ESPN to launch UK sport channel in August

US broadcaster ESPN is launching a new UK channel on 3 August to show its 46 Premier League football matches.

ESPN bought the rights for the games after Setanta failed to keep up its payments to the league (see ESPN wins rights to 46 Premier League matches).

The channel, which will also show some US sports which ESPN owns the rights to, will be available in standard and high definition on Sky, with the broadcaster in talks with other pay-TV platforms about carrying the service.

It will cost existing Sky Sports subscribers £9 per month and other Sky customers £12 per month.

Lynne Franks, managing director, ESPN Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We look forward to working with Sky to deliver great sports content to their subscribers and will continue our discussions with all other pay-TV providers so that we can bring ESPN to as many sports fans in the UK as possible.”

Newsline columnist Raymond Snoddy recently wrote about ESPN’s entry into the pay-TV football market, heralding the emergence of a strong competitor to Sky (see Raymond Snoddy greets ESPN’s entry into the pay-TV football market).