ESPN channel acquisition sees BT Sport broadcast FA Cup, Clydesdale Scottish Premier League, UEFA Europa League and Bundesliga games from next season
BT Sport will broadcast the FA Cup, Scottish Premier League and European Football games from this summer having acquired ESPN’s UK and Ireland TV channels.
The deal will also see UEFA Europa League and German Bundesliga games rights picked up once the deal is completed on 31 July, with at least one ESPN-branded channel expected to be retained as part of the BT Sport TV package.
The deal will also allow BT to continue to show NASCAR, NCAA College Football and NCAA College Basketball, currently shown on ESPN America.
The live coverage of the FA Cup and Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League will run until 2016/2017 season, while Europa League and Bundesliga coverage will run until the end of next season.
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,” he added.
The existing digital media businesses will continue to be run by ESPN, it has said.