The Walt Disney Company’s sports network ESPN has acquired exclusive rights to the Spanish La Liga in the USA. ESPN’s eight-year deal gives it full access to La Liga’s English- and Spanish-language rights in America through 2029. Signed prior to the 2021/22 season, ESPN’s record-breaking agreement was reported to be worth $175 million per year, totaling about $1,4 billion. Live La Liga matches in USA are expected to be televised on linear ESPN networks, including the flagship ESPN channel and ESPN Deportes, as well as on ABC.
All fixtures are to be aired in high definition both on TV and digital platforms. Detailed match highlights along with analysis and studio programs such as SportsCenter and Fuera de Juego will continuously enrich the viewers experience, every season. This is in addition to game previews, half-time talks, postgame and magazine shows. La Liga content will additionally be distributed on ESPN’s social media pages in USA. Naturally, every La Liga game shown on ESPN will be accessible via partner streaming services in America.
2023-24 season update:
ESPN and LaLiga embark on their third consecutive year of collaboration for the 2023-24 football season. As part of the comprehensive coverage strategy, the network is introducing "La Peña de LALIGA" on ESPN Deportes. This program is tailored to provide an in-depth perspective on the league, offering analyses, debates, and insights featuring notable figures such as Hugo Sanchez and Mario Kempes. On the digital side, ESPN's strategy encompasses a team of reporters based in Spain, ensuring timely coverage of major teams, including FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Atlético de Madrid. ESPN has outlined an extensive social media strategy to supplement the broadcast and digital coverage, providing real-time updates and exclusive content across platforms.
ESPN has acquired multi-platform broadcast rights to the German Bundesliga in USA, which will run from 2020 through 2026. The broacaster will cover every game live on its streaming service ESPN+, whereas its linear TV networks will telecast select Bundesliga games every season. The deal also includes exclusive programs and match highlights.
ESPN has announced its multiyear extension with the German Football Association (DFB) to become the exclusive home of the German Cup, also known as the DFB-Pokal, until 2026. This groundbreaking agreement ensures that ESPN+ subscribers can access at least 40 DFB-Pokal matches live each season, streamed exclusively in English. Additionally, select games, including the Semifinals and the Final, will be available on both ESPN networks and ESPN+ with English and Spanish commentary.
ESPN has secured the broadcast rights for Liga MX (Men) matches in the United States. The agreement lets ESPN air live Liga MX games on their linear TV channels and digital platforms, providing fans with comprehensive coverage of Mexico's top-tier soccer league. Throughout the period of the deal, viewers in the USA can anticipate live game broadcasts, expert analysis, and engaging highlights. As part of ESPN's commitment to delivering the excitement of the Mexican Liga MX to a broader audience, live matches may be slated on ESPN Deportes (TV), ESPN+, the ESPN App, and ESPN Deportes Radio.
ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes will show 28 matches from the 2020 MLS Is Back Tournament on television in USA. ESPN will broadcast 22 games live, including the opening game and Final, in addition to all matches scheduled for 9am ET. ESPN2 will show six MLS matches live, including a game from the quarterfinals and semis. