paidContent - ESPN Prepares Online Revamp For UK Soccer Channel Launch
This story was written by Patrick Smith.
ESPN (NYSE: DIS) is planning to revamp ESPNSoccernet and its other sports sites to coincide with the launch of its first European sports channel next month. The sports network won the rights to show 46 live English Premier League matches next season after Irish pay TV company Setanta went out of business in the UK and EMEA MD Lynne Frank (pictured) says the company will “enhance” its sites to make the most of its new content. But tightly regulated UK sports rights packages mean ESPN won’t be able to roll out its online VOD strategy for English fans any time soon—or as Franks puts it: “In the UK and Europe there will be some TV rights where we are also able to acquire the broadband rights, in some cases we wont.” Full interview at our sister site paidContent:UK.
By Patrick Smith