-espn-for-free-this-weekend-on-tvcatchup-tv/|title=U.K. Sports Fans Get ESPN For Free This Weekend on TVCatchup & TV|publisher=TechnoBuffalo|date=3 February 2012}}</ref>

===From August 2013===
After ESPN's acquisition by ] in 2013, BT have included ESPN as part of their ] Pack and is available on Sky, ], and ], as well as online via the BT Sport website and BT Sport app. BT Sport ESPN is also available in the Republic of Ireland through ].

==Content==
This section describes the content that ESPN UK showed before BT Sport morphed ESPN UK into a channel focused mainly on American sport.

=== Current ===

====Basketball====
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced a deal to air ].<ref name="UFC" />

====Cricket====
On 22 July 2010, ESPN agreed a deal with the ] for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the inaugural Caribbean T20 Tournament.<ref name="Caribbean T20">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a231488/espn-grabs-caribbean-t20-cricket-rights.html|title=ESPN grabs Caribbean T20 cricket rights|website=]|date=22 July 2010}}</ref> The event, which ran from 22–31 July, featured eight West Indian ] teams, including ], ], ], ], ] and the ] competing to win the ] title. These rights now air on BT Sport.

The channel has also completed a deal to show the inaugural ] tournament in August 2012.

====Football====

=====English football=====

======Premier League======
The company announced on 22 June 2009 that it had secured the UK broadcast rights to the ] for four seasons, airing 46 games in the ] and 23 games a year for the following three seasons, following a missed payment by Setanta Sports which voided their contracts.<ref name="ESPN snaps up">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/656557/espn-snaps-up-premier-league-tv-packages|title=ESPN snaps up Premier League TV packages|publisher=]|date=22 June 2009}}</ref><ref name="Setanta Payment Failure">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8109954.stm|title=Setanta loses Premier TV rights|work=]|date=19 June 2009}}</ref> In Ireland, ESPN will air the same 46 matches during the 2009–10 season.<ref name="EPL ROI 09-10">{{cite web|url=http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1716580,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709120155/http://www.premierleague.com/page/Headlines/0,,12306~1716580,00.html|archive-date=9 July 2009|title=ESPN get 2009/10 Republic of Ireland rights|publisher=]|date=8 July 2009}}</ref>

Premier League coverage was produced by Sky Sports in-house production team, with former BBC presenter ] hosting, while ] reports from the touchline and ] commentates alongside either ] or ].<ref name="Ray Stubbs">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/jul/17/ray-stubbs-joins-espn|title=Ray Stubbs leaves BBC to present Premier League football on ESPN|newspaper=]|date=17 July 2009 | first=Mark | last=Sweney | access-date=2 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="More Commentators">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a168500/espn-signs-more-sports-commentators.html|title=ESPN signs more sports commentators|website=]|date=31 July 2009}}</ref> ] is the lead analyst, while ], ], ], ], ], ] and ] were also signed to provide analysis.<ref name="EPLAnalysis">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a173390/kevin-keegan-joins-espn-as-lead-analyst.html|title=Kevin Keegan joins ESPN as lead analyst|website=]|date=24 August 2009}}</ref><ref name="EPLAnalysis2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/aug/24/espn-premiership-kevin-keegan|title=ESPN signs Kevin Keegan to front its Premier League coverage|newspaper=]|date=24 August 2009 | first=Mark | last=Sweney | access-date=2 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref> ], ] and ] also form a part of the line up. ] make the studio shows and ancillary programming.<ref name="IMG Sports Media">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/jul/14/digger-olympic-stadium-legacy-debate|title=Olympic stadium debate on capacity and legacy draws a full house|newspaper=]|date=14 July 2009 | first=Owen | last=Gibson | access-date=2 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref> The first Premier League match to be shown on ESPN was ]'s 6–1 loss against ].<ref name="EPL First Batch TV">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/659920/premier-league-confirms-first-batch-of-tv-games|title=Premier League confirms first batch of TV games|publisher=]|date=9 July 2009}}</ref>

From the ] Sky no longer produced coverage of matches, instead coverage was taken over by IMG Sports Media, in an effort to offer "quality and innovation" and introduce new technology from the broadcaster's US parent to help develop post-match analysis.<ref name="2010 production contract">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/espn-production-contract-up-for-grabs/5012788.article|title=ESPN production contract up for grabs|magazine=Broadcastnow|date=15 April 2010}}</ref><ref name="Indie partners" /> The change also affected FA Cup and Scottish Premier League coverage. ESPN have also increased the number of cameras at games from an average of 16 cameras to 23.<ref name="23 cameras">{{cite web|url=http://www.espnfc.com/story/806318/premier-league-espn-kick-off-live-coverage-at-stamford-bridge|title=ESPN kick-off live coverage at Stamford Bridge|publisher=]|date=6 July 2010}}</ref> After ESPN lost the rights to the Premier League to BT Sport, ESPN Inc. sold the channel to BT Sport.

======FA Cup======
On 7 December 2009, it was reported that ESPN had secured the rights to 25 live and exclusive ] matches per season from the 2010–11 season under a four season deal.<ref name="FA Cup">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/dec/07/fa-cup-espn-bbc-itv|title=ESPN secures rights to show FA Cup matches from next season|newspaper=]|date=7 December 2009 | first=Owen | last=Gibson | access-date=2 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="FA Cup2">{{cite web |date=8 December 2009 |title=FA agree Cup deal with ESPN |url=http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2009/ESPN_081209.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120914060047/http://www.thefa.com/TheFA/NewsAndFeatures/2009/ESPN_081209.aspx |archive-date=14 September 2012 |work=thefa.com |publisher=]}}</ref> ESPN televised two matches in the FA Cup First and Second Rounds (plus up to two replays per round), three matches from the Third to Fifth Rounds (plus up to one replay), two quarter-finals (plus up to one replay), one semi-final, and aired the ] alongside ] (which held the first pick of matches).<ref name="FA Cup" /><ref name="FA Cup2" />

ESPN's offer is thought to have been 60% higher than that tabled by the BBC, however, that bid is also understood to be for a longer contract period and still worth substantially less than the amount paid by Setanta.<ref name="FA Cup" />

The ], ], and ] FA Cup finals were shown live on ESPN. In 2012 and 2013 the buildup coverage for the finals started from eight in the morning with 5.15 evening kick-offs. An outside standing studio was set up behind the goals for pre-match and post-match analysis presented by ]. As ESPN was acquired by the BT Group before the start of the ], the final year of ESPN's FA Cup contract, coverage of the competition moved to BT Sport.

======Women's Super League======
As part of a four-year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN has exclusive media rights for the inaugural ] in 2011.<ref name="FA Cup2" /> The channel continues to show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport.

=====Scottish leagues=====
On 16 July 2009, it was announced that ESPN had secured the broadcast rights to 30 live ] (SPL) games per season across the UK and Ireland, for five seasons, starting with the 2009–10 season. Sky Sports had also shown 30 live games per season during this period, including each of the ] games. The SPL retained the right to opt out of the final two seasons of the deal.<ref name="ESPN SPL">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/8152874.stm|title=SPL agrees TV deal with Sky/ESPN|work=]|date=16 July 2009}}</ref> On 21 November 2011, ESPN's deal with the SPL was extended for five years from the 2012–13 season,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/15824173|title=SPL secures new five-year TV deal with Sky and ESPN|work=]|date=21 November 2011}}</ref> however on 3 August 2012 ESPN announced a new five-year agreement allowing it to air 30 SPL games per season and 10 ] games from the ] (SFL), including three home fixtures.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/19113843|title=ESPN announces deal to show SPL and Rangers live|work=]|date=3 August 2012}}</ref> Ray Stubbs hosts, with ] and ] commentating. ] is touchline reporter and regular studio guests include ], ], ] and ].

