ESPN to air live Premier League matches in Britain

[bigdelta 46]

LONDON -- ESPN will broadcast live Premier League matches for the first time in Britain after gaining rights from financially troubled Setanta Sports.

 

The Premier League on Monday announced that ESPN, owned by The Walt Disney Co., will televise 46 matches next season and 23 in each of the three seasons from 2010-11 in its first major contract to broadcast live sports in Britain.

 

"Premier League football is one of the world's most sought after sports properties," said Russell Wolff, ESPN International's executive vice president and managing director. "This move demonstrates our commitment to British sports fans and our ongoing commitment to delivering football to fans around the world across a variety of media."

 

Neither party released financial details, but ESPN is reportedly matching the revenue due from the previous deal by paying 130 million pounds ($212 million) next season, followed by 159 million pounds in the subsequent years of the contract.

 

ESPN already has two channels in Britain, one with American sports and another with archived action. A third channel is to be launched for the start of the season on Aug. 15.

 

ESPN is also interested acquiring Scottish Premier League rights, lost by Setanta on Monday after it failed to make a 3 million pounds ($5 million) payment.

 

The rest of Setanta's portfolio of rights, including some England national team games and the FA Cup, could become available if the network collapses after a potential rescue package fell through last week. As a result, the company failed to meet the payment deadline last Friday with the Premier League.

 

"The timescale of our process was tight to say the least, and it is to the great credit of ESPN that they committed themselves to adding Premier League football to their already impressive portfolio of sports rights," Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said.

 

Sky Sports, part of Rupert Murdoch's broadcast empire, has the rights to air the majority of Premier League matches live in Britain. U.S. rights are held by Fox Soccer Channel, part of Murdoch's News Corp. FSC sublicenses some to Setanta US.

 

Earlier this year, ESPN was outbid by Setanta for rights to air the 23 live matches each season between 2010-13.

 

ESPN channels showing EPL games will be part of packages retailed by Sky. Central to Setanta's decline was its need to sell subscriptions to its own channels - and it has only sold 1.2 million while teetering on the brink of administration, short of the reported 1.9 million it needs to break even.

 

Under existing deals, Sky will air 92 matches next season and in the following three seasons 115, including 38 first-choice matches and a large majority of the second-choice games

[joekicker 53]

ESPN did the broadcasts to Thailand for several years and were very good. They still do them to much of the region, although in Thailand the local pay-TV company bought the rights from under them.

[nidnoyham 30]

Oh dear, another big American company getting involved in English football.

 

Shhhhh- don't tell Vic, he may reach for the sleeping pills. Or watch 8 hours of baseball. Same result !

[joekicker 53]

Oh dear, another big American company getting involved in English football. unsure

 

ESPN has been "involved" since the last century. But that other big American company Sky Sports is more "involved" I think. Doesn't seem to have hurt English football, or set back English chances at the World Cup so anyone would notice. New York Yankees don't seem to have been held back all that much since tying up with Man U, come to that.

[Obsession 571]

Oh dear, another big American company getting involved in English football.

 

Shhhhh- don't tell Vic, he may reach for the sleeping pills. Or watch 8 hours of baseball. Same result !

 

Maybe they can push through Vics idea of putting the team names on the jerseys so that some people dont think its Emirates v Sam Sung

[sparkydave 7]

I say Stop all TV broadcasting of football, then you would support the team near you not which ever was " Flavor of the Week" and it may Just drop Pay levels to something just a little less disgusting.

[bigdelta 46]

Oh dear, another big American company getting involved in English football.

 

Shhhhh- don't tell Vic, he may reach for the sleeping pills. Or watch 8 hours of baseball. Same result !

You're confusing "involved" with "saved",at least at some clubs.

[bigdelta 46]

I say Stop all TV broadcasting of football, then you would support the team near you not which ever was " Flavor of the Week" and it may Just drop Pay levels to something just a little less disgusting.

Or gee-an American idea-salary cap.

Otherwise,the rich get rich and the poor get poorer,to paraphrase a very old tune.

[nidnoyham 30]

I say Stop all TV broadcasting of football, then you would support the team near you not which ever was " Flavor of the Week" and it may Just drop Pay levels to something just a little less disgusting.

 

 

Couldn't agree more regarding league games.

 

Internationals are different. You can't get a ticket to watch England at Wembley now Unless you get picked out of a hat.

