ESPN has announced it will extend its metropolitan presence in Australia by launching on Australia’s leading subscription television company, FOXTEL, effective September 1, 2002.
ESPN will join the two FOX Sports networks– the FOX Footy Channel and SKY Racing– to provide unrivalled sports coverage for FOXTEL subscribers. ESPN will be made available to subscribers on two different tiers – the FOX Footy Sports Plus package and the Entertainment Plus package.
While continuing its relationship with its current affiliates, including Optus and Austar, ESPN’s agreement with FOXTEL will make the sports network available to nearly one million Australian subscribers.
ESPN features a variety of the premier international sports leagues and events, such as the National Basketball Association, (NBA), ATP Tennis Masters Series, UEFA Champions League, Scottish Premier League, National Football League (NFL), National Hockey League (NHL), and the Indy Racing League.
Specific program highlights in September include ESPN’s X Games, the premier action sports competition in the world, and the Men’s World Volleyball Championships. In addition, ESPN offers several in-depth sports news and information programs highlighted by SportsCenter, one of the most popular and comprehensive sporting round-ups in the world.
ESPN’s program line-up also includes original productions like ‘The History of Cricket’ and ‘The Great Footy Debate’, as well as entertainment specials such as ‘The ESPN Action Sports and Music Awards’ and ‘The World’s Sexiest Athlete.’
‘We’re delighted that ESPN will now be available on the FOXTEL platform,’ said Bernard Stewart, ESPN’s vice president and general manager for Asia-Pacific. ‘This new relationship will allow us to showcase the ESPN network and our broad portfolio of international sports programming to more Australian sports fans than ever before.’
Brian Walsh, FOXTEL’s director of television, added: ‘ESPN is an excellent addition to the FOXTEL platform. It will give Australia’s sporting fans even more access to some of the world’s greatest sporting events.’
For further information please contact:
ESPN
Christopher Bellitti
T: +1 212.916.9889 or
E: chris.bellitti@espn.com