In a landmark deal, demonstrating the entertainment sport network’s commitment to football, ESPN Classic Sport has secured global rights to 60 legendary European club football finals, from the European football association UEFA.
The five year agreement, allows first ESPN Classic Sport, and then ESPN’s global networks in America, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, to televise some of Europe’s most legendary football matches. Included in the line-up are ‘The UEFA European Champion Clubs’ Cup Finals’, ‘UEFA Cup Finals’ and ‘UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup’ dating back to 1956.
The matches, featuring a host of world-famous football stars such as Johan Cruyff, Franz Beckenbauer, George Best and Michel Platini, as well as superstars of their era like Alfredo do Stefano, Eusebio, Cesare and Paolo Maldini (both father and son), include memorable games such as AC Milan v Steaua Bucuresti 1989 and Manchester United FC v SL Benfica 1968 (both UEFA European Champion Clubs’ Cup matches).
The UEFA Club Competitions finals will debut on ESPN in autumn 2005, spearheading ESPN’s strong Autumn programme schedule. ESPN International networks currently televise the UEFA Champions’ League and have built up a strong football following amongst its core male 18-50 year old audience.
Tony Stimpson, Director of Programming at ESPN Classic Sport, said: ‘We have worked closely with UEFA since Classic Sport began rolling out across Europe and have been assessing ways to demonstrate the heritage and quality of their classic programming. These unforgettable encounters from a golden age of European club football represent a big step forward for Classic Sport and its programme strategy to feature the ultimate line-up of top European football action. We are extremely pleased to have concluded this deal with UEFA and believe that it marks the start of an ongoing and positive relationship with the European Football Federation’.
The UEFA deal confirms ESPN’s commitment to offering its viewers worldwide the best classic entertainment sports programming. In addition to producing its own sports, lifestyle and documentary shows, the network invests heavily in third party sports content. In order to satisfy viewers and build a strong advertising proposition, ESPN is committed to a major program acquisitions strategy across Europe.
Since ESPN Classic Sport launched in Europe in 2002, the 24/7 entertainment sports network has attracted over 16 million subscribers in more than 40 European countries, making it one of the fastest-growing networks in Europe. ESPN Classic Sport televises a selection of all-time greatest sporting moments, matches, movies, interviews and lifestyle programming which complements real-time live-action sports programming.
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For more information, please contact:
ESPN Classic Sport
Mike McKibbin, Director of Marketing, ESPN Classic Sport, London, tel: +44 20 8233 66 31,
e-mail: mmckibbin@espn-cs.com
or
Sarah Horner, PR for ESPN Classic Sport, Madrid, Tel: + 34 91 622 16 93 or + 34 69 66 52 146
e-mail: mediavision@dial.pipex.com
or
Chris Bellitti, ESPN Corporate Communications, Tel: +212 456 02 65
E-mail: chris.bellitti@espn.com
or
visit: http://www.espnclassicsport.com/
PHOTOS & PROGRAMME INFORMATION:
Programme Highlights and a selection of sports photos are available as jpegs via lwilliams@espn-cs.com Image attached of Olympique Marseille winning 1992-93 UEFA Champions League
Visit: http://www.espnclassicsport.com/
Editors’ Notes:
· ESPN, Inc. is the world’s leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company, featuring a portfolio of over 50 multimedia sports assets. ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. The Hearst Corporation holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.
· ESPN Classic Sport is 100 % owned by ESPN Inc
· In the United States, ESPN Classic is the leader in presenting classic moments in sport, and now reaches over 55 million households. ESPN also has an equity interest in ESPN Classic Canada.
· The company is comprised of seven domestic television networks (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Classic, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes, ESPNU , ESPN Today). ESPN, the flagship network, reaches more than 89 million US households.
· ESPN Classic sport launched in Europe in 2002, with a 24/7 local service in France and Italy. In December 2003 a pan-European English language channel was launched in Europe, which is now available in 40 countries, reaching over 16 million subscribers.