ESPN (UK)
Encyclopedia
ESPN is a sports television channel
in the United Kingdom
and Ireland
owned by American sports broadcaster ESPN Inc.
The channel launched on 3 August 2009. Programming is available in standard definition and high definition
formats.
The channel launched on 3 August 2009 as a result of ESPN's acquisition of partial UK broadcast rights to the Premier League six weeks prior, caused in turn by the financial difficulties of Setanta Sports
, which ceased broadcasting in Great Britain
at about the same time. It marked ESPN's first foray into live coverage of domestic sports events in the UK, which had previously been dominated by terrestrial networks such as the BBC
and ITV
, as well as pay services Sky Sports
and Setanta. Prior to August 2009, ESPN's only operations in the UK were archive sports channel ESPN Classic
, as well as the pan-European ESPN America channel, which focuses on North America
n sport.
, who sell the channel through their Sky platform. A discount is available to Sky Sports
subscribers. British Sky Broadcasting's Sky Media also acts as ad sales house for the channel. A select number of events have also been aired on Sky 3D
including the Winter X Games XV
, 2011 FA Cup Final
and 2011 NBA Finals
. From 22 July 2011, ESPN has also been made available for free to full Sky Sports Pack subscribers in Ireland.
ESPN is also available on Virgin Media
in standard and high definition as a part of the XL pack. M or L pack customers can subscribe to ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN HD. A discount is available to Sky Sports subscribers.
Top Up TV
has carried ESPN from 4 August 2009. A connection fee applies to non Top Up TV subscribers, ex-Setanta digital terrestrial television
customers or those without a viewing card. On 26 July 2011, Top Up TV announced that ESPN will be available via a conditional-access module when it launches its Top Up TV CAM service in August.
BT Vision
has carried ESPN from 4 August 2009 as part of BT Vision's Value Packs (Bronze, Silver and Gold).
On both BT Vision and Top Up TV, ESPN only broadcasts from 14:00 - 04:00 on weekdays, 11:00 - 06:00 on Saturday and 11:00 – 04:00 on Sunday.
TalkTalk TV (then known as Tiscali TV) has carried ESPN from 14 August 2009, along with ESPN America.
ESPN is also available on Smallworld Cable for free when taken with the Ultimate HD TV Pack. Other customers can subscribe to ESPN, a discount is available to Sky Sports subscribers.
On 14 August 2009, a deal with cable company UPC Ireland
(more popularly known by its trading name, Chorus NTL) and ESPN was reached. On that date ESPN and ESPN HD launched on UPC. A discount is available to Sky Sports or Setanta Sports 1 subscribers. ESPN America ceased to be part of the Setanta Sports package on that date and became bundled with ESPN instead. On 4 January 2010, UPC and ESPN announced a new deal whereby ESPN (including its HD counterpart) and ESPN America would become part of UPC's Digital Select Extra and Digital Max packages. Subscribers to the basic Digital Value package can still subscribe to ESPN and ESPN America as premium channels under the previous pricing arrangements.
, the longest-running and most successful primetime sports show in US television history, from 13 September. Each week, ESPN will air the big Monday night clashes in the National Football League
, led by chief commentator Mike Tirico
and supported by co-commentators Ron Jaworski
and Jon Gruden
.
Coverage will be preceded by Monday Night Countdown
, anchored by Chris Berman, with analysis coming from Cris Carter
, Mike Ditka
, Tom Jackson
and Keyshawn Johnson
on ESPN's sister channel ESPN America.
. On 30 September 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured a multi-year deal to show live National Basketball Association
games. The channel show up to three live matches a week during the NBA season in standard and high definition, including one game at Sunday primetime. It also carries NBA All-Star Games and action from the season playoffs
and final
. ESPN also broadcast studio shows NBA Fastbreak
and NBA Action
.
Live pre-season coverage began on ESPN on 6 October 2009 when the Utah Jazz
took on the Chicago Bulls
as part of NBA Europe Live Tour
. Coverage continued on 8 October 2009 for Utah Jazz against Euroleague Basketball's Real Madrid Baloncesto
. The NBA season officially started on 27 October 2009.
for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the inaugural Caribbean T20 Tournament. The event, which ran from 22–31 July, featured eight West Indian Twenty20
teams, including Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and the Windward Islands, competing to win the Caribbean T20 title.
The company announced on 22 June 2009 that it had secured the UK broadcast rights to the Premier League for four seasons, airing 46 games in the 2009-10 season and 23 games a year for the following three seasons, following a missed payment by Setanta Sports which voided their contracts. In Ireland, ESPN will air the same 46 matches during the 2009-10 season.
Premier League coverage was produced by Sky Sports in-house production team, with former BBC presenter Ray Stubbs
hosting, while Rebecca Lowe
reports from the touchline and Jon Champion
commentates alongside either Chris Waddle
or Joe Royle
. Kevin Keegan
is the lead analyst, while Guus Hiddink
, Shaka Hislop
, Frank Leboeuf
, Danny Murphy, Peter Reid
, Matt Holland
and Ian Wright
were also signed to provide analysis. Mark Chapman
, Nat Coombs
and Kelly Cates also form a part of the line up. IMG Sports Media
make the studio shows and ancillary programming. The first Premier League match to be shown on ESPN was Everton
's 6-1 loss against Arsenal
.
From the 2010-11 season
Sky no longer produce coverage of matches, instead coverage was taken over by IMG Sports Media, in an effort to offer “quality and innovation” and introduce new technology from the broadcaster’s US parent to help develop post-match analysis. The change also affects FA Cup and Scottish Premier League coverage. ESPN have also increased the number of cameras at games from an average of 16 cameras to 23.
On 7 December 2009, it was reported that ESPN had secured the rights to 25 live and exclusive FA Cup
matches per season from the 2010-11 season. The contract will run for four seasons and all matches will be broadcast in high definition.
ESPN will televise two matches in the FA Cup First and Second Rounds (plus up to two replays per round), three matches from the Third to Fifth Rounds (plus up to one replay), two Quarter-Finals (plus up to one replay), one Semi-Final and simulcast of the FA Cup Final
(on both ESPN and ITV
) for each of the next four seasons. ITV will continue to have the first pick of the matches.
ESPN's offer is thought to have been 60% higher than that tabled by the BBC, however, that bid is also understood to be for a longer contract period and still worth substantially less than the amount paid by Setanta.
As part of a four year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN has exclusive media rights for the inaugural FA Women's Super League in 2011.
games per season across the UK and Ireland, for five seasons, starting with the 2009-10 season. Sky Sports have also shown 30 lives games per season during this period, including each of the Old Firm
games. The SPL retained the right to opt out of the final two seasons of the deal. On 21 November 2011, ESPN's deal with the SPL was extended for five years from the 2012-13 season. Ray Stubbs hosts, with Derek Rae
and Craig Burley
commentating. Darrell Currie is touchline reporter and regular studio guests include Colin Hendry
, Mark Hateley
, Terry Butcher
and Scott Booth
.
The first SPL fixture broadcast on the channel was Dundee United
's 2–0 victory over Hearts
on 17 August 2009.
ESPN share the rights to the Europa League with Channel 5 and ITV
. As part of the deal, ESPN serve as host broadcaster for any live home matches featuring British clubs that it is transmitting and have the rights to air matches over the internet and via mobile wireless technologies.
