ESPN, the US cable sports network, is planning an international expansion, saying it is “absolutely interested” in acquiring UK rights to English Premier League football when they are next auctioned in 2009. Such a bid could pit the Disney-owned sports network against British Sky Broadcasting, which last year agreed a three-year deal worth £1.3bn for the largest package of live games available. George Bodenheimer, president of ESPN, which broadcasts the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball in the US, told the FT that the Premier League was a “fabulous property…we are absolutely interested in it”. ESPN will soon bolster its presence in Europe with the rebranding of North American Sports Network.

This entry was posted by Gwen Robinson on Monday, December 10th, 2007 at 5:36 and is filed under Capital markets, M&A. Tagged with ESPN. Edit this entry.