ESPN Snaps Up Fifa Archive Rights

ESPN has announced a UK TV rights agreement with world governing football body FIFA to show extensive archive matches and footage from the history of the FIFA World Cup Finals, from 1930-2006.

These games will be available immediately and will continue on the broadcaster’s UK channels in the run-up to the World Cup in South Africa, on ESPN Classic and ESPN.

The multi-year deal also includes broadcast rights for a range of other content on ESPN’s channels.
 
The official FIFA Films and classic FIFA World Cup matches will also be shown on ESPN’s recently launched UK channel – available on Sky, Virgin Media, Top Up TV, BT Vision & Tiscali – mid-next year, in the run up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.