ESPN Could Launch Round The Clock Sports Channel

BSkyB is currently in negotiations with sports cable network ESPN, which is owned by The Walt Disney Company, about launching a special version of its 24-hour sports channel in the UK.

The companies are believed to be discussing a British launch of ESPN Classic Sport, which replays famous footage from historic sporting events such as the football match between England and Germany at Wembley stadium in 2000.

An agreement would see the channel broadcast to more than 7 million British satellite dishes, in addition to the 14 million homes that already receive it in other European markets such as France and Italy, where it launched two years ago.

According to a report in The Times, ESPN hopes to have a British version of the channel operating within 12 to 18 months. The company has also held discussions with cable operators, NTL and Telewest, but talks with BSkyB have progressed the furthest.

ESPN already sells a range of content to BSkyB, including the Indy Racing League and its annual Indy 500 motor race. The company creates more than 5,000 hours of original programming each year and is one of Disney’s best performing divisions.

Last month rival broadcaster Fox International announced plans to launch its youth television network, Fuel, in Europe offering 13 to 24 year-old viewers a mix of extreme sport, music and entertainment (see Fox Launches Digital Channel To Fuel Youth Viewing).

BSkyB: 0207 705 3000 www.sky.com

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