ESPN Circling Premier League Rights
Walt Disney-owned US pay-TV sports network ESPN has confirmed that it will look to bid against BSkyB for the live rights to the Premier League in the next contractual cycle.
On a visit to London, chief executive of Walt Disney, Robert Iger, stated that ESPN was its second principal brand after the Disney name itself and indicated that he hoped to expand it globally including bidding for the Premier League rights.
Said Iger: ‘I know ESPN will look at the Premier League rights again, both individually and in partnership with others.’
He added that ESPN’s coverage of Euro 2008 had proved extremely popular, with Disney choosing to air the semi-finals and the final on its mainstream ABC network.
ESPN is understood to be interested in capitalising on the growing audience for football in the US, where the rights to show Premier League games are currently held by Fox, the broadcaster owned by News Corporation.
The next auction of Premier League broadcast rights is due to start next January with the new contract beginning in 2012.