During the inaugural season of the Europa League, ESPN broadcast live matches featuring British teams Celtic
, Everton
, Liverpool
and Fulham
, as well as 45 other European clubs, including holders Shakhtar Donetsk
. ESPN were only host broadcasters for two matches, Everton's 2-1 first-leg victory over Sporting Lisbon on 16 February and Fulham's 4-1 second-leg victory over Juventus
on 18 March.
, Portuguese Liga
, up to two live games per week from the Russian Premier League
and the remainder of the 2009
Major League Soccer
season, including five play-off games and the MLS Cup 2009
. For the 2010-11 season ESPN renewed its contracts for the Eredivisie and Russian Premier League and will also broadcast at least two matches each week from the Major League Soccer season, including play-off games.
ESPN signed a multi-year deal for up to five live games per week from the German Bundesliga
, a selection of which is in high definition, as well as weekly preview and highlight programmes. During the 2010-11 season
, ESPN will also broadcast the quarter finals, semi-finals and final from the DFB-Pokal
.
On 5 August 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights for up to three live Serie A
matches per week for the 2009-10
season as well as the Coppa Italia
. ESPN also showed the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana
which took place on 8 August 2009. For the 2010-11
season ESPN will air at least two games per week from Serie A, as well as a selection of Coppa Italia games. ESPN will continue to broadcast ESPN Kicks - recapping all of the weekend's goals, as well as weekly preview show, Total Italian Football.
and Argentina
on 12 August 2009, which saw Argentina win 3-2. The first youth international match was the European Under-21 Championship
qualification match between England under-21s
and FYR Macedonia under-21s on 4 September 2009, which England won 2-1.
On 5 October 2009, ESPN secured a multi-year deal to show 150 classic FIFA World Cup
matches from 1930
to 2006
. The matches are shown on ESPN and ESPN Classic.
As part of a four year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN will show all of the England Under-21s home fixtures.
On 24 May 2010, ESPN announced that it had acquired UK exclusive broadcast rights to live coverage from 41 international football fixtures, including "at least" 16 qualifiers
for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, from the Kentaro rights agency. It is understood that the batch of games will feature a broad mix of European national sides, potentially including some home nations. ESPN will also broadcast 20 international friendlies and live coverage from the Brazil
World Tour, in which the five-time World Cup winners take on national teams from around the world. The first of these fixtures to be shown was the World Cup
warm-up match between Argentina
and Canada
on 24 May 2010, which was won 5-0 by the home side.
On 15 July 2010, ESPN secured broadcast rights to all France
and Germany
's Euro 2012 qualifying
matches. ESPN will further broadcast selected home friendly matches featuring France and Germany.
During May 2011, ESPN secured the rights to the 2011 Copa América
.
's 2009 tour of North America, including live matches against Toronto FC
on 7 August and DC United
on 9 August, Benfica versus AC Milan
on 8 August and Tottenham Hotspur
versus Olympiakos
on 9 August.
In January 2010, ESPN showed Argentine
Torneos de Verano
matches, including the Triangular de Verano 2010 Mar del Plata contested between Boca Juniors
, Estudiantes
and San Lorenzo
, the Triangular de Verano 2010 Salta involving River Plate
, Racing Club
and Independiente
as well as the Copa Revancha Mendoza between Boca Juniors and River Plate on 24 January.
Between 23–25 July 2010, ESPN aired all four games from the New York Football Challenge, which featured Tottenham Hotspur
, Manchester City
, New York Red Bulls and Sporting Lisbon. Manchester City will then take on Club América
, Borussia Dortmund
, Valencia
and Champions League winners Inter Milan
on a ten-day tour of America between 29 July and 7 August. ESPN also aired Tottenham's match against Benfica in Lisbon
on 1 August and Newcastle
's friendly against Rangers
in Glasgow
on 7 August.
In 2011, ESPN broadcast all four games of 2011 Emirates Cup
, as well as a number of other pre-season friendlies.
and Ronaldo
, in Lisbon to benefit the United Nations Development Programme
and SL Benfica Foundation.
events from UFC 101
onwards as well as The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights
, UFC All Access, UFC Countdown, UFC Fight Nights and UFC Unleashed
.
Alongside ESPN, Channel 5 airs a one hour highlights show called UFC: Main Event and 5USA aired the debut showing of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. However, ESPN showed The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale
live and in full.
The Ultimate Fighter
now airs on FX
.
and South Africa
.
On 14 December 2009, ESPN agreed a three year deal for exclusive live rights to 43 matches per season from the English Premiership, beginning with the 2010-11 season, including exclusive live coverage of the English Premiership Final and one of the two semi-final matches. The agreement also provides highlight rights for use on ESPN digital media such as ESPNScrum.com. Sky Sports will continue to show 26 live games per season plus the other semi-final.
On 15 April 2010, ESPN signed Austin Healey
as an expert contributor for its English Premiership presentation team, followed by Nick Mullins
as chief match commentator on 27 May and Ben Kay
as co-commentator on 9 June. Mark Durden-Smith
will act as lead host, joined by reporter Sarra Elgan. ESPN has also confirmed plans to start providing on-site coverage for many of its English Premiership games via a custom-built set, with production from Sunset + Vine
.
On 9 June 2010, ESPN agreed a deal with Premiership Rugby for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series Series. The new tournament, which took place over July and August 2010, involved all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs competing in Friday evening games. The clubs were divided into three groups, with the runner-up and finalist from each group moving on to the final on 6 August. In accordance with IRB
regulations, the six games to be played on every Friday evening consist of two seven-minute halves with a two-minute break for half time. ESPN's Rugby 7s coverage began on 16 July when the Group A teams - Harlequins
, Saracens
, London Irish
and London Wasps
- kick off the competition. Group B sides - Leeds Carnegie, Leicester Tigers
, Newcastle Falcons
and Sale Sharks
- competed on 23 July and the Group C teams - Bath Rugby
, Exeter Chiefs
, Gloucester Rugby and Northampton Saints
- clashed on 30 July.
, the National Hockey League
and National Collegiate Athletic Association
.
On 29 March 2010, it was announced that Monday Night Football
would air on ESPN. Starting on 14 September, the sports broadcaster will carry live coverage of all of the National Football League
's Monday night matches, with coverage repeated the following day. Every week, ESPN will also televise the 90-minute pre-game programme, Monday Night Countdown
, in which host Chris Berman previews the evening's action.
In addition, to mark the 30th anniversary of ESPN, the channel has been showing the ESPN Films
' 30 for 30
series.
including the four-week finals series culminating with the Grand Final. As part of the same announcement, it was revealed that ESPN will show Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
live.
ESPN screened their first live boxing event on 19 September 2009, broadcasting Friday Night Fights from America with Guillermo Rigondeaux topping the bill. On 8 December 2010, Premier Sports
announced an exclusive UK deal for 31 live Friday Night Fight events from January 2011 on an initial 2 year deal.
ESPN aired the 2009
National Rugby League
first Preliminary Final live on 25 September, the second Preliminary Final on 26 September and the Grand Final live on 4 October.
