ITV & ESPN awarded Europa League rights in 3 year deal

October 17, 2011   ·   0 Comments

UEFA announced today that it has awarded ITV and ESPN the 2012–15 UEFA Europa League media rights in the United Kingdom.

ITV has acquired the right to broadcast the top two live matches each matchweek on ITV4 followed by a round-up of the night’s key action. In addition, ITV4 will show a full weekly highlights programme on Fridays each match week. Certain games in the later stages of the competition featuring local participation may be broadcast on ITV1.

ESPN has secured the rights to all remaining UEFA Europa League matches. ESPN will screen at least one game per kick-off slot each matchweek as well as highlights on ESPN’s premium UK television channel.

All rights have been awarded on a platform neutral basis, allowing ITV and ESPN to provide coverage across television, mobile and internet on itv.com and espn.co.uk respectively.

Commenting on the award of these rights, UEFA said: “UEFA is happy to renew its partnership with ITV and ESPN in the United Kingdom. These deals will further develop and promote the competition in the region by providing football fans throughout the UK with an extensive choice of coverage not only on television but also via online and mobile services.”

Ross Hair, Managing Director, ESPN – Europe, Middle East and Africa said : “The UEFA Europa League is one of the top football competitions in the world and a popular part of ESPN’s schedule”

“We’re delighted to not only renew our association with the competition in the UK, but to expand the number of games we will be able to bring fans, expand our football line-up and augment the growing range of sports we broadcast in the UK.”

Niall Sloane, ITV Controller of Sport said: “There is great demand from UK viewers to watch domestic teams performing on the European stage and I’m delighted that ITV is extending its long and successful relationship with UEFA to broadcast the top pick games from throughout the competition.”

The deal ends Channel 5′s association with the competition. In the statement, UEFA thanked incumbent broadcast partner Channel 5 for its continued and valued commitment to the competition.

Tags: Channel 5, ESPN, ITV, ITV4, UEFA, UEFA Europa League