BT buys ESPN’s UK and Ireland Channels

Not to be left behind by Sky, BT have purchased ESPN’s UK and Ireland channels to secure its footing in the pay to view sports arena. To be able to purchase rights to sporting events, it needed a channel of its own, this gives the company the perfect entry to the market.

The company will continue to broadcast at least one channel, however ESPN Classic will stop broadcasting across Europe, Africa and the middle east as this is not part of the deal that has been agreed.

The deal will also allow BT to broadcast American sports from ESPN America on their channel, bringing basketball, american football and Nascar to the UK.