On 3 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the first ever European Winter X Games
. All competition finals from the Winter X Games Europe
at the French ski resort of Tignes
was shown live and exclusive from 10–12 March.
On 4 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the 2010 World Indoor Athletic Championships
held between 12–14 March at the ASPIRE Dome
in Doha
.
On 12 January 2011, ESPN and North One Sport
, the promoter of the World Rally Championship
(WRC), reached an agreement for the WRC to be televised exclusively on ESPN in the UK. ESPN will screen 30-minute nightly bulletins at the end of every WRC day, with on-event coverage bookended by an hour long preview and review show. Between events, ESPN is committing 30 hour-long shows with archive material from the sport, as well as two new documentary programmes. In addition to coverage on ESPN, WRC footage will also be aired on ESPN Classic.
On 6 July 2011, it was announced that the 2011 World Masters of darts will air live and exclusively on ESPN, with the event extended to three days three-days for the first time as part of the agreement with the British Darts Organisation
. The deal ends nine consecutive years of coverage on the BBC. In addition, ESPN will share coverage of the 2012 BDO World Championship with the BBC.
In November 2011 it showed its first golf coverage, showing two tournaments from Australia and in March 2012 the channel will show its first tennis coverage - the Billie Jean King Cup
from Madison Square Garden
.
Television channel
A television channel is a physical or virtual channel over which a television station or television network is distributed. For example, in North America, "channel 2" refers to the broadcast or cable band of 54 to 60 MHz, with carrier frequencies of 55.25 MHz for NTSC analog video and...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
owned by American sports broadcaster ESPN Inc.
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
The channel launched on 3 August 2009. Programming is available in standard definition and high definition
High-definition television
High-definition television is video that has resolution substantially higher than that of traditional television systems . HDTV has one or two million pixels per frame, roughly five times that of SD...
formats.
The channel launched on 3 August 2009 as a result of ESPN's acquisition of partial UK broadcast rights to the Premier League six weeks prior, caused in turn by the financial difficulties of Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports
Setanta Sports is an international sports broadcaster based in Dublin, Ireland. Setanta Sports was formed in 1990 to facilitate the broadcasting of Irish sporting events...
, which ceased broadcasting in Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
at about the same time. It marked ESPN's first foray into live coverage of domestic sports events in the UK, which had previously been dominated by terrestrial networks such as the BBC
BBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC. It became a fully dedicated division of the BBC in 2000. It incorporates programmes such as Match of the Day, Grandstand , Test Match Special, Ski Sunday, Rugby Special and coverage of Formula One motor racing, MotoGP and the Wimbledon Tennis...
and ITV
ITV Sport
ITV Sport is a sport producer and brand name owned by ITV plc. It was formed from the amalgamation of Granada Sport, Carlton's sports department and ISN, the sports division of London News Network. The company produces Champions League and FA Cup Football, along with coverage of England's national...
, as well as pay services Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
and Setanta. Prior to August 2009, ESPN's only operations in the UK were archive sports channel ESPN Classic
ESPN Classic (UK)
The British version of ESPN Classic launched on 13 March 2006 on Sky channel 442, the first channel in the UK under the ESPN branding. On 3 August 2009, ESPN Classic launched on Virgin Media channel 533 as a part of the XL pack, and in early 2011 video on demand content started to appear on the...
, as well as the pan-European ESPN America channel, which focuses on North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n sport.
Availability
A carriage and retail agreement for both residential and commercial customers was struck with British Sky BroadcastingBritish Sky Broadcasting
British Sky Broadcasting Group plc is a satellite broadcasting, broadband and telephony services company headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with operations in the United Kingdom and the Ireland....
, who sell the channel through their Sky platform. A discount is available to Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
subscribers. British Sky Broadcasting's Sky Media also acts as ad sales house for the channel. A select number of events have also been aired on Sky 3D
Sky 3D
Sky 3D is a 3DTV channel on the Sky platform, that launched on 3 April 2010 with the Manchester United vs Chelsea football match being broadcast in over a thousand pubs across England in 3D. On 1 October 2010, Sky 3D became available to residential subscribers...
including the Winter X Games XV
Winter X Games XV
Winter X Games XV were held from January 26 to January 30, 2011, in Aspen, Colorado. They are the 10th consecutive Winter X Games to be held in Aspen...
, 2011 FA Cup Final
2011 FA Cup Final
The 2011 FA Cup Final was the 130th final of the FA Cup, the world's oldest domestic football cup competition. The match took place on 14 May 2011 at Wembley Stadium in London. The clubs contesting the 2011 final were Premier League clubs Manchester City and Stoke City, with the victors guaranteed...
and 2011 NBA Finals
2011 NBA Finals
The 2011 NBA Finals was the championship series of the 2010–11 season of the National Basketball Association and the conclusion of the season's playoffs. The Western Conference champion Dallas Mavericks defeated the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat, 4–2, to win their first NBA title...
. From 22 July 2011, ESPN has also been made available for free to full Sky Sports Pack subscribers in Ireland.
ESPN is also available on Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
in standard and high definition as a part of the XL pack. M or L pack customers can subscribe to ESPN, ESPN America and ESPN HD. A discount is available to Sky Sports subscribers.
Top Up TV
Top Up TV
Top Up TV is a pay television service in the UK launched in March 2004, operating on the digital terrestrial platform. The aim of the service is to "Top Up" Freeview customers by providing additional channels and services....
has carried ESPN from 4 August 2009. A connection fee applies to non Top Up TV subscribers, ex-Setanta digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television
Digital terrestrial television is the technological evolution of broadcast television and advance from analog television, which broadcasts land-based signals...
customers or those without a viewing card. On 26 July 2011, Top Up TV announced that ESPN will be available via a conditional-access module when it launches its Top Up TV CAM service in August.
BT Vision
BT Vision
BT Vision is a hybrid IPTV-digital terrestrial television service provided by BT Group in the United Kingdom which was launched in December 2006...
has carried ESPN from 4 August 2009 as part of BT Vision's Value Packs (Bronze, Silver and Gold).
On both BT Vision and Top Up TV, ESPN only broadcasts from 14:00 - 04:00 on weekdays, 11:00 - 06:00 on Saturday and 11:00 – 04:00 on Sunday.
TalkTalk TV (then known as Tiscali TV) has carried ESPN from 14 August 2009, along with ESPN America.
ESPN is also available on Smallworld Cable for free when taken with the Ultimate HD TV Pack. Other customers can subscribe to ESPN, a discount is available to Sky Sports subscribers.
On 14 August 2009, a deal with cable company UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland
UPC Ireland is Liberty Global Europe's telecommunications operation in Ireland. UPC Ireland is the largest digital cable television provider within the Republic of Ireland. As of September 2010 the company offers broadband internet, digital television and digital telephony to over 531,000 customers...
(more popularly known by its trading name, Chorus NTL) and ESPN was reached. On that date ESPN and ESPN HD launched on UPC. A discount is available to Sky Sports or Setanta Sports 1 subscribers. ESPN America ceased to be part of the Setanta Sports package on that date and became bundled with ESPN instead. On 4 January 2010, UPC and ESPN announced a new deal whereby ESPN (including its HD counterpart) and ESPN America would become part of UPC's Digital Select Extra and Digital Max packages. Subscribers to the basic Digital Value package can still subscribe to ESPN and ESPN America as premium channels under the previous pricing arrangements.
