Although, some US cable subscribers can find the English Premier League soccer matches in the deep dark corners of their cable listings, they’re not exactly bunched in the prime time viewing schedule. That might change in 2009 as ESPN are bidding for the rights of what is considered one of the best soccer leagues in the world. The FT reports:
ESPN, the US cable sports network, is planning an international expansion, saying it is “absolutely interested” in acquiring UK rights to the English Premier League when they are next auctioned in 2009.
…ESPN has increased its coverage of non-US sports and recently bought Cricinfo, the world’s largest cricket website, which attracts millions of fans from India and Pakistan. It also acquired Scrum.com, the largest rugby site on the web.
Mr Bodenheimer [president of ESPN] said the group was “bullish” about its US prospects, having tied up the most popular sports such as basketball, American football, baseball and stock car racing, to long-term deals. Its channels are available in 95m US homes.
In 2006, British Sky Broadcasting agreed a three-year deal worth £1.3bn ($2.6bn) for the largest package of live Premier League games available.
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