ESPN has confirmed that it has agreed a deal with the UFC for UK TV rights and also secured four more international sports for its new channel.
As reported yesterday, ESPN's exclusive UFC coverage will begin on August 8 for the UFC 101 event at the Philadelphia Wachovia Centre.
This will be followed on August 29 with the UFC 102 bout between Randy 'The Natural' Couture and Antonio 'Minotauro' Nogueira.
Along with the UFC deal, the Disney-owned firm has secured rights to show the Top 14 Orange French Rugby Championship and all action from the Australia Football League.
It has also signed a multi-year deal with the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters to cover the touring car tournament and sealed a TV rights arrangement for the FIBA European Basketball Championships.
All sports coverage will be broadcast on the new ESPN channel, which will be launched on Sky and Virgin Media in standard definition and high definition on August 3.
ESPN EMEA vice president of TV channels Jereon Oerlemans said: "ESPN's aim is to serve UK and Ireland sports fans by bringing the very best of both domestic and international live sport to their living rooms.
"We are delighted to add UFC, Top 14 Orange, the leading French Rugby Championship, the Australia Football League, EuroBasket and DTM to our growing portfolio of live sport.
"In addition to our Barclays Premier League and Clydesdale Bank Premier League coverage from this season, we will continue to seek out and deliver the best sporting events from Europe and around the globe."
Regards:
Alun
As reported yesterday, ESPN's exclusive UFC coverage will begin on August 8 for the UFC 101 event at the Philadelphia Wachovia Centre.
This will be followed on August 29 with the UFC 102 bout between Randy 'The Natural' Couture and Antonio 'Minotauro' Nogueira.
Along with the UFC deal, the Disney-owned firm has secured rights to show the Top 14 Orange French Rugby Championship and all action from the Australia Football League.
It has also signed a multi-year deal with the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters to cover the touring car tournament and sealed a TV rights arrangement for the FIBA European Basketball Championships.
All sports coverage will be broadcast on the new ESPN channel, which will be launched on Sky and Virgin Media in standard definition and high definition on August 3.
ESPN EMEA vice president of TV channels Jereon Oerlemans said: "ESPN's aim is to serve UK and Ireland sports fans by bringing the very best of both domestic and international live sport to their living rooms.
"We are delighted to add UFC, Top 14 Orange, the leading French Rugby Championship, the Australia Football League, EuroBasket and DTM to our growing portfolio of live sport.
"In addition to our Barclays Premier League and Clydesdale Bank Premier League coverage from this season, we will continue to seek out and deliver the best sporting events from Europe and around the globe."
Regards:
Alun