The first SPL fixture broadcast on the channel was ]'s 2–0 victory over ] on 17 August 2009.<ref name="SPL Live">{{cite web|url=http://spfl.co.uk/news/article/fixture-announcement-2009-07-24/|title=Fixture announcement|publisher=Scottish Premier League|date=24 July 2009}}</ref> BT Sport renegotiated the contract alongside Sky Sports to cover the newly formed ] on the BT Sport network.

=====UEFA Europa League=====
On 1 September 2009, ESPN secured a three-year TV rights deal to broadcast matches from the ], previously held by Setanta Sports. At a minimum, ESPN will broadcast one match from each kick-off slot.<ref name="Europa League">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/sep/01/uefa-europa-league-espn|title=ESPN buys Uefa Europa League rights|newspaper=]|date=1 September 2009 | first=Leigh | last=Holmwood | access-date=2 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref><ref name="Europa League2">{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=131072/newsid=881458.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906090053/http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind%3D131072/newsid%3D881458.html |archive-date=6 September 2009 |title=ESPN, ITV acquire Europa League rights |publisher=] |date=2 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On 17 October 2011, ESPN were also awarded part of the rights to the 2012–13 to 2014–15 seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a345983/itv-pinches-europa-league-from-channel-5.html|title=ITV pinches Europa League from Channel 5|website=]|date=17 October 2011}}</ref>

ESPN shared the rights to the Europa League with ] and ]. 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 ] of the Europa League, ESPN broadcast live matches featuring British teams ], ], ] and ], as well as 45 other European clubs, including holders ]. ESPN were only host broadcasters for two matches, Everton's 2–1 first-leg victory over ] on 16 February and Fulham's 4–1 second-leg victory over ] on 18 March. When the ] became the primary broadcasters after Channel 5 lost the rights to the Europa League, ESPN continued to cover the Europa League. After the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport, the coverage airs on BT Sport branded channels and from 2015–16 season BT will be exclusive broadcasters of the Europa League, with highlights on ITV.

=====UEFA Champions League=====
Following BT Sport's acquisition of exclusive ] rights, ESPN broadcast the ''UEFA Champions League Goals Show'', a live panel show which simulcasts all the goals and other key incidents from the matches taking place in the competition. The programme is shown during the group stage of the competition and was broadcast on ESPN for ], before moving to BT Sport 1 for ].

=====Foreign club football=====
On 28 July 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured television rights to show up to two live games per week from the ], ], up to two live games per week from the ] and the remainder of the ] ] season, including five play-off games and the ].<ref name="2009 Football Rights">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a167937/espn-secures-more-football-tv-rights.html|title=ESPN secures more football TV rights|website=]|date=28 July 2009}}</ref> For the 2010–11 season ESPN renewed its contracts for the Eredivisie and Russian Premier League and broadcast at least two matches each week from the Major League Soccer season, including play-off games.<ref name="2010 Football Rights">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a259009/espn-renews-serie-a-mls-rights-deals.html|title=ESPN renews Serie A, MLS rights deals|website=]|date=10 August 2010}}</ref>

ESPN signed a multi-year deal for up to five live games per week from the German ], a selection of which is in high definition, as well as weekly preview and highlight programmes. During the ], ESPN also broadcast the quarter finals, semi-finals and final from the ].<ref name="France Germany Euro 2012" />

On 5 August 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights for up to three live ] matches per week for the ] season as well as the ].<ref name="Serie A">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a169521/espn-secures-serie-a-tv-rights.html|title=ESPN secures Serie A TV rights|website=]|date=5 August 2009}}</ref> ESPN also showed the ] which took place on 8 August 2009. For the ] season ESPN aires at least two games per week from Serie A, as well as a selection of Coppa Italia games.<ref name="2010 Football Rights" /> ESPN also continued to broadcast ''ESPN Kicks'' – recapping all of the weekend's goals, as well as weekly preview show, ''Total Italian Football''.

In May 2012, ESPN acquired the rights to broadcast the ] from Brazil,{{cn}} followed by a deal in June to broadcast ] from France.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://frenchfootballweekly.com/2012/06/14/espn-uk-to-show-ligue-1-this-season/|title=ESPN UK to show Ligue 1 this season|publisher=French Football Weekly|date=14 June 2012}}</ref> In July, ESPN announced a renewed multi-season Bundesliga rights deal, lasting until the 2014–15 season, for up to four matches per week (all in high definition).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a394892/espn-agrees-multi-season-bundesliga-rights-deal.html|title=ESPN agrees multi-season Bundesliga rights deal|website=]|date=24 July 2012}}</ref> It will also screen action from the ], as well as a highlights packages and video on-demand footage. In addition, agreements for the Eredivisie and Russian Premier League were also renewed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a395225/espn-snaps-up-french-ligue-1-football-rights.html|title=ESPN snaps up French Ligue 1 football rights|website=]|date=25 July 2012}}</ref> Foreign club football airs on BT Sport and ESPN after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport

=====International football=====
The first international football match shown on ESPN was the pre-season friendly match between ] and ] on 12 August 2009, which saw Argentina win 3–2. The first youth international match was the ] qualification match between ] and ] on 4 September 2009, which England won 2–1.

On 5 October 2009, ESPN secured a multi-year deal to show 150 classic ] matches from ] to ]. The matches are shown on ESPN and ESPN Classic.<ref name="Classic World Cup">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a180510/espn-secures-archive-world-cup-footage.html|title=ESPN secures archive World Cup footage|website=]|date=5 October 2009}}</ref>

As part of a four-year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN will show all of the England Under-21s home fixtures.<ref name="FA Cup2" /> These matches have since moved to BT Sport who now own ESPN.

On 24 May 2010, ESPN announced that it had acquired UK exclusive broadcast rights to live coverage from 41 international football fixtures, including "at least" 16 ] for the ] tournament, from the Kentaro rights agency.<ref name="Kentaro">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a221576/espn-nabs-international-football-rights.html|title=ESPN nabs international football rights|website=]|date=24 May 2010}}</ref> It is understood that the batch of games will feature a broad mix of European national sides, potentially including some home nations. ESPN will also broadcast 20 international friendlies and live coverage from the ] World Tour, in which the five-time World Cup winners take on national teams from around the world. The first of these fixtures to be shown was the ] warm-up match between ] and ] on 24 May 2010, which was won 5–0 by the home side, these matches moved to BT Sport after the acquisition. Sky Sports have exclusive coverage of all qualifiers within Europe from 2014–2018, apart from ] matches and one other qualifier per matchday, which air on ITV.

On 15 July 2010, ESPN secured broadcast rights to all ] and ]'s ] matches.<ref name="France Germany Euro 2012">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a244320/espn-to-air-france-germany-qualifiers.html|title=ESPN to air France, Germany qualifiers|website=]|date=15 July 2010}}</ref> ESPN broadcast selected home friendly matches featuring France and Germany.

During May 2011, ESPN secured the rights to the ].<ref name="Copa Emirates">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-marketing.com/2011/05/09/espn-snatch-copa-america-and-emirates-cup-from-sky/|title=ESPN snatch Copa América and Emirates Cup from Sky|publisher=Football Marketing|date=9 May 2011}}</ref>

=====Pre-season football=====
ESPN showed ]'s 2009 tour of North America, including live matches against ] on 7 August and ] on 9 August, ] versus ] on 8 August and ] versus ] on 9 August.<ref name="2009 Football Rights" />

In January 2010, ESPN showed ] ] matches, including the Triangular de Verano 2010 Mar del Plata contested between ], ] and ], the Triangular de Verano 2010 Salta involving ], ] and ] as well as the Copa Revancha Mendoza between Boca Juniors and River Plate on 24 January.<ref name="Triangular de Verano">{{cite web|url=http://www.afa.org.ar/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10828:san-lorenzo-y-estudiantes-igualan-en-mar-del-plata&catid=110:torneos-superiores&Itemid=78 |language=es |title=San Lorenzo y Estudiantes igualaron en Mar del Plata |publisher=] |access-date=12 January 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100117190345/http://www.afa.org.ar/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10828%3Asan-lorenzo-y-estudiantes-igualan-en-mar-del-plata&catid=110%3Atorneos-superiores&Itemid=78 |archive-date=17 January 2010 }}</ref>

Between 23–25 July 2010, ESPN aired all four games from the New York Football Challenge, which featured ], ], ] and ].<ref name="2010 Pre-season">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a239306/espn-to-air-11-pre-season-friendlies.html|title=ESPN to air 11 pre-season friendlies|website=]|date=6 July 2010}}</ref> Manchester City will then take on ], ], ] and ] winners ] on a ten-day tour of America between 29 July and 7 August. ESPN also aired Tottenham's match against ] in ] on 1 August and ]'s friendly against ] in ] on 7 August.

