ESPN International to Distribute NFL Worldwide Again
The National Football League (NFL) and ESPN International have agreed to extend their existing worldwide distribution agreement through the 2002 season, it was announced jointly today by DOUG QUINN, senior vice president and managing director of NFL International, and WILLY BURKHARDT, executive vice president, ESPN Enterprises and ESPN International.
The present worldwide distribution agreement grants ESPN International exclusive rights to televise the NFL’s primetime schedule of 35 regular-season Sunday night and Monday night games, in addition to several preseason and postseason games, to more than 110 countries and territories
around the world.
The 2001-2002 schedule on ESPN International will air in Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Africa, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Coverage includes up to six preseason games, the Pro Bowl,
select Wild Card Playoffs, the AFC Divisional Playoffs, and the AFC Championship game. ESPN will also be the exclusive international cable and satellite television distributor of Super Bowl XXXVII from San Diego in January, 2003.
‘We are very pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with ESPN International,’ said Quinn. ‘Our association is an important component of the NFL’s global media strategy. ESPN International’s regional channels and
large global audience provides access to millions of NFL fans worldwide. ESPN International, in return, receives thousands of hours of exciting NFL game coverage and high-quality, classic NFL Films programming.’
‘I am very pleased that we are extending our partnership with the NFL,’ said Burkhardt. ‘For more than a decade, ESPN International and the NFL have collaborated to bring the excitement of American football to millions of sports fans around the world. NFL programming is a valuable asset for our networks, while ESPN’s extensive international distribution provides a great platform to help the NFL continue to build the sport abroad.’
The contract renewal also calls for ESPN International to remain as the exclusive television sales representative for NFL programming to terrestrial broadcasters in the following territories: Latin America (except Mexico and
the Bahamas); portions of the Middle East; Africa; Asia (except Japan); plus Australia and New Zealand. ESPN will also license playoff packages to cruise lines overseas.
In addition to the games, ESPN International will carry ancillary NFL programming, including: NFL Greatest Moments, Super Bowl Highlights, NFL PrimeTime, NFL Countdown, NFL Blast, NFL 2Night, NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremonies, and NFL Greatest Games, among others.
ESPN Contact: Christopher Bellitti at 212.916.9889 or
chris.bellitti@espn.com
NFL Contact: Pete Abitante at 212-450-2065 or
abitantep@nfl.com