BT to acquire ESPN’s UK and Ireland TV channels

BT Group has today announced that it will acquire ESPN’s UK and Ireland television channels, further expanding BT Sport’s broadcast offerings.

The transaction is expected to be completed on July 31 2013 and will allow BT to broadcast a range of ESPN and ESPN America channels, as well as their live sports rights portfolio.

The deal will enable BT Sport customers to see live coverage of the FA Cup for the 2013/14 season, the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League until the end of the 2016/17 season and the UEFA Europa League and German Bundesliga through to the end of the 2014/15 season.

These join the broadcast rights that BT Sport has previously announced, including 38 live Barclays Premier League matches – including 18 of the top clashes – in each of the next three seasons (beginning August 2013); 69 live Aviva Premiership Rugby matches for the next four seasons; and up to 800 hours per season of live women’s tennis.

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

“The FA Cup, Scottish Premier League and Europa League rights will allow us to offer customers of BT Sport even more quality live football, including our first games from the Scottish top flight and our first European competition rights.

“There will also be the best of US sports available courtesy of this deal, which will further broaden the appeal of BT Sport.”

ESPN will continue to own and operate its existing digital media businesses which include multisport news and other online portals.