In 2011, ESPN broadcast all four games of 2011 ],<ref name="Copa Emirates" /> as well as a number of other pre-season friendlies.

In 2012, ESPN will broadcast more than 20 club and international football friendlies over the summer, including the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a384179/espn-snaps-up-club-and-international-football-friendlies.html|title=ESPN snaps up club and international football friendlies|website=]|date=29 May 2012}}</ref>

=====Charity football=====
On 25 January 2010, ESPN aired the ''Match Against Poverty 2010'', where a Benfica All-Stars XI took on a team of legends selected by ] and ], in Lisbon to benefit the ] and SL Benfica Foundation.<ref name="Match Against Poverty 2010">{{cite web|url=http://www.btvision.bt.com/sport/match-against-poverty/|title=Game’s greats take aim at poverty|publisher=]|access-date=25 January 2010}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

====Mixed martial arts====
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights to ] events from ] onwards as well as '']'', ''UFC All Access'', ''UFC Countdown'', ''UFC Fight Nights'' and '']''.<ref name="UFC">{{cite news|url=http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garethadavies/100000944/ufc-espn-confirms-ufc-coverage-on-uk-tv-%E2%80%93-but-there-is-more-to-come%E2%80%A6/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801000016/http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/sport/garethadavies/100000944/ufc-espn-confirms-ufc-coverage-on-uk-tv-%E2%80%93-but-there-is-more-to-come%E2%80%A6/|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 August 2009|title=UFC: ESPN confirms coverage on UK TV – but there's more to come|newspaper=]|date=30 July 2009 | access-date=2 May 2010|location=London}}</ref><ref name="UFC2">{{cite web|url=http://www.mmaunltd.com/news-detail.asp/NewsID/591/ufc-signs-with-espn.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804080244/http://www.mmaunltd.com/news-detail.asp/NewsID/591/ufc-signs-with-espn.htm|archive-date=4 August 2009|title=UFC signs with ESPN|publisher=MMA News|date=30 July 2009}}</ref>

Alongside ESPN, ] airs a one-hour highlights show called ''UFC: Main Event'' and ] aired the debut showing of ''The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights''. However, ESPN showed '']'' live and in full.<ref name="UFC3">{{cite web|url=http://uk.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=22286 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090911153756/http://uk.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=22286 |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 September 2009 |title=UFC SIGNS LANDMARK DEAL WITH FIVE |publisher=] |date=8 September 2009 }}</ref> BT Sport now shows this after the acquisition, '']'' now airs on ].

====Rugby union====
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they would cover the French ] live,<ref name="UFC" /> coverage lasted until the end of the ]. In addition, ESPN broadcast live international clashes featuring ], ] and ].<ref name="International Rugby">{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.co.uk/sports-on-espn/french-rugby-top-14/|title=French Rugby top 14 Orange International Tests|publisher=ESPN|access-date=14 December 2009}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> This now airs on Sky Sports.

On 14 December 2009, ESPN agreed a three-year deal for exclusive live rights to 43 matches per season from the ], beginning with the 2010–11 season, including exclusive live coverage of the English Premiership Final and one of the two semi-final matches.<ref name="English Premiership RU">{{cite web|url=http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/news/12362.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110916104922/http://www.premiershiprugby.com/premiership/news/12362.php|archive-date=16 September 2011|title=Guinness Premiership agrees ESPN deal|publisher=]|date=14 December 2009}}</ref> The agreement also provides highlight rights for use on ESPN digital media such as ESPNScrum.com. Sky Sports will continue to show 26 live games per season plus the other semi-final.<ref name="English Premiership RU2">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2009/dec/14/espn-guinness-premiership-rugby|title=ESPN buys rights to Guinness Premiership rugby matches|newspaper=]|date=14 December 2009 | first=Tara | last=Conlan | access-date=2 May 2010 | location=London}}</ref>

On 15 April 2010, ESPN signed ] as an expert contributor for its English Premiership presentation team,<ref name="Austin Healey">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a214527/rugby-star-austin-healey-joins-espn.html|title=Rugby star Austin Healey joins ESPN|website=]|date=15 April 2010}}</ref> followed by ] as chief match commentator on 27 May and ] as co-commentator on 9 June.<ref name="Nick Mullins">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a222114/espn-signs-nick-mullins-for-rugby-comment.html|title=ESPN signs Nick Mullins for rugby comment|website=]|date=27 May 2010}}</ref><ref name="Ben Kay">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a224324/espn-signs-ben-kay-for-rugby-commentary.html|title=ESPN signs Ben Kay for rugby commentary|website=]|date=9 June 2010}}</ref> ] will act as lead host, joined by reporter Sarra Elgan.<ref name="Mark Durden-Smith">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a262457/durden-smith-joins-espns-rugby-coverage.html|title=Durden-Smith joins ESPN's rugby coverage|website=]|date=16 August 2010}}</ref> ESPN has also confirmed plans to start providing on-site coverage for many of its English Premiership games via a custom-built set, with production from ].<ref name="Indie partners">{{cite web|url=http://www.broadcastnow.co.uk/news/broadcasters/espn-set-to-sign-premier-indie-partners/5016978.article|title=ESPN set to sign Premier indie partners|publisher=Broadcast|date=13 August 2010}}</ref> BT Sport now show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport however most of the ESPN team work for BT Sport.

On 9 June 2010, ESPN agreed a deal with Premiership Rugby for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the ] Series.<ref name="Rugby 7s">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a224403/espn-to-air-premiership-rugby-7s.html|title=ESPN to air Premiership Rugby 7s|website=]|date=9 June 2010}}</ref> The new tournament, which took place over July and August 2010, involved all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs competing in Friday evening games. The broadcaster has also shown the 2011 and 2012 tournaments. BT Sport now shows this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport.

====Tennis====
In March 2012. the channel showed its first tennis coverage – the ] from ].<ref name="2012 BDO" /> During the same month, ESPN secured the rights to a series of ] events for 2012, as well as three ].<ref name="ATP 250 WTA">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a373860/espn-secures-atp-and-wta-tennis-rights.html|title=ESPN secures ATP and WTA tennis rights|website=]|date=29 March 2012}}</ref>

====US sports====
ESPN also show some of the US sports available on ESPN America, including ], the ], and U.S. college sports.<ref name="3 August Launch" /><ref name="US sports in HD">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a165110/espn-to-show-us-sports-in-hd.html|title=ESPN to show US sports in HD|website=]|date=14 July 2009}}</ref> For a period it also held the rights to the ]'s '']'', which is produced by ESPN.<ref name="Monday Night Football">{{cite web |date=29 March 2010 |title=ESPN to air NFL's Monday Night Football |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a211221/espn-to-air-nfls-monday-night-football.html |website=]}}</ref>

In addition, the channel airs the ]' ] series.

====Other sports====
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they will cover the up to three live matches a week plus highlights from the ] including the four-week finals series culminating with the Grand Final.<ref name="UFC" /> As part of the same announcement, it was revealed that ESPN will show ] live. BT Sport now show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport.

