ESPN Obtains a Host of European Football Rights

The new deals follow an announcement yesterday about a three-year extension to ESPN’s Bundesliga rights, and come as the broadcaster plans for the future after losing out on a new Premier League deal to BT. 

ESPN is clearly positioning itself as the home of European club football, with France’s Ligue 1 coming to the broadcaster for the first time.

Serie A has been aired on ESPN since the broadcaster launched its UK channel in 2009, and it will remain so under a renewed deal. 

Agreements to Dutch and Russian top-flight club football have also been renewed. 

“The addition of France’s Ligue 1 and the renewal of Serie A, Dutch Eredivisie and Russian Premier League means ESPN is the home to the very best domestic league football from across Europe,” said Jeroen Oerlemans, the vice president of TV Channels, ESPN EMEA.

“Our portfolio of live football on ESPN is combined with our growing range of sport, which includes rugby, cricket, darts, motorsport, UFC, boxing and more.”