Sky Sports and ESPN: European Football rights round up…
ESPN have announced officially their new rights deal for France’s Le Championnat along with new deals for Serie A, Eredivisie and Russian Premier League. Sky have announced a new three year deal to continue showing La Liga…
Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice-President, TV Channels, ESPN EMEA, said: “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. 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.”
The French top league will be appearing for the first time on ESPN, which last season brought viewers two of the biggest games in French football: the French League Cup Final and the French Cup Final. Montpellier took the Ligue 1 title last season, holding off the challenge of powerhouse Paris Saint Germain. The capital club, managed by ex-Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti, has already begun strengthening their squad this summer with the signing of one of Europe’s top defenders, Thiago Silva from AC Milan, and his teammate, star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Also ESPN have announced their Serie A coverage throughout the season will include studio presentation led each Sunday by a combination of Italian football experts James Richardson and Gabriele Marcotti, plus guests. Serie A coverage each Sunday will form part of a live sports and studio programming schedule, with live coverage of multiple sporting events, all with pre- and post-match studio shows that will deliver results, highlights, analysis, discussion and more.
Over at Sky Sports, they have renewed their La Liga deal with a further three years. Many people expected this to happen. The New deal sees all Real Madrid and Barcelona games (including El Clasico’s) as well as selected other La liga games and Copa Del Rey matches.
Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “This is even more good news for Sky Sports viewers who enjoy the diet of Spanish football across Saturday and Sunday evenings. La Liga is one of the most exciting leagues in the world and the likes of Ronaldo, Messi and Iniesta provide fantastic entertainment each week of the season for football fans.”
Sky’s weekly Spanish football magazine show Revista de La Liga will return with news, interviews and analysis throughout the season. Sky Sports have said coverage will also extend to Sky Sports News HD.