ESPN screened their first live boxing event on 19 September 2009, broadcasting '']'' from America with ] topping the bill. On 8 December 2010, ] announced an exclusive UK deal for 31 live Friday Night Fight events from January 2011 on an initial 2-year deal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.boxingnews24.com/2010/12/premier-sports-tv-is-delighted-to-announce-weekly-boxing/|title=Premier Sports TV is delighted to announce weekly boxing|publisher=Boxing News 24|date=8 December 2010|access-date=9 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101213072640/http://www.boxingnews24.com/2010/12/premier-sports-tv-is-delighted-to-announce-weekly-boxing/|archive-date=13 December 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> BT Sport now show this.

ESPN aired the ] ] first Preliminary Final live on 25 September, the second Preliminary Final on 26 September and the Grand Final live on 4 October.<ref name="NRL Grand Final">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/151|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912054416/http://www.rugbyleague.com/rugby-league-news/151|archive-date=12 September 2009|title=ESPN to show NRL Grand Final|publisher=]|date=9 September 2009}}</ref> Premier Sport now airs this.

On 3 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the first ever European Winter ]. All competition finals from the ] at the French ski resort of ] was shown live and exclusive from 10–12 March.<ref name="Winter X Games XV">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a206435/espn-to-air-first-euro-winter-x-games.html|title=ESPN to air first Euro Winter X Games|website=]|date=3 March 2010}}</ref>

On 4 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the ] held between 12–14 March at the ] in ].<ref name="2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a206687/espn-to-air-iaaf-world-indoor-athletics.html|title=ESPN to air IAAF World Indoor Athletics|website=]|date=4 March 2010}}</ref>

On 12 January 2011, ESPN and ], the promoter of the ] (WRC), reached an agreement for the WRC to be televised exclusively on ESPN in the UK.<ref name="World Rally Championship">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/88879|title=ESPN lands WRC broadcast deal|magazine=]|date=12 January 2011}}</ref> ESPN will screen 30-minute nightly bulletins at the end of every WRC day, with on-event coverage bookended by an hour-long preview and review show. Between events, ESPN is committing 30-hour-long shows with archive material from the sport, as well as two new documentary programmes. In addition to coverage on ESPN, WRC footage will also be aired on ESPN Classic. ITV4, Motors TV and BT Sport now show this.

On 6 July 2011, it was announced that the 2011 ] of darts would air live and exclusively on ESPN, with the event extended to three days three-days for the first time as part of the agreement with the ].<ref name="Winmau World Masters">{{cite web|url=http://www.bdodarts.com/1331/06-07-2011/ESPN_to_screen_2011_Winmau_World_Masters_over_3_days|title=ESPN to screen 2011 Winmau World Masters over 3 days|publisher=]|date=6 July 2011}}</ref> This tournament now airs on British Eurosport but ESPN deal ended nine consecutive years of coverage on the BBC. In addition, ESPN agreed to share coverage of the ] and ] with the BBC.<ref name="2012 BDO">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/nov/03/bbc-split-darts-rights-espn|title=BBC to split TV rights to darts coverage with ESPN|newspaper=]|date=3 November 2011 | first=Mark | last=Sweney | access-date=3 November 2011 | location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/darts/sport/story/178229.html|title=ESPN to broadcast World Darts Championship |website=]|date=7 November 2012}}</ref> ESPN also broadcast the ] ] in September.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a398154/espn-secures-rights-to-pdc-european-darts-championship.html|title=ESPN secures rights to PDC European Darts Championship|website=]|date=8 August 2012}}</ref> ESPN was the first broadcaster in Britain to show both BDO and PDC tournaments at the same time. When BT Sport acquired ESPN they dropped darts but since 2015 they have shared coverage of the BDO World Darts Championships, with the BBC in 2015 and 2016, and with ] in 2017 and 2018.

In November 2011 ESPN showed two golf tournaments from Australia.<ref name="2012 BDO" />

In October 2012, ESPN announced that it will start broadcasting games from the ], Europe's top ] competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2012/10/espn-to-carry-kontinental-hockey-league-games/|title=ESPN to Carry Kontinental Hockey League Games|publisher=ESPN|date=5 October 2012}}</ref>

=== Previous ===

==== Basketball ====

===== NBA =====
On 30 September 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured a multi-year deal to show live ] games.<ref name="NBA">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/news/a179819/espn-secures-nba-rights-deal.html|title=ESPN secures NBA rights deal|date=30 September 2009|website=]}}</ref> 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 also carries ]s and action from the season ] and ]. ESPN also broadcast studio shows '']'' and '']''.

Live pre-season coverage began on ESPN on 6 October 2009 when the ] took on the ] as part of ]. Coverage continued on 8 October 2009 for Utah Jazz against Euroleague Basketball's ]. The NBA season officially started on 27 October 2009.

ESPN UK was unable to secure the rights to the 2012–13 NBA season until 5 December 2012 when a deal was made between NBA and ESPN to show 3 games a week, NBA All Star Game, First and Second Round NBA Play-off coverage, Western Conference Finals, and NBA Finals for this season (2012–13). Coverage began the following day.<ref name="NBA 2012-13">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/dec/05/nba-espn-tv-deal-uk|title=NBA reaches UK TV deal with ESPN|date=5 December 2012|work=]}}</ref> The channel continues to show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport until 2017–18 season. From 2018–19 season, coverage moved to ].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/basketball/news/12375/11526415/sky-sports-and-nba-announce-four-year-broadcast-and-digital-partnership|title=Sky Sports and NBA announce four-year broadcast and digital partnership|website=]|language=en|access-date=26 January 2019}}</ref>

===== WNBA =====
Same as the men's league games, ] games also moved to ] from 2018–19 season.

== See also ==

*]
*]
*]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://sport.bt.com/}}

{{BT Group}}{{Warner Bros. Discovery}}{{ESPN}}

]
]
]
]
]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bt Sport 4}}

Revision as of 15:23, 2 October 2022

Sports TV channel from BT Consumer

Television channel
BT Sport 4
CountryUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Broadcast areaUnited Kingdom
Ireland
Programming
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerBT Group
Sister channelsAMC from BT
BoxNation
BT Sport
BT Sport Box Office
BT Sport Extra
History
Launched3 August 2009
Former namesESPN UK (2009–15)
BT Sport ESPN (2015–22)
Availability
Streaming media
BT Sport PlayerWatch live (UK only)
Virgin TV AnywhereWatch live (UK only)
Now TVWatch live (Ireland only)

BT Sport 4 is a British sports television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA and the BT Group. It is part of the BT Sport group of channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

The channel was established by ESPN Inc.on 3 August 2009 as ESPN (or ESPN UK), after having acquired a share of rights to Premier League. It served as ESPN's first channel devoted to domestic sport, as its pan-European sister networks ESPN Classic and ESPN America were devoted to archive content and North American sport respectively. Alongside the Premier League, the channel acquired shares of the rights to the FA Cup, Scottish Premier League, Premiership Rugby, and UEFA Europa League among other properties. The channel also carried coverage of sport from the United States (such as the NBA, NFL, NHL, and U.S. college sports, some of which carried over from ESPN America), and ESPN original programmes.

In 2012, ESPN began losing many of its signature sport properties (including the Premier League) to BT Group, and its forthcoming BT Sport service. On 25 February 2013, ESPN announced that it would exit the UK and Ireland market and sell its operations to BT. The channel continued to operate under the ESPN, which was later co-branded as BT Sport ESPN. BT Group reached a long-term deal with ESPN International to hold British rights to ESPN original programmes, and sports properties that are owned by ESPN outright or to which it holds international rights. In August 2022, ahead of the takeover of BT Sport by Warner Bros. Discovery, the channel dropped the ESPN branding with no change in programmes.

History

ESPN International logo.

The channel launched on 3 August 2009 following ESPN's acquisition of partial UK broadcast rights to the Premier League six weeks prior, caused in turn by the financial difficulties of Setanta Sports, which ceased broadcasting in Great Britain at about the same time. It marked ESPN's first foray into live coverage of domestic sports events in the UK. Prior to August 2009, ESPN's only operations in the UK were archive sports channel ESPN Classic, as well as the pan-European ESPN America channel (then known as North American Sports Network), which focused on North American sport.