American football
On 7 September 2010, ESPN announced that it would air Monday Night FootballMonday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
, the longest-running and most successful primetime sports show in US television history, from 13 September. Each week, ESPN will air the big Monday night clashes in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
, led by chief commentator Mike Tirico
Mike Tirico
Michael Todd Tirico is an announcer for ESPN's presentation of Monday Night Football, and second lead broadcaster for ESPN's presentation of the NBA. In addition, Tirico hosts a multitude of programming on ESPN/ABC. He was the host of ABC's golf coverage from 1996 to 2007, and continues in that...
and supported by co-commentators Ron Jaworski
Ron Jaworski
Ronald Vincent "Ron" Jaworski is a former American football quarterback and currently an NFL analyst on ESPN. He is also CEO of Ron Jaworski Golf Management, Inc., based out of Blackwood, New Jersey, and manages golf courses in southern New Jersey, northeast Pennsylvania, and West Virginia...
and Jon Gruden
Jon Gruden
Jon David Gruden is an American football analyst and former head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for seven seasons and prior to that the Oakland Raiders for four seasons. In his first year as the head coach of Tampa Bay, the Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXXVII, defeating the Raiders whom he had...
.
Coverage will be preceded by Monday Night Countdown
Monday Night Countdown
Monday Night Countdown, which debuted in 1993 on ESPN, is a television program featuring analysis and news on that night's NFL match to be broadcast on ESPN...
, anchored by Chris Berman, with analysis coming from Cris Carter
Cris Carter
Cristopher D. Carter is a former American football player in the National Football League. He played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Eagles , the Minnesota Vikings and the Miami Dolphins ....
, Mike Ditka
Mike Ditka
Michael Keller Ditka, Jr. is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach, and a head...
, Tom Jackson
Tom Jackson (American football)
Thomas Louie "Tom" Jackson, also referred to as "TJ" or "Tommy", is an NFL analyst for ESPN and a former Pro Bowl linebacker for the Denver Broncos.-College:...
and Keyshawn Johnson
Keyshawn Johnson
Joseph Keyshawn Johnson is a former American football wide receiver, interior designer, business executive, author and current television broadcaster for sports channel ESPN. He retired from football on May 23, 2007 after an eleven-year career in the National Football League...
on ESPN's sister channel ESPN America.
Basketball
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced a deal to air EuroBasketEurobasket
The EuroBasket, also referred to as the FIBA European Basketball Championship, is the main basketball competition contested biennially by the men's national teams governed by FIBA Europe, the European zone within the International Basketball Federation. The championship was first held in 1935 and...
. On 30 September 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured a multi-year deal to show live National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
games. The channel show up to three live matches a week during the NBA season in standard and high definition, including one game at Sunday primetime. It also carries NBA All-Star Games and action from the season playoffs
NBA Playoffs
The National Basketball Association Playoffs is a best-of-seven elimination tournament among sixteen teams in the Eastern Conference and Western Conference , ultimately deciding the final four teams who will play in the NBA Conference Finals.-Format:Following the NBA regular season, eight teams in...
and final
NBA Finals
The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association . The series was named the NBA World Championship Series until 1986....
. ESPN also broadcast studio shows NBA Fastbreak
NBA Fastbreak
NBA Fastbreak is a National Basketball Association studio program that airs on ESPN. The program used to air as part of ESPN's The Trifecta. Formerly known as NBA 2Night, the program, hosted by various ESPN personalities, provides highlights, analysis and updates from the night's NBA games...
and NBA Action
NBA Action
NBA Action is a weekly show with news and highlights of the NBA. The show first premiered in 1990 on ESPN.-Features :* Western Conference Team of the Week* Instant Replay * Timeout...
.
Live pre-season coverage began on ESPN on 6 October 2009 when the Utah Jazz
Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They are currently a part of the Northwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association...
took on the Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls
The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
as part of NBA Europe Live Tour
NBA Europe Live Tour
NBA Europe Live Tour is an event organised yearly since 2006. Its purpose is to bring teams from the National Basketball Association to play games against mainly Euroleague but also Eurocup teams....
. Coverage continued on 8 October 2009 for Utah Jazz against Euroleague Basketball's Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto
Real Madrid Baloncesto is a Spanish professional basketball team founded in 1932 as a division of the Real Madrid club. They play in the Asociación de Clubes de Baloncesto ....
. The NBA season officially started on 27 October 2009.
Cricket
On 22 July 2010, ESPN agreed a deal with the West Indies Cricket BoardWest Indies Cricket Board
The West Indies Cricket Board is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in the West Indies...
for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the inaugural Caribbean T20 Tournament. The event, which ran from 22–31 July, featured eight West Indian Twenty20
Twenty20
Twenty20 is a form of cricket, originally introduced in England for professional inter-county competition by the England and Wales Cricket Board , in 2003. A Twenty20 game involves two teams, each has a single innings, batting for a maximum of 20 overs. Twenty20 cricket is also known as T20 cricket...
teams, including Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and the Windward Islands, competing to win the Caribbean T20 title.
Premier League
The company announced on 22 June 2009 that it had secured the UK broadcast rights to the Premier League for four seasons, airing 46 games in the 2009-10 season and 23 games a year for the following three seasons, following a missed payment by Setanta Sports which voided their contracts. In Ireland, ESPN will air the same 46 matches during the 2009-10 season.
Premier League coverage was produced by Sky Sports in-house production team, with former BBC presenter Ray Stubbs
Ray Stubbs
Raymond "Ray" Stubbs is a broadcaster and former footballer. He works for ESPN, presenting live Premier League and Scottish Premier League matches, having joined the satellite sports channel from the BBC in 2009.-Football career:...
hosting, while Rebecca Lowe
Rebecca Lowe
Rebecca Lowe is a sports reporter and presenter for ESPN. She previously worked at the BBC, and Setanta Sports.-Biography:...
reports from the touchline and Jon Champion
Jon Champion
Jon Champion is ESPN UK's number one football commentator. Champion is a well-established and experienced commentator who has also worked for the BBC and ITV over the past 20 years. His late father David Champion was the deputy headmaster of the independent school Bootham School, York...
commentates alongside either Chris Waddle
Chris Waddle
Christopher Roland "Chris" Waddle is a former footballer from England. He played for a number of clubs in the 1980s and 90s, including Newcastle United, Tottenham Hotspur and Sheffield Wednesday in England, and Olympique de Marseille in France...
or Joe Royle
Joe Royle
Joseph "Joe" Royle is an English football manager. In his club career, he played for Everton , Manchester City, Bristol City, Norwich City, and the England national team...
. Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
is the lead analyst, while Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink
Guus Hiddink is a Dutch football manager and former player. He was the most recently manager of the Turkish national football team. He is considered to be one of the best managers of his generation and was the best-paid coach in international football in 2009...
, Shaka Hislop
Shaka Hislop
Neil Shaka Hislop, CM is a former professional football goalkeeper. The majority of his career was spent in the top division in England where he was a part of the Newcastle United team which finished second in the Premier League for two successive seasons under Kevin Keegan's first tenure...
, Frank Leboeuf
Frank Leboeuf
Franck Alain James Leboeuf or Lebœuf is a former French international footballer who played as a defender...