The big companies have about 25% of the seats for their clients.

 

The overrun costs of the new stadium have got to be sucked back by someone.

[bratpack 91]

Shame i dont live in england lol

[nidnoyham 30]

You're confusing "involved" with "saved",at least at some clubs.

 

 

How very charitable of them.

 

Sinking all that money in with no chance of making any for themselves.

 

Where are they when non 'flavour of the month' clubs run into trouble ? Luton- Mansfield Town- Darlington........

[bigdelta 46]

How very charitable of them.

 

Sinking all that money in with no chance of making any for themselves.

 

Where are they when non 'flavour of the month' clubs run into trouble ? Luton- Mansfield Town- Darlington........

nid-I'll start with MenU as an example of not turning a profit-they can barely service debt IIRC.

If those smaller clubs went public as some minor league baseball teams have here,that may be an option.I know at least 1 small club went public in GB.

[nidnoyham 30]

nid-I'll start with MenU as an example of not turning a profit-they can barely service debt IIRC.

If those smaller clubs went public as some minor league baseball teams have here,that may be an option.I know at least 1 small club went public in GB.

 

So they do it just for the prestige ? They see that owning a E.P.L team, is the pinnacle of achievement ? Gotcha !

 

My club, Brentford, is owned by the fans. The nearest we have to any Arab involvement, is " Fly Qatar Airways " painted on the roof of the Bill Axbey Stand. This stand was named after a 104 y.o supporter, who died 2 years ago. We have no famous players to name things after.

 

A few years back, we had to find £3/4 million pounds from the fans to keep the club going. People with buckets collecting loose change after every game. That is one of the reason I have no time for the Premier League.

 

Next season, I will be buying a Seniors season ticket, for the less than 4 tickets to Chelsea.

 

Win or lose, they are my team !

[bratpack 91]

So they do it just for the prestige ? They see that owning a E.P.L team, is the pinnacle of achievement ? Gotcha !

 

My club, Brentford, is owned by the fans. The nearest we have to any Arab involvement, is " Fly Qatar Airways " painted on the roof of the Bill Axbey Stand. This stand was named after a 104 y.o supporter, who died 2 years ago. We have no famous players to name things after.

 

A few years back, we had to find £3/4 million pounds from the fans to keep the club going. People with buckets collecting loose change after every game. That is one of the reason I have no time for the Premier League.

 

Next season, I will be buying a Seniors season ticket, for the less than 4 tickets to Chelsea.

 

Win or lose, they are my team !

 

Now thats what i call a true supporter,come rain or snow.HOWEVER,if you had a money man take control then i am sure you would like to see Brentford progress to the Premiership.

[nidnoyham 30]

Now thats what i call a true supporter,come rain or snow.HOWEVER,if you had a money man take control then i am sure you would like to see Brentford progress to the Premiership.

 

 

Of course !

As Harry Rednap, pointed out, when Arabs took over Man. City. " The fans don't care where the money comes from. If Sudan Husien bought them out with billions to spend, they would be chanting - There's only one Sudam. There's only one Sudam, one Sudam.... "

 

But the Premiership ? Championship would do me. It is not dominated by a 'Big 4' and has the occasional Bri't playing in it.

 

The managers in the lower divisions, require a different skill, from the big boys. They take average players and get the best from them. Very few Primadonas, just blokes who are glad to be playing football for a living.

[bigdelta 46]

So they do it just for the prestige ? They see that owning a E.P.L team, is the pinnacle of achievement ? Gotcha !

 

My club, Brentford, is owned by the fans. The nearest we have to any Arab involvement, is " Fly Qatar Airways " painted on the roof of the Bill Axbey Stand. This stand was named after a 104 y.o supporter, who died 2 years ago. We have no famous players to name things after.

 

A few years back, we had to find £3/4 million pounds from the fans to keep the club going. People with buckets collecting loose change after every game. That is one of the reason I have no time for the Premier League.

 

Next season, I will be buying a Seniors season ticket, for the less than 4 tickets to Chelsea.

 

Win or lose, they are my team !

Where did you read they buy for prestige?

[nidnoyham 30]

Where did you read they buy for prestige?

 

 

I didn't, but if there is no profit to be made, what else is there ?

[Obsession 571]

They are bought for prestige. They are trophy assets. Boys toys. They arent bought for the profits as there are much better businesses to buy that arent dependent on players, referees decisions etc.