On 13 June 2012, it was announced that ESPN had missed out on Premier League broadcast rights from the 2013–14 to 2015–16 season to Sky Sports and BT, despite making a "strong bid". The news followed speculation that ESPN was reconsidering its position in the UK. In the following months, ESPN also lost the rights to Premiership Rugby, Premiership Rugby Sevens Series and American, Brazilian, French and Italian top-flight football to BT. On 1 February 2013, Broadcast reported that ESPN had entered talks to sell off its remaining sports rights, believed to be worth more than £15m. During The Walt Disney Company's first quarter earnings results conference call on 5 February 2013, Disney's chief financial officer Jay Rasulo confirmed that ESPN had "experienced losses" in the UK and was "exploring an exit". On 25 February 2013, BT agreed to acquire ESPN's UK and Ireland TV channels business. The sale was completed 31 July, after which ESPN was operated as part of BT Sport. The value of the deal had not been disclosed, but BT was understood to be paying "low tens of millions".

In January 2015, BT reached a long-term rights deal with ESPN, allowing the network to maintain its affiliation with ESPN International, and its rights to original programmes and sports properties owned by ESPN outright or to which it holds international rights. On 9 June 2015, BT rebranded the channel as BT Sport ESPN.

On 11 May 2022, BT Group announced that the BT Sport channels would become a joint venture with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), and merge with Eurosport UK at a later date.. On 1 August 2022, the ESPN branding was dropped from the channel, which was renamed BT Sport 4; the channel continues to primarily carry U.S. sport (such as Major League Baseball and college sports).

Availability

Before August 2013

A carriage and retail agreement for both residential and commercial customers was struck with British Sky Broadcasting, who sold the channel through their Sky platform. British Sky Broadcasting's Sky Media also acted as ad sales house for the channel. Some events were also transmitted on Sky 3D including the Winter X Games XV, 2011 FA Cup Final and 2011 NBA Finals. From 22 July 2011 ESPN was available without additional charge to full Sky Sports Pack subscribers in Ireland.

ESPN is available on Virgin Media in standard and high definition as a part of the XL pack. M, M+ or L pack customers can subscribe to ESPN and BT Sport. A discount was previously available to Sky Sports subscribers. After the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport on 1 August 2013, Virgin Media customers lost access to ESPN channels, despite Virgin Media and BT being in talks for more than 2 months prior to the switch over. ESPN and ESPN HD returned on 15 August after BT signed a wholesale deal with Virgin Media for the carriage of BT Sport.

Top Up TV carried ESPN from 4 August 2009. A connection fee applied to non-Top Up TV subscribers, ex-Setanta digital terrestrial television customers or those without a viewing card. On 26 July 2011 Top Up TV announced that ESPN would be available via a conditional-access module (CAM) when the CAM service was launched in August.

BT Vision has carried ESPN from 4 August 2009 as part of BT Vision's Value Packs (Bronze, Silver and Gold).

On both BT Vision and Top Up TV, ESPN broadcasts from 14:00 – 04:00 on weekdays, 11:00 – 06:00 on Saturday and 11:00 – 04:00 on Sunday.

TalkTalk TV (then known as Tiscali TV) carried ESPN from 14 August 2009, along with ESPN America.

ESPN was available on Smallworld Cable without additional charge when taken with the Ultimate HD TV Pack. Other customers can subscribe to ESPN.

On 14 August 2009, a deal with cable company UPC Ireland and ESPN was reached. On that date ESPN and ESPN HD launched on UPC. A discount is available to Sky Sports or Setanta Sports 1 subscribers. ESPN America ceased to be part of the Setanta Sports package on that date, and was bundled with ESPN instead. On 4 January 2010, UPC and ESPN announced a new deal whereby ESPN (including its HD counterpart) and ESPN America would become part of UPC's Digital Select Extra and Digital Max packages.

ESPN have offered a number of free periods, ranging between a weekend and a month. In February 2012 a free weekend covered a Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham, marking the first time that a Premier League fixture had been broadcast free-to-air in the UK. During the same weekend the channel was also available on TVCatchup.

From August 2013

After ESPN's acquisition by BT Group in 2013, BT have included ESPN as part of their BT Sport Pack and is available on Sky, Virgin Media, and BT TV, as well as online via the BT Sport website and BT Sport app. BT Sport ESPN is also available in the Republic of Ireland through eir Sport.

Content

This section describes the content that ESPN UK showed before BT Sport morphed ESPN UK into a channel focused mainly on American sport.

Current

Basketball

On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced a deal to air EuroBasket.

Cricket

On 22 July 2010, ESPN agreed a deal with the West Indies Cricket Board for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the inaugural Caribbean T20 Tournament. The event, which ran from 22–31 July, featured eight West Indian Twenty20 teams, including Barbados, Combined Campuses and Colleges, Guyana, Jamaica, Trinidad and Toboago and the Windward Islands competing to win the Caribbean Twenty20 title. These rights now air on BT Sport.

The channel has also completed a deal to show the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League tournament in August 2012.

Football

English football
Premier League

The 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. In Ireland, ESPN will air the same 46 matches during the 2009–10 season.

Premier League coverage was produced by Sky Sports in-house production team, with former BBC presenter Ray Stubbs hosting, while Rebecca Lowe reports from the touchline and Jon Champion commentates alongside either Chris Waddle or Craig Burley. 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. Mark Chapman, Nat Coombs and Kelly Cates also form a part of the line up. IMG Sports Media make the studio shows and ancillary programming. The first Premier League match to be shown on ESPN was Everton's 6–1 loss against Arsenal.

From the 2010–11 season Sky no longer produced coverage of matches, instead coverage was taken over by IMG Sports Media, in an effort to offer "quality and innovation" and introduce new technology from the broadcaster's US parent to help develop post-match analysis. The change also affected FA Cup and Scottish Premier League coverage. ESPN have also increased the number of cameras at games from an average of 16 cameras to 23. After ESPN lost the rights to the Premier League to BT Sport, ESPN Inc. sold the channel to BT Sport.

FA Cup

On 7 December 2009, it was reported that ESPN had secured the rights to 25 live and exclusive FA Cup matches per season from the 2010–11 season under a four season deal. ESPN televised two matches in the FA Cup First and Second Rounds (plus up to two replays per round), three matches from the Third to Fifth Rounds (plus up to one replay), two quarter-finals (plus up to one replay), one semi-final, and aired the FA Cup Final alongside ITV (which held the first pick of matches).

ESPN's offer is thought to have been 60% higher than that tabled by the BBC, however, that bid is also understood to be for a longer contract period and still worth substantially less than the amount paid by Setanta.

The 2011, 2012, and 2013 FA Cup finals were shown live on ESPN. In 2012 and 2013 the buildup coverage for the finals started from eight in the morning with 5.15 evening kick-offs. An outside standing studio was set up behind the goals for pre-match and post-match analysis presented by Ray Stubbs. As ESPN was acquired by the BT Group before the start of the 2013–14 season, the final year of ESPN's FA Cup contract, coverage of the competition moved to BT Sport.

Women's Super League

As part of a four-year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN has exclusive media rights for the inaugural FA Women's Super League in 2011. The channel continues to show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport.

Scottish leagues

On 16 July 2009, it was announced that ESPN had secured the broadcast rights to 30 live Scottish Premier League (SPL) games per season across the UK and Ireland, for five seasons, starting with the 2009–10 season. Sky Sports had also shown 30 live games per season during this period, including each of the Old Firm games. The SPL retained the right to opt out of the final two seasons of the deal. On 21 November 2011, ESPN's deal with the SPL was extended for five years from the 2012–13 season, however on 3 August 2012 ESPN announced a new five-year agreement allowing it to air 30 SPL games per season and 10 Rangers games from the Scottish Football League (SFL), including three home fixtures. Ray Stubbs hosts, with Derek Rae and Craig Burley commentating. Darrell Currie is touchline reporter and regular studio guests include Colin Hendry, Mark Hateley, Terry Butcher and Scott Booth.