, Danny Murphy, Peter Reid
Peter Reid
Peter Reid is an English football manager, pundit and retired player, who is currently without a club since his departure from Plymouth Argyle.A defensive midfielder in his playing days, Reid enjoyed a long and successful career...
, Matt Holland
Matt Holland
Matthew Rhys "Matt" Holland is a former English-born Irish footballer, who represented Republic of Ireland at international level...
and Ian Wright
Ian Wright
Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, spending six years with the former and seven years with the latter. With Arsenal he has lifted the Premier League title and both major...
were also signed to provide analysis. Mark Chapman
Mark Chapman (DJ)
Andrew Mark "Chappers" Chapman , also known as Chappers, is the main sports presenter on Radio 5 Live as well as presenting for BBC Sport on television, his mother is Emily Chapman and his father is Peter Chapman.He was the sports newsreader and Mills' sidekick on The Scott Mills Show on BBC Radio...
, Nat Coombs
Nat Coombs
Nathaniel 'Nat' Coombs is a British television & radio presenter & writer.-Education:Coombs was educated at the boys' independent school Dulwich College in Dulwich, South London, and at University College London.-Television and Radio:...
and Kelly Cates also form a part of the line up. IMG Sports Media
IMG (business)
IMG, originally known as the International Management Group is a global sports and media business headquartered in New York City.-History:...
make the studio shows and ancillary programming. The first Premier League match to be shown on ESPN was Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
's 6-1 loss against Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
.
From the 2010-11 season
2010–11 Premier League
The 2010–11 Premier League was the 19th season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2010–11 fixtures were released on 17 June 2010 at 09:00 BST. The season began on 14 August 2010, and ended on 22 May 2011...
Sky no longer produce coverage of matches, instead coverage was taken over by IMG Sports Media, in an effort to offer “quality and innovation” and introduce new technology from the broadcaster’s US parent to help develop post-match analysis. The change also affects FA Cup and Scottish Premier League coverage. ESPN have also increased the number of cameras at games from an average of 16 cameras to 23.
FA Cup
On 7 December 2009, it was reported that ESPN had secured the rights to 25 live and exclusive FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
matches per season from the 2010-11 season. The contract will run for four seasons and all matches will be broadcast in high definition.
ESPN will televise two matches in the FA Cup First and Second Rounds (plus up to two replays per round), three matches from the Third to Fifth Rounds (plus up to one replay), two Quarter-Finals (plus up to one replay), one Semi-Final and simulcast of the FA Cup Final
FA Cup Final
The FA Cup Final, commonly referred to in England as just the Cup Final, is the last match in the Football Association Challenge Cup. With an official attendance of 89,826 at the 2007 FA Cup Final, it is the fourth best attended domestic club championship event in the world and the second most...
(on both ESPN and ITV
ITV Sport
ITV Sport is a sport producer and brand name owned by ITV plc. It was formed from the amalgamation of Granada Sport, Carlton's sports department and ISN, the sports division of London News Network. The company produces Champions League and FA Cup Football, along with coverage of England's national...
) for each of the next four seasons. ITV will continue to have the first pick of the matches.
ESPN's offer is thought to have been 60% higher than that tabled by the BBC, however, that bid is also understood to be for a longer contract period and still worth substantially less than the amount paid by Setanta.
Women's Super League
As part of a four year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN has exclusive media rights for the inaugural FA Women's Super League in 2011.
Scottish Premier League
On 16 July 2009, it was announced that ESPN had secured the broadcast rights to 30 live Scottish Premier LeagueScottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
games per season across the UK and Ireland, for five seasons, starting with the 2009-10 season. Sky Sports have also shown 30 lives games per season during this period, including each of the Old Firm
Old Firm
The Old Firm is a common collective name for the association football clubs Celtic and Rangers, both based in Glasgow, Scotland.The origin of the term is unclear. One theory has it that the expression derives from Celtic's first game in 1888, which was played against Rangers. However, author,...
games. The SPL retained the right to opt out of the final two seasons of the deal. On 21 November 2011, ESPN's deal with the SPL was extended for five years from the 2012-13 season. Ray Stubbs hosts, with Derek Rae
Derek Rae
Derek Rae is a Scottish football announcer for ESPN, working as a sports commentator for its coverage of the UEFA Champions League and Scottish Premier League. He is also the host of ESPNsoccernet's PressPass.- Career :...
and Craig Burley
Craig Burley
Craig William Burley is a Scottish former international association football player who played for clubs including Chelsea, Celtic and Derby County...
commentating. Darrell Currie is touchline reporter and regular studio guests include Colin Hendry
Colin Hendry
Edward Colin Hendry is a retired Scottish footballer and manager, who played as a defender. Hendry started his career with Dundee in 1983 and spent spells at Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Rangers, Coventry City, Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool...
, Mark Hateley
Mark Hateley
Mark Wayne Hateley is a retired English football player who played as a centre-forward. He was capped 32 times for the English national team , and played in top-level football leagues in England, Italy, France and Scotland...
, Terry Butcher
Terry Butcher
Terence Ian "Terry" Butcher is an English football manager and former player. He was a highly successful football player and made his name as an uncompromising defender with Ipswich Town and Rangers in the 1980s. He was also a captain of England and won 77 caps in a ten-year international career...
and Scott Booth
Scott Booth
Scott Booth is a former Scottish football player. He began his career at Aberdeen as a teenager in 1990, before moving to Germany in 1997 to play for Borussia Dortmund. After a spell in the Netherlands, he returned to Aberdeen in 2003 before retiring a year later...
.
The first SPL fixture broadcast on the channel was Dundee United
Dundee United F.C.
Dundee United Football Club is a Scottish professional football club located in the city of Dundee. Formed in 1909, originally as Dundee Hibernian, the club changed to the present name in 1923...
's 2–0 victory over Hearts
Heart of Midlothian F.C.
Heart of Midlothian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Gorgie, in the west of Edinburgh. They currently play in the Scottish Premier League and are one of the two principal clubs in the city, the other being Hibernian...
on 17 August 2009.
UEFA Europa League
On 1 September 2009, ESPN secured a three-year TV rights deal to broadcast matches from the UEFA Europa League, previously held by Setanta Sports. At a minimum, ESPN will broadcast one match from each kick-off slot. On 17 October 2011, ESPN were also awarded part of the rights to the 2012-13 to 2014-15 seasons.ESPN share the rights to the Europa League with Channel 5 and ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
. As part of the deal, ESPN serve as host broadcaster for any live home matches featuring British clubs that it is transmitting and have the rights to air matches over the internet and via mobile wireless technologies.
During the inaugural season of the Europa League, ESPN broadcast live matches featuring British teams Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
, Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
and Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, as well as 45 other European clubs, including holders Shakhtar Donetsk
FC Shakhtar Donetsk
FC Shakhtar Donetsk is a Ukrainian professional football club from the city of Donetsk. Shakhtar has appeared in several European competitions and currently is often a participant of the UEFA Champions League. The club became the first Ukrainian club to win the UEFA Cup in 2009, the last year...
. ESPN were only host broadcasters for two matches, Everton's 2-1 first-leg victory over Sporting Lisbon on 16 February and Fulham's 4-1 second-leg victory over Juventus
Juventus F.C.
