BT Sport and ESPN expand partnership

BT Sport and ESPN have struck a new seven-year deal to expand the range of ESPN content on the UK pay TV service.

The deal will see BT Sport expand the amount of programming it receives from ESPN, up to 5,000 hours a year. ESPN will supply content including the Verizon IndyCar Series, NCAA College Football and Basketball, X Games, theAustralian Football League and more.

The contract also provides for enhanced availability of existing content supplied by ESPN, such as the ESPN Films documentary series, the introduction to BT Sport of world football show ESPN FC, and some of the most well-known brands in US sport television including Pardon The Interruption and Around The Horn.

BT and ESPN will together work to explore ways the two companies can collaborate around various digital media initiatives. Additional elements to the deal include the ability for BT Sport to take in key ESPN-supplied programming directly to its studios in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

The agreement builds on the relatioinship established following the acquisition of ESPN’s UK and Ireland television business by BT in 2013.

“Continuing with ESPN, one of the world’s leading sports brands, as part of the BT Sport portfolio is a win for our viewers, our partners and sport fans in the UK and Ireland. Our relationship with ESPN since BT Sport began operation of the ESPN channel in the UK and Ireland has been a big success, with the two companies collaborating on a number of initiatives,” said John Petter, chief executive, BT Consumer.