The first SPL fixture broadcast on the channel was Dundee United's 2–0 victory over Hearts on 17 August 2009. BT Sport renegotiated the contract alongside Sky Sports to cover the newly formed Scottish Professional Football League on the BT Sport network.

UEFA Europa League

On 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. On 17 October 2011, ESPN were also awarded part of the rights to the 2012–13 to 2014–15 seasons.

ESPN shared the rights to the Europa League with Channel 5 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 inaugural season of the Europa League, ESPN broadcast live matches featuring British teams Celtic, Everton, Liverpool and Fulham, as well as 45 other European clubs, including holders Shakhtar Donetsk. ESPN were only host broadcasters for two matches, Everton's 2–1 first-leg victory over Sporting Lisbon on 16 February and Fulham's 4–1 second-leg victory over Juventus on 18 March. When the ITV network became the primary broadcasters after Channel 5 lost the rights to the Europa League, ESPN continued to cover the Europa League. After the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport, the coverage airs on BT Sport branded channels and from 2015–16 season BT will be exclusive broadcasters of the Europa League, with highlights on ITV.

UEFA Champions League

Following BT Sport's acquisition of exclusive UEFA Champions League rights, ESPN broadcast the UEFA Champions League Goals Show, a live panel show which simulcasts all the goals and other key incidents from the matches taking place in the competition. The programme is shown during the group stage of the competition and was broadcast on ESPN for 2015–16, before moving to BT Sport 1 for 2016–17.

Foreign club football

On 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 2009 Major League Soccer season, including five play-off games and the MLS Cup 2009. For the 2010–11 season ESPN renewed its contracts for the Eredivisie and Russian Premier League and broadcast at least two matches each week from the Major League Soccer season, including play-off games.

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. During the 2010–11 season, ESPN also broadcast the quarter finals, semi-finals and final from the DFB-Pokal.

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. ESPN also showed the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana which took place on 8 August 2009. For the 2010–11 season ESPN aires at least two games per week from Serie A, as well as a selection of Coppa Italia games. ESPN also continued to broadcast ESPN Kicks – recapping all of the weekend's goals, as well as weekly preview show, Total Italian Football.

In May 2012, ESPN acquired the rights to broadcast the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A from Brazil, followed by a deal in June to broadcast Ligue 1 from France. In July, ESPN announced a renewed multi-season Bundesliga rights deal, lasting until the 2014–15 season, for up to four matches per week (all in high definition). It will also screen action from the DFL-Supercup, as well as a highlights packages and video on-demand footage. In addition, agreements for the Eredivisie and Russian Premier League were also renewed. Foreign club football airs on BT Sport and ESPN after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport

International football

The first international football match shown on ESPN was the pre-season friendly match between Russia and Argentina on 12 August 2009, which saw Argentina win 3–2. The first youth international match was the European Under-21 Championship qualification match between England under-21s and FYR Macedonia under-21s on 4 September 2009, which England won 2–1.

On 5 October 2009, ESPN secured a multi-year deal to show 150 classic FIFA World Cup matches from 1930 to 2006. The matches are shown on ESPN and ESPN Classic.

As part of a four-year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN will show all of the England Under-21s home fixtures. These matches have since moved to BT Sport who now own ESPN.

On 24 May 2010, ESPN announced that it had acquired UK exclusive broadcast rights to live coverage from 41 international football fixtures, including "at least" 16 qualifiers for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, from the Kentaro rights agency. It is understood that the batch of games will feature a broad mix of European national sides, potentially including some home nations. ESPN will also broadcast 20 international friendlies and live coverage from the Brazil World Tour, in which the five-time World Cup winners take on national teams from around the world. The first of these fixtures to be shown was the World Cup warm-up match between Argentina and Canada on 24 May 2010, which was won 5–0 by the home side, these matches moved to BT Sport after the acquisition. Sky Sports have exclusive coverage of all qualifiers within Europe from 2014–2018, apart from England matches and one other qualifier per matchday, which air on ITV.

On 15 July 2010, ESPN secured broadcast rights to all France and Germany's Euro 2012 qualifying matches. ESPN broadcast selected home friendly matches featuring France and Germany.

During May 2011, ESPN secured the rights to the 2011 Copa América.

Pre-season football

ESPN 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.

In January 2010, ESPN showed Argentine Torneos de Verano matches, including the Triangular de Verano 2010 Mar del Plata contested between Boca Juniors, Estudiantes and San Lorenzo, the Triangular de Verano 2010 Salta involving River Plate, Racing Club and Independiente as well as the Copa Revancha Mendoza between Boca Juniors and River Plate on 24 January.

Between 23–25 July 2010, ESPN aired all four games from the New York Football Challenge, which featured Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, New York Red Bulls and Sporting Lisbon. Manchester City will then take on Club América, Borussia Dortmund, Valencia and Champions League winners Inter Milan on a ten-day tour of America between 29 July and 7 August. ESPN also aired Tottenham's match against Benfica in Lisbon on 1 August and Newcastle's friendly against Rangers in Glasgow on 7 August.

In 2011, ESPN broadcast all four games of 2011 Emirates Cup, as well as a number of other pre-season friendlies.

In 2012, ESPN will broadcast more than 20 club and international football friendlies over the summer, including the LIGA total! Cup.

Charity football

On 25 January 2010, ESPN aired the Match Against Poverty 2010, where a Benfica All-Stars XI took on a team of legends selected by Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo, in Lisbon to benefit the United Nations Development Programme and SL Benfica Foundation.

Mixed martial arts

On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights to Ultimate Fighting Championship events from UFC 101 onwards as well as The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights, UFC All Access, UFC Countdown, UFC Fight Nights and UFC Unleashed.

Alongside ESPN, Channel 5 airs a one-hour highlights show called UFC: Main Event and 5USA aired the debut showing of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. However, ESPN showed The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale live and in full. BT Sport now shows this after the acquisition, The Ultimate Fighter now airs on FX.

Rugby union

On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they would cover the French Top 14 live, coverage lasted until the end of the 2011–12 season. In addition, ESPN broadcast live international clashes featuring New Zealand, Samoa and South Africa. This now airs on Sky Sports.

On 14 December 2009, ESPN agreed a three-year deal for exclusive live rights to 43 matches per season from the English Premiership, beginning with the 2010–11 season, including exclusive live coverage of the English Premiership Final and one of the two semi-final matches. The agreement also provides highlight rights for use on ESPN digital media such as ESPNScrum.com. Sky Sports will continue to show 26 live games per season plus the other semi-final.

On 15 April 2010, ESPN signed Austin Healey as an expert contributor for its English Premiership presentation team, followed by Nick Mullins as chief match commentator on 27 May and Ben Kay as co-commentator on 9 June. Mark Durden-Smith will act as lead host, joined by reporter Sarra Elgan. ESPN has also confirmed plans to start providing on-site coverage for many of its English Premiership games via a custom-built set, with production from Sunset + Vine. BT Sport now show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport however most of the ESPN team work for BT Sport.

On 9 June 2010, ESPN agreed a deal with Premiership Rugby for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series Series. The new tournament, which took place over July and August 2010, involved all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs competing in Friday evening games. The broadcaster has also shown the 2011 and 2012 tournaments. BT Sport now shows this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport.

Tennis

In March 2012. the channel showed its first tennis coverage – the Billie Jean King Cup from Madison Square Garden. During the same month, ESPN secured the rights to a series of ATP World Tour 250 events for 2012, as well as three WTA International tournaments.

US sports

ESPN also show some of the US sports available on ESPN America, including Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League, and U.S. college sports. For a period it also held the rights to the NFL's Monday Night Football, which is produced by ESPN.

In addition, the channel airs the ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series.

