C21 Media: BT to buy ESPN’s UK and Ireland biz
UK telecoms company BT Group has confirmed that it’s to acquire ESPN’s UK and Ireland TV channels business, including ESPN and ESPN America.
The deal sees BT take on ESPN’s live sports rights package in the UK and Ireland, which includes live football matches from the FA Cup, Scottish Premier League, UEFA Europa League and German Bundesliga.
BT will take over the rights from July 31 this year and will continue to operate at least one ESPN-branded channel as part of its BT Sport package, which will launch in the summer.
Separately, ESPN has announced that it will wind down the operation of its ESPN Classic channel throughout the EMEA region, and the ESPN America business outside the UK.
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