George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN, Inc. and ABC Sports and Co-chairman, Disney Media Networks, announced today that ESPN.com’s industry leading soccer news and information site – ESPNsoccernet.com – will launch in four additional languages by the end of the calendar year. The leading English-language soccer news and information site in the world will launch versions of its site in French, Italian, German and Spanish, in addition to a new look for the English-language version of the site.
“The growth of our international and new media assets are of paramount importance to our company,” said Bodenheimer. “The passion for international football is extraordinary, and we are dedicated to serving that passion. Expanding our leading coverage of the world’s most popular sport online, coupled with our commitment to the FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League, illustrates our overall focus and commitment to international football, to new media and to international growth.”
ESPNsoccernet.com has enjoyed record success so far in 2006, with more than 30 percent growth in unique users. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup, the site averaged more than 9.5 million page views per day, peaking with more than 14 million page views on June 22, a new record for daily traffic to the site.
In addition ESPNsoccernet.com recently launched two new multimedia services.
For the first time ever ESPNsoccernet.com (in the U.S. and Australia) is offering live coverage all 125 UEFA Champions League matches via online pay-per-view, with each match available for $9.95 per match.
ESPNsoccernet Extra, an exclusive twice weekly Podcast service, has also been launched due to the success of the World Cup editon. The programmes include previews, news and reviews of all of the key Premiership, Champions League and UEFA Cup Action. The Podcasts, which will run to half an hour in duration, can be listened to directly via the website or downloaded to portable media devices and are available on I-Tunes.
This service is available globally and will feature regular presenters Adriano Russo and Jonathan Harris-Bass. The programming will also include insight and opinion from ESPNsoccernet’s editorial team and network of international columnists and experts, with interviews from star names from the world of football.
“This is another example of our strategy to expand our presence in Europe,” said Lynne Frank, Managing Director of ESPN International for Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Just as we have customized ESPNSoccernet in four additional languages, we will continue to look for ways to tailor our products and services at the local level.”