Other sports

On 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. As part of the same announcement, it was revealed that ESPN will show Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters live. BT Sport now show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport.

ESPN screened their first live boxing event on 19 September 2009, broadcasting Friday Night Fights from America with Guillermo Rigondeaux topping the bill. On 8 December 2010, Premier Sports announced an exclusive UK deal for 31 live Friday Night Fight events from January 2011 on an initial 2-year deal. BT Sport now show this.

ESPN aired the 2009 National Rugby League first Preliminary Final live on 25 September, the second Preliminary Final on 26 September and the Grand Final live on 4 October. Premier Sport now airs this.

On 3 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the first ever European Winter X Games. All competition finals from the Winter X Games Europe at the French ski resort of Tignes was shown live and exclusive from 10–12 March.

On 4 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the 2010 World Indoor Athletic Championships held between 12–14 March at the ASPIRE Dome in Doha.

On 12 January 2011, ESPN and North One Sport, the promoter of the World Rally Championship (WRC), reached an agreement for the WRC to be televised exclusively on ESPN in the UK. ESPN will screen 30-minute nightly bulletins at the end of every WRC day, with on-event coverage bookended by an hour-long preview and review show. Between events, ESPN is committing 30-hour-long shows with archive material from the sport, as well as two new documentary programmes. In addition to coverage on ESPN, WRC footage will also be aired on ESPN Classic. ITV4, Motors TV and BT Sport now show this.

On 6 July 2011, it was announced that the 2011 World Masters of darts would air live and exclusively on ESPN, with the event extended to three days three-days for the first time as part of the agreement with the British Darts Organisation. This tournament now airs on British Eurosport but ESPN deal ended nine consecutive years of coverage on the BBC. In addition, ESPN agreed to share coverage of the 2012 and 2013 BDO World Darts Championship with the BBC. ESPN also broadcast the PDC 2012 European Championship in September. ESPN was the first broadcaster in Britain to show both BDO and PDC tournaments at the same time. When BT Sport acquired ESPN they dropped darts but since 2015 they have shared coverage of the BDO World Darts Championships, with the BBC in 2015 and 2016, and with Channel 4 in 2017 and 2018.

In November 2011 ESPN showed two golf tournaments from Australia.

In October 2012, ESPN announced that it will start broadcasting games from the Kontinental Hockey League, Europe's top ice hockey competition.

Previous

Basketball

NBA

On 30 September 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured a multi-year deal to show live National Basketball Association games. 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 also carries NBA All-Star Games and action from the season playoffs and final. ESPN 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 NBA season officially started on 27 October 2009.

ESPN UK was unable to secure the rights to the 2012–13 NBA season until 5 December 2012 when a deal was made between NBA and ESPN to show 3 games a week, NBA All Star Game, First and Second Round NBA Play-off coverage, Western Conference Finals, and NBA Finals for this season (2012–13). Coverage began the following day. The channel continues to show this after the acquisition of ESPN by BT Sport until 2017–18 season. From 2018–19 season, coverage moved to Sky Sports.

WNBA

Same as the men's league games, WNBA games also moved to Sky Sports from 2018–19 season.