Juventus Football Club S.p.A. , commonly referred to as Juventus and colloquially as Juve , are a professional Italian association football club based in Turin, Piedmont...
on 18 March.
Foreign club football
On 28 July 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured television rights to show up to two live games per week from the EredivisieEredivisie
The Eredivisie is the highest football league in the Netherlands. The league was founded in 1956 two years after the start of professional football in the Netherlands. It is currently ranked the ninth best league in Europe by UEFA....
, Portuguese Liga
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
, up to two live games per week from the Russian Premier League
Russian Premier League
The Russian Premier League , currently called SOGAZ Russian Football Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the top division of Russian football. There are 16 teams in the competition...
and the remainder of the 2009
2009 Major League Soccer season
The 2009 Major League Soccer season was the 14th season of Major League Soccer. The season began on March 19 and ended with Real Salt Lake winning the MLS Cup 2009, on November 22 at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington-Changes from the 2008 season:...
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer
Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...
season, including five play-off games and the MLS Cup 2009
MLS Cup 2009
The 2009 MLS Cup was the championship match of the 2009 Major League Soccer season, the 14th season of the league. The final was played at Qwest Field in Seattle, Washington on November 22, 2009. The match was contested by Eastern Conference champion Real Salt Lake and Western Conference champion...
. For the 2010-11 season ESPN renewed its contracts for the Eredivisie and Russian Premier League and will also broadcast at least two matches each week from the Major League Soccer season, including play-off games.
ESPN signed a multi-year deal for up to five live games per week from the German Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, a selection of which is in high definition, as well as weekly preview and highlight programmes. During the 2010-11 season
2010–11 DFB-Pokal
The 2010–11 DFB-Pokal was the sixty-eighth season of the annual German football cup competition. It commenced on the weekend around 14 August 2010 with the matches of Round 1 and concluded on 21 May 2011 with the final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin...
, ESPN will also broadcast the quarter finals, semi-finals and final from the DFB-Pokal
DFB-Pokal
The DFB-Pokal or DFB Cup is a German knockout football cup competition held annually. 64 teams participate in the competition, including all clubs from the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is considered the second most important national title in German football after the Bundesliga...
.
On 5 August 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights for up to three live Serie A
Serie A
Serie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
matches per week for the 2009-10
2009–10 Serie A
The 2009–10 Serie A was the seventy-eighth season since its establishment. There were three promoted teams from the Serie B, replacing the three teams that were relegated following the 2008–09 season. Nike provided a new match ball - the T90 Ascente - for this season...
season as well as the Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
. ESPN also showed the 2009 Supercoppa Italiana
2009 Supercoppa Italiana
The 2009 Supercoppa Italiana was a match played by the 2008–09 Serie A winners Internazionale and 2008–09 Coppa Italia winners Lazio. It took place on 8 August 2009 at the Beijing National Stadium in Beijing, China. Lazio won the match 2–1 to earn their third Supercoppa...
which took place on 8 August 2009. For the 2010-11
2010–11 Serie A
The 2010–11 Serie A was the 79th season since its establishment, the first under a league committee separate from Serie B. It began on 28 August 2010 and ended on 22 May 2011...
season ESPN will air at least two games per week from Serie A, as well as a selection of Coppa Italia games. ESPN will continue to broadcast ESPN Kicks - recapping all of the weekend's goals, as well as weekly preview show, Total Italian Football.
International football
The first international football match shown on ESPN was the pre-season friendly match between RussiaRussia national football team
The Russia national football team represents Russia in association football and is controlled by the Russian Football Union , the governing body for football in Russia. Russia's home grounds are Luzhniki Stadium, Lokomotiv Stadium , and Petrovsky Stadium in St.Petersburg and their head coach is...
and Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
on 12 August 2009, which saw Argentina win 3-2. The first youth international match was the European Under-21 Championship
UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship
The European Under-21 Football Championship is a football competition organised by the sport's European governing body, UEFA. It is held every two years. The competition has existed in its current form since 1978. It was preceded by the Under 23 Challenge Cup which ran from 1967 to 1970...
qualification match between England under-21s
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
and FYR Macedonia under-21s on 4 September 2009, which England won 2-1.
On 5 October 2009, ESPN secured a multi-year deal to show 150 classic FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
matches from 1930
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
to 2006
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. The matches are shown on ESPN and ESPN Classic.
As part of a four year deal for FA Cup coverage, formally announced on 8 December 2009, ESPN will show all of the England Under-21s home fixtures.
On 24 May 2010, ESPN announced that it had acquired UK exclusive broadcast rights to live coverage from 41 international football fixtures, including "at least" 16 qualifiers
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...
for the UEFA Euro 2012 tournament, from the Kentaro rights agency. It is understood that the batch of games will feature a broad mix of European national sides, potentially including some home nations. ESPN will also broadcast 20 international friendlies and live coverage from the Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
World Tour, in which the five-time World Cup winners take on national teams from around the world. The first of these fixtures to be shown was the World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
warm-up match between Argentina
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
and Canada
Canada men's national soccer team
The Canada men's national soccer team represents Canada in international soccer competitions at the senior men's level. They are overseen by the Canadian Soccer Association and compete in the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football .Their most significant...
on 24 May 2010, which was won 5-0 by the home side.
On 15 July 2010, ESPN secured broadcast rights to all France
France national football team
The France national football team represents the nation of France in international football. It is fielded by the French Football Federation , the governing body of football in France, and competes as a member of UEFA, which encompasses the countries of Europe...
and Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
's Euro 2012 qualifying
UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying
The qualifying competition for UEFA Euro 2012 is a series of parallel association football competitions held over 2010 and 2011 to decide the qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2012, to be held in Poland and Ukraine...
matches. ESPN will further broadcast selected home friendly matches featuring France and Germany.
During May 2011, ESPN secured the rights to the 2011 Copa América
2011 Copa América
The 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América Argentina 2011, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America...
.
Pre-season football
ESPN showed Real MadridReal Madrid C.F.
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
's 2009 tour of North America, including live matches against Toronto FC
Toronto FC
Toronto FC is a Canadian professional soccer club based in Toronto, Ontario which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada....
on 7 August and DC United
D.C. United
D.C. United is an American professional soccer club based in Washington, D.C. which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, having competed in the league since its inception, in 1996.Over the...
on 9 August, Benfica versus AC Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
on 8 August and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
versus Olympiakos
Ethnikos Olympiakos Volos F.C.
Olympiakos Volou Football Club , is a Greek football club based in the city of Volos. It is currently inactive and does not compete in any professional league, due to the 2011 match fixing scandal that caused the teams complete elimination.-History:...
on 9 August.
In January 2010, ESPN showed Argentine
Football in Argentina
Football in Argentina is the most popular sport, the one with the most players and is the most popular recreational sport, played from childhood into old age...
