ESPN Snags Barclay's Premier League TV Rights
Network inks deal with Fox Sports International to run 2009-10 soccer matches on ESPN2 in run-up to World Cup
By Alex Weprin -- Broadcasting & Cable, 8/16/2009 9:04:12 PM
For the first time since 1998, Barclay's Premiere League soccer matches will be televised on an ESPN network. The cable sports network has inked a deal with Fox Sports International to televise a package of matches from the 2009-2010 season on ESPN2. Setanta Sports and Fox Soccer Channel also have rights to Premier League games.ESPN2 will air 48 matches, including live games at noon on Mondays, and on tape Saturday mornings.
"The Barclays Premier League is one of the crown jewels of professional sports throughout the world," said Scott Guglielmino, VP of programming, ESPN. "We're pleased to work with Fox Sports International to bring some of the league's marquee matchups to ESPN2 in our continued efforts to serve soccer fans in the United States."
The pickup comes as ESPN looks to beef up its soccer coverage in advance of the World Cup, which will be held in June 2010 in South Africa. The network is going all out to promote the event in hopes that it can perform far better than in previous years; the 2006 final drew 16.9 million people. The network unveiled a yearlong-plus marketing plan for the World Cup at its upfront in May.
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The Liverpool / Aston Villa game was in fact shown live yesterday on ESPN2. So they are showing live games on Mondays. But the start time was 10:50 not noon.
Christopher Riley - 8/25/2009 2:46:28 PM EDT -
There is a mistake in this article there are no live Premier League games on Monday at noon they're showing live games on saturday mornings at 10am according to the commercial I just saw promoting Wigan Vs Manchester United this coming Saturday morning.
Mark - 8/19/2009 10:24:23 AM EDT -
I am very happy about this news. However I am still waiting for the same variety in the sport of soccer as there is to any other League. I am referring to the rest of the prime European Teams... What about Spanish Soceer, La Liga, or the German League games and the Italian Calcio League games besides the English League? If you do not expand this will become monotonuos and you will not be capturing the full potential and variety of all the soccer fans not only in the US but of all the rest world. People will soon tune off. There is so much English soccer a fan can take before start asking themselves about the rest of the League throughout Europe. Make it not just the Barclays English League but Euro-Soccer instead!!!
Angel Quiles - 8/16/2009 11:28:58 PM EDT
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