See also

References

  1. ^ "ESPN snaps up Premier League TV packages". ESPNsoccernet. 22 June 2009.
  2. "Premier League rights sold to BT and BSkyB for £3bn". BBC News. 13 June 2012.
  3. "ESPN could quit UK". Pocket-lint. 9 May 2012.
  4. "BT poaches Premiership Rugby rights from ESPN, Sky". Digital Spy. 12 September 2012.
  5. "BT deals further blow to ESPN with new rights deals". Digital Spy. 6 November 2012.
  6. "ESPN in talks to sell UK sports rights". Broadcast. 1 February 2013.
  7. "Disney: ESPN may leave the UK". Digital Spy. 6 February 2013.
  8. "BT Sport free for millions of homes" (Press release). BT Group. 9 May 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  9. "BT buys ESPN'S UK and Ireland TV channels". The Guardian. 25 February 2013.
  10. "BT Sport and ESPN deepen relationship with long-term collaboration". BT plc. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  11. Metz, Axel (12 May 2022). "BT Sport subscribers to get major package upgrade completely free of charge". TechRadar. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
  12. Frater, Patrick (12 May 2022). "Warner Bros. Discovery and BT to Launch Sports Venture in U.K. and Ireland". Variety. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  13. "BT and Warner Bros Discovery join forces to create pay-TV sport business". the Guardian. 12 May 2022. Retrieved 16 May 2022.
  14. "BT Sport ESPN to rebrand as BT Sport 4". Media Mole. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
  15. ^ "ESPN announces channel details for its Premier League debut". Media Week. 7 July 2009.
  16. "ESPN secures outlets and ad sales for Premier League TV". Media Week. 30 June 2009.
  17. "Sky 3D to show ESPN's Winter X Games". Digital Spy. 17 February 2011.
  18. "Sky to broadcast FA Cup Final live in 3D". Digital Spy. 26 April 2011.
  19. "ESPN 3D Production of 2011 NBA Finals Featuring the Miami Heat and Dallas Mavericks Available on Sky 3D in UK, Irish Homes and Pubs". ESPN. 1 June 2011. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 2 June 2011.
  20. "ESPN – now at no extra cost with Sky Sports". Sky. Archived from the original on 14 September 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
  21. "Virgin Media and ESPN announce channel deal ahead of Premier League football season". Virgin Media. 29 July 2009. Archived from the original on 6 August 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  22. "Virgin Media in talks over BT Sport deal". Cable.co.uk. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 6 August 2013.
  23. "BT and Virgin Media sign wholesale BT Sport deal". BT Group. 15 August 2013. Retrieved 15 August 2013.
  24. "ESPN launching on Top Up TV". Top Up TV. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  25. "Top Up TV secures ESPN carriage deal". Digital Spy. 4 August 2009.
  26. "Sky Sports, ESPN to become available on Top Up TV CAM". Digital Spy. 26 July 2011.
  27. "ESPN and BT Vision update". BT Vision. Archived from the original on 2 August 2009. Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  28. "BT Vision signs up ESPN's news sports channel to offer fans football and sports". BT Group. 4 August 2009.
  29. "Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)". ESPN. Archived from the original on 11 October 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
  30. "Tiscali secures ESPN carriage deal". Digital Spy. 14 August 2009.
  31. "ESPN". Smallworld Cable. Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2011.
  32. "Chorus ntl to carry ESPN HD in Ireland". Digital Spy. 14 August 2009.
  33. "UPC to spend €20m to win back clients". The Irish Times. 4 January 2010.
  34. "ESPN Premier League football to be free for first month on cable". The Guardian. 29 July 2009.
  35. "ESPN free this weekend". FourFourTwo. 22 January 2010.
  36. "Premier League – UK fans to see free-to-air Premier League match". Yahoo! Eurosport. 23 January 2012.
  37. "U.K. Sports Fans Get ESPN For Free This Weekend on TVCatchup & TV". TechnoBuffalo. 3 February 2012.
  38. ^ "UFC: ESPN confirms coverage on UK TV – but there's more to come". The Daily Telegraph. London. 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 1 August 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  39. "ESPN grabs Caribbean T20 cricket rights". Digital Spy. 22 July 2010.
  40. "Setanta loses Premier TV rights". BBC News. 19 June 2009.
  41. "ESPN get 2009/10 Republic of Ireland rights". Premier League. 8 July 2009. Archived from the original on 9 July 2009.
  42. Sweney, Mark (17 July 2009). "Ray Stubbs leaves BBC to present Premier League football on ESPN". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  43. "ESPN signs more sports commentators". Digital Spy. 31 July 2009.
  44. "Kevin Keegan joins ESPN as lead analyst". Digital Spy. 24 August 2009.
  45. Sweney, Mark (24 August 2009). "ESPN signs Kevin Keegan to front its Premier League coverage". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  46. Gibson, Owen (14 July 2009). "Olympic stadium debate on capacity and legacy draws a full house". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  47. "Premier League confirms first batch of TV games". ESPNsoccernet. 9 July 2009.
  48. "ESPN production contract up for grabs". Broadcastnow. 15 April 2010.
  49. ^ "ESPN set to sign Premier indie partners". Broadcast. 13 August 2010.
  50. "ESPN kick-off live coverage at Stamford Bridge". ESPNsoccernet. 6 July 2010.
  51. ^ Gibson, Owen (7 December 2009). "ESPN secures rights to show FA Cup matches from next season". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  52. ^ "FA agree Cup deal with ESPN". thefa.com. The Football Association. 8 December 2009. Archived from the original on 14 September 2012.
  53. "SPL agrees TV deal with Sky/ESPN". BBC News. 16 July 2009.
  54. "SPL secures new five-year TV deal with Sky and ESPN". BBC News. 21 November 2011.
  55. "ESPN announces deal to show SPL and Rangers live". BBC News. 3 August 2012.
  56. "Fixture announcement". Scottish Premier League. 24 July 2009.
  57. Holmwood, Leigh (1 September 2009). "ESPN buys Uefa Europa League rights". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  58. "ESPN, ITV acquire Europa League rights". UEFA. 2 September 2009. Archived from the original on 6 September 2009.
  59. "ITV pinches Europa League from Channel 5". Digital Spy. 17 October 2011.
  60. ^ "ESPN secures more football TV rights". Digital Spy. 28 July 2009.
  61. ^ "ESPN renews Serie A, MLS rights deals". Digital Spy. 10 August 2010.
  62. ^ "ESPN to air France, Germany qualifiers". Digital Spy. 15 July 2010.
  63. "ESPN secures Serie A TV rights". Digital Spy. 5 August 2009.
  64. "ESPN UK to show Ligue 1 this season". French Football Weekly. 14 June 2012.
  65. "ESPN agrees multi-season Bundesliga rights deal". Digital Spy. 24 July 2012.
  66. "ESPN snaps up French Ligue 1 football rights". Digital Spy. 25 July 2012.
  67. "ESPN secures archive World Cup footage". Digital Spy. 5 October 2009.
  68. "ESPN nabs international football rights". Digital Spy. 24 May 2010.
  69. ^ "ESPN snatch Copa América and Emirates Cup from Sky". Football Marketing. 9 May 2011.
  70. "San Lorenzo y Estudiantes igualaron en Mar del Plata" (in Spanish). Argentine Football Association. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  71. "ESPN to air 11 pre-season friendlies". Digital Spy. 6 July 2010.
  72. "ESPN snaps up club and international football friendlies". Digital Spy. 29 May 2012.
  73. "Game's greats take aim at poverty". BT Vision. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
  74. "UFC signs with ESPN". MMA News. 30 July 2009. Archived from the original on 4 August 2009.
  75. "UFC SIGNS LANDMARK DEAL WITH FIVE". Ultimate Fighting Championship. 8 September 2009. Archived from the original on 11 September 2009.
  76. "French Rugby top 14 Orange International Tests". ESPN. Retrieved 14 December 2009.
  77. "Guinness Premiership agrees ESPN deal". English Premiership. 14 December 2009. Archived from the original on 16 September 2011.
  78. Conlan, Tara (14 December 2009). "ESPN buys rights to Guinness Premiership rugby matches". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
  79. "Rugby star Austin Healey joins ESPN". Digital Spy. 15 April 2010.
  80. "ESPN signs Nick Mullins for rugby comment". Digital Spy. 27 May 2010.
  81. "ESPN signs Ben Kay for rugby commentary". Digital Spy. 9 June 2010.
  82. "Durden-Smith joins ESPN's rugby coverage". Digital Spy. 16 August 2010.
  83. "ESPN to air Premiership Rugby 7s". Digital Spy. 9 June 2010.
  84. ^ Sweney, Mark (3 November 2011). "BBC to split TV rights to darts coverage with ESPN". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 November 2011.
  85. "ESPN secures ATP and WTA tennis rights". Digital Spy. 29 March 2012.
  86. "ESPN to show US sports in HD". Digital Spy. 14 July 2009.
  87. "ESPN to air NFL's Monday Night Football". Digital Spy. 29 March 2010.
  88. "Premier Sports TV is delighted to announce weekly boxing". Boxing News 24. 8 December 2010. Archived from the original on 13 December 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2010.
  89. "ESPN to show NRL Grand Final". National Rugby League. 9 September 2009. Archived from the original on 12 September 2009.
  90. "ESPN to air first Euro Winter X Games". Digital Spy. 3 March 2010.
  91. "ESPN to air IAAF World Indoor Athletics". Digital Spy. 4 March 2010.
  92. "ESPN lands WRC broadcast deal". Autosport. 12 January 2011.
  93. "ESPN to screen 2011 Winmau World Masters over 3 days". British Darts Organisation. 6 July 2011.
  94. "ESPN to broadcast World Darts Championship". Digital Spy. 7 November 2012.
  95. "ESPN secures rights to PDC European Darts Championship". Digital Spy. 8 August 2012.
  96. "ESPN to Carry Kontinental Hockey League Games". ESPN. 5 October 2012.
  97. "ESPN secures NBA rights deal". Digital Spy. 30 September 2009.
  98. "NBA reaches UK TV deal with ESPN". Media Guardian. 5 December 2012.
  99. "Sky Sports and NBA announce four-year broadcast and digital partnership". Sky Sports. Retrieved 26 January 2019.

External links

BT Group
Divisions
and
subsidiaries
Current
Former
[REDACTED]
Products
and
services
Current
Defunct
Buildings
and
facilities
Current
Former
Programmes
and
standards
Current
Defunct
History
Other
Warner Bros. Discovery
Executives
Board of directors
Senior management
Warner Bros.
Entertainment
Warner Bros.
Motion Picture Group
Warner Bros.
Television Group
United States
International
Other units
U.S. linear networks
Factual and Lifestyle Group
Entertainment Group
Kids & Family Group
(The Cartoon Network, Inc.)
FAST channels
  • Free TV Networks
    • The365
    • Outlaw
    • Dare (50%)
    • VCR Action
    • VCR Haha
  • WBTV
    • Watchlist
    • Keeping It Real
    • All Together
    • Sweet Escapes
    • Paws & Claws
    • Slice of Life
    • Welcome Home
    • At the Movies
    • How To
    • Supernatural
    • Crime Series
    • Mysteries
    • Love & Marriage
    • Family Rules
    • Cartoon Rewind
Home Box Office
CNN Worldwide
TNT Sports
Global Streaming
& Games
Global Experiences
DC Entertainment
International
Networks
Warner Bros. Discovery Americas
USA headquarters: Miami
LATAM headquarters: Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Santiago, São Paulo, Bogotá
Canada
Latin America, the Caribbean and Brazil
Warner Bros. Discovery Asia-Pacific
Headquarters: Singapore
Pan-Asia
East Asia
South Asia
Southeast Asia
Australasia
Australia
New Zealand
Online
Defunct
Warner Bros. Discovery EMEA
Headquarters: London and Amsterdam
France, Belgium & Switzerland
Germany, Benelux & CEE
Italy
Scandinavia
Iberia
UK & Ireland
Turkey
Middle East & Africa
Defunct
TVN Warner Bros. Discovery
Headquarters: Warsaw
TV channels
Online services
Other assets
Former units
from WB
from
Turner
from HBO
from
Discovery
& Scripps
See also
ESPN Inc.
Executives
U.S. networks
Streaming
Linear TV
Part-time
Radio
International
Canada
Japan
Latin America
Panregional
Brazil
Caribbean
Netherlands
Oceania
Sub-Saharan Africa
Ventures
Defunct ventures
Sports broadcasting rights
Other properties
Notable personalities
Miscellaneous
Owners: Walt Disney Company (80%); Hearst Communications (20%)


Categories:
TNT Sports 4: Difference between revisions Add topic