Torneos de Verano
Torneos de Verano (Argentina)
Torneos de Verano are a series of short friendly football pre-season tournaments held during the southern summer in Argentina every year, usually in January and February...
matches, including the Triangular de Verano 2010 Mar del Plata contested between Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
, Estudiantes
Estudiantes de La Plata
Club Estudiantes de La Plata , simply referred to as Estudiantes, is an Argentine professional sports club based in La Plata. The club's football team currently competes in the Primera División, where it has spent most of its history....
and San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
, the Triangular de Verano 2010 Salta involving River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate
Club Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
, Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
and Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente
Club Atlético Independiente is an Argentine athletic, sports and social club, which has its headquarters and stadium in the city of Avellaneda, Buenos Aires Province. The club is best known for its football team, that plays in the Argentine Primera División....
as well as the Copa Revancha Mendoza between Boca Juniors and River Plate on 24 January.
Between 23–25 July 2010, ESPN aired all four games from the New York Football Challenge, which featured Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, New York Red Bulls and Sporting Lisbon. Manchester City will then take on Club América
Club América
Club América is a Mexican Professional football club based in Mexico City. It competes in the Primera División, the top professional league in the country. The team's nickname is Las Águilas ....
, Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund
Ballspielverein Borussia Dortmund, commonly BVB, are a German sports club based in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia. Dortmund are one of the most successful clubs in German football history. Borussia Dortmund play in the Bundesliga, the top league of German football...
, Valencia
Valencia CF
Valencia Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football club based in Valencia, Spain. They play in La Liga and are one of the most successful and biggest clubs in Spanish Football and European Football. Valencia have won six La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, two Fairs Cups which was the...
and Champions League winners Inter Milan
F.C. Internazionale Milano
Football Club Internazionale Milano, often referred to as Internazionale or simply Inter, is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Italy. Outside Italy, the club is often called Inter Milan. They are the reigning FIFA Club World champions and Coppa Italia holders.Inter have always...
on a ten-day tour of America between 29 July and 7 August. ESPN also aired Tottenham's match against Benfica in Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
on 1 August and Newcastle
Newcastle United F.C.
Newcastle United Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear. The club was founded in 1892 by the merger of Newcastle East End and Newcastle West End, and has played at its current home ground, St James' Park, since the merger...
's friendly against Rangers
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
on 7 August.
In 2011, ESPN broadcast all four games of 2011 Emirates Cup
Emirates Cup
The Emirates Cup is an annual two-day pre-season football tournament hosted by English Premier League club Arsenal and held at the Emirates Stadium, the club's home ground...
, as well as a number of other pre-season friendlies.
Charity football
On 25 January 2010, ESPN aired the Match Against Poverty 2010, where a Benfica All-Stars XI took on a team of legends selected by Zinedine ZidaneZinedine Zidane
Zinedine Yazid Zidane is a retired French footballer. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Zidane was a leading figure of a generation of French players that won the 1998 World Cup and 2000 European Championship...
and Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima , commonly known as Ronaldo, is a retired Brazilian footballer who last played for Corinthians. Ronaldo is widely considered to be the greatest 'pure' striker in the history of the modern game, and by some accounts, in the history of football. Ronaldo was one of the...
, in Lisbon to benefit the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
and SL Benfica Foundation.
Mixed Martial Arts
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they had secured the rights to Ultimate Fighting ChampionshipUltimate Fighting Championship
The Ultimate Fighting Championship is the largest mixed martial arts promotion company in the world that hosts most of the top-ranked fighters in the sport...
events from UFC 101
UFC 101
UFC 101: Declaration was a mixed martial arts event held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on August 8, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania...
onwards as well as The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights
The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights
The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights is the tenth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship -produced reality television series The Ultimate Fighter. In a press conference following UFC 98, Dana White announced that filming for the season would begin on June 1, 2009...
, UFC All Access, UFC Countdown, UFC Fight Nights and UFC Unleashed
UFC Unleashed
UFC Unleashed is a television series produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It features matches from past UFC events. Episodes are one hour in length, showing several UFC bouts and "best of" compilations of popular fighters such as Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture.-Overview:In...
.
Alongside ESPN, Channel 5 airs a one hour highlights show called UFC: Main Event and 5USA aired the debut showing of The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights. However, ESPN showed The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale
The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale
The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights Finale, also referred to as The Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale, was a mixed martial arts event that was held by the Ultimate Fighting Championship on December 5, 2009...
live and in full.
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter
The Ultimate Fighter is an American reality television series and mixed martial arts competition produced by Spike TV and the Ultimate Fighting Championship , and soon to be shown on FX. The show features unknown, professional MMA fighters living together in Las Vegas, Nevada, and follows them as...
now airs on FX
FX (UK)
FX is a television channel in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, owned by Fox, launched in 12 January 2004. It was originally branded as FX289 in reference to its Sky EPG number. It was rebranded to FX in May 2005 as the channel moved in the Sky EPG.FX targets a demographic between 25...
.
Rugby Union
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they will cover the French Top 14 live. In addition, ESPN broadcast live international clashes featuring New Zealand, SamoaSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
and South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
.
On 14 December 2009, ESPN agreed a three year deal for exclusive live rights to 43 matches per season from the English Premiership, beginning with the 2010-11 season, including exclusive live coverage of the English Premiership Final and one of the two semi-final matches. The agreement also provides highlight rights for use on ESPN digital media such as ESPNScrum.com. Sky Sports will continue to show 26 live games per season plus the other semi-final.
On 15 April 2010, ESPN signed Austin Healey
Austin Healey
Austin Sean Healey is a former English rugby union player, who played as a utility back for Leicester Tigers, and has represented the England national rugby union team and the British Lions....
as an expert contributor for its English Premiership presentation team, followed by Nick Mullins
Nick Mullins
Nick Mullins is a British rugby union commentator for ESPN's live Guinness Premiership coverage. He previously covered Six Nations Championship, Guinness Premiership and Anglo-Welsh Cup matches for the BBC. He is the main commentator for the Wimbledon championship for BBC Radio 5 Live...
as chief match commentator on 27 May and Ben Kay
Ben Kay
Benedict James Kay MBE is a retired English international rugby union footballer who played Second row forward for Leicester Tigers and .-Background:...
as co-commentator on 9 June. Mark Durden-Smith
Mark Durden-Smith
Mark Durden-Smith is a British television presenter. He began his presenting career as host of Sky Sports live rugby union coverage, which included weekly English Premiership fixtures, domestic and European cup competitions and Internationals Tests, including the English home Six Nations matches...
will act as lead host, joined by reporter Sarra Elgan. ESPN has also confirmed plans to start providing on-site coverage for many of its English Premiership games via a custom-built set, with production from Sunset + Vine
Tinopolis
Tinopolis plc is a Welsh independent television production company, owned by its senior management and private equity company Vitruvian Partners.Tinopolis produces over 2,500 hours of television annually for more than 200 UK and foreign broadcasters....
.
On 9 June 2010, ESPN agreed a deal with Premiership Rugby for exclusive UK broadcast rights to the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby 7s Series Series. The new tournament, which took place over July and August 2010, involved all 12 Premiership Rugby clubs competing in Friday evening games. The clubs were divided into three groups, with the runner-up and finalist from each group moving on to the final on 6 August. In accordance with IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
regulations, the six games to be played on every Friday evening consist of two seven-minute halves with a two-minute break for half time. ESPN's Rugby 7s coverage began on 16 July when the Group A teams - Harlequins
Harlequin F.C.
The Harlequin Football Club is an English rugby union team who play in the top level of English rugby, the Aviva Premiership. Their ground in London is Twickenham Stoop...
, Saracens
Saracens F.C.
Saracens are a professional rugby union team based in St. Albans, England – although they play their home games at Vicarage Road, in Watford. They are currently members of the Aviva Premiership, the top level of domestic rugby union in England...
, London Irish
London Irish
London Irish RFC is an English rugby union club based in Sunbury, Surrey, where the senior squad train, the youth teams and senior academy play home games, and the club maintain their administrative offices. The senior squad play home games at the Madejski Stadium in Reading and compete in the top...
and London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
- kick off the competition. Group B sides - Leeds Carnegie, Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers
Leicester Tigers is an English rugby union club that plays in the Aviva Premiership.Leicester are the most successful English club since the introduction of league rugby in 1987, a record 9 times English champions - 3 more than either Bath or Wasps, the last of which was in 2010...
, Newcastle Falcons
Newcastle Falcons
The Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
and Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks
Sale Sharks are a professional rugby union club who play in England in the Aviva Premiership.The club is an offshoot of Sale FC, which is based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, but Sharks currently play in Stockport at Edgeley Park, ground sharing with Stockport County F.C.Part of the...
- competed on 23 July and the Group C teams - Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby
Bath Rugby is an English professional rugby union club that is based in the city of Bath. They play in the Aviva Premiership league...
, Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Chiefs
Exeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
, Gloucester Rugby and Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
- clashed on 30 July.
US Sports
ESPN also show some of the US sports available on ESPN America, including Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
, the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
and National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
.
On 29 March 2010, it was announced that Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football
Monday Night Football is a live broadcast of the National Football League on ESPN. From to it aired on ABC. Monday Night Football was, along with Hallmark Hall of Fame, and the Walt Disney anthology television series, one of the longest running prime time commercial network television series...
would air on ESPN. Starting on 14 September, the sports broadcaster will carry live coverage of all of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's Monday night matches, with coverage repeated the following day. Every week, ESPN will also televise the 90-minute pre-game programme, Monday Night Countdown
Monday Night Countdown
Monday Night Countdown, which debuted in 1993 on ESPN, is a television program featuring analysis and news on that night's NFL match to be broadcast on ESPN...
, in which host Chris Berman previews the evening's action.
In addition, to mark the 30th anniversary of ESPN, the channel has been showing the ESPN Films
ESPN Films
ESPN Films is a production company owned by ESPN that produces and distributes sports films and documentaries.-History:...
' 30 for 30
30 for 30
30 for 30 is the umbrella title for a series of documentaries airing on ESPN and its sister networks. The series, which premiered in October 2009 and concluded in December 2010, chronicles 30 stories from the "ESPN era," each of which detail the issues, trends, people, teams, or events that...
series.
Other sports
On 30 July 2009, ESPN announced that they will cover the up to three live matches a week plus highlights from the Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
including the four-week finals series culminating with the Grand Final. As part of the same announcement, it was revealed that ESPN will show Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
The Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters is a touring car racing series based in Germany, but also with rounds elsewhere in Europe....
live.
ESPN screened their first live boxing event on 19 September 2009, broadcasting Friday Night Fights from America with Guillermo Rigondeaux topping the bill. On 8 December 2010, Premier Sports
Premier Sports
Premier Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels, operated by the Luxembourg registered Premier Media S.à r.l., broadcasting in United Kingdom.-History:...
announced an exclusive UK deal for 31 live Friday Night Fight events from January 2011 on an initial 2 year deal.
ESPN aired the 2009
National Rugby League season 2009
The 2009 NRL season was the 102nd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the twelfth run by the National Rugby League. For the third consecutive year, sixteen teams competed for the 2009 Telstra Premiership title. The season commenced with the first match...
National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
first Preliminary Final live on 25 September, the second Preliminary Final on 26 September and the Grand Final live on 4 October.
On 3 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the first ever European Winter X Games
X Games
The X Games is a commercial annual sports event, controlled and arranged by US sports broadcaster ESPN, which focuses on action sports. The inaugural X Games was held in the summer of 1995 in Rhode Island....
. All competition finals from the Winter X Games Europe
Winter X Games Europe
Winter X Games Europe was held from March 10-12, 2010 in Tignes, France. It was the first Winter X Games competition held outside of the United States. The events were broadcast by ESPN and Canal+. Event consisted of slopestyle and superpipe competitions for both skiers and snowboarders on men's...
at the French ski resort of Tignes
Tignes
Tignes is a commune in the Tarentaise Valley, Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is also a ski resort near Val d'Isère, that are linked together as the "Espace Killy" region...
was shown live and exclusive from 10–12 March.
On 4 March 2010, ESPN agreed a deal for the UK broadcast rights to the 2010 World Indoor Athletic Championships
2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships
The 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics was held between 12 and 14 March at the ASPIRE Dome in Doha, Qatar. The championships was the first of six IAAF World Athletics Series events to take place in 2010.-Bidding and organisation:...
held between 12–14 March at the ASPIRE Dome
ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence
ASPIRE Dome is an indoor sporting arena located in Doha, Qatar, and the home of the ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence. The ASPIRE academy is a part of the Aspire Zone which also houses the Khalifa Stadium....
in Doha
Doha
Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar...
.
On 12 January 2011, ESPN and North One Sport
North One Television
North One Television is a television production company based in London and Birmingham, England, and Sydney, Australia. It was originally known as Chrysalis Television and is now part of All3Media....
, the promoter of the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
(WRC), reached an agreement for the WRC to be televised exclusively on ESPN in the UK. ESPN will screen 30-minute nightly bulletins at the end of every WRC day, with on-event coverage bookended by an hour long preview and review show. Between events, ESPN is committing 30 hour-long shows with archive material from the sport, as well as two new documentary programmes. In addition to coverage on ESPN, WRC footage will also be aired on ESPN Classic.
On 6 July 2011, it was announced that the 2011 World Masters of darts will air live and exclusively on ESPN, with the event extended to three days three-days for the first time as part of the agreement with the British Darts Organisation
British Darts Organisation
The British Darts Organisation, or the BDO for short, is a darts organisation founded on 7 January 1973 by Olly Croft, OBE. The BDO is a founder member of the World Darts Federation which was formed in 1976....
. The deal ends nine consecutive years of coverage on the BBC. In addition, ESPN will share coverage of the 2012 BDO World Championship with the BBC.
In November 2011 it showed its first golf coverage, showing two tournaments from Australia and in March 2012 the channel will show its first tennis coverage - the Billie Jean King Cup
Billie Jean King Cup
The Billie Jean King Cup is a one-night tennis exhibition that features the four Grand Slam winners from the previous year to compete each March at Madison Square Garden in New York City....
from Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
.
See also
- ESPN (US)ESPNEntertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
- ESPN America
- ESPN Classic (UK)ESPN Classic (UK)The British version of ESPN Classic launched on 13 March 2006 on Sky channel 442, the first channel in the UK under the ESPN branding. On 3 August 2009, ESPN Classic launched on Virgin Media channel 533 as a part of the XL pack, and in early 2011 video on demand content started to appear on the...
- ESPN in the United KingdomESPN in the United KingdomESPN operates five sports television channels in the United Kingdom and Ireland.-Channels:ESPN launched on in the UK on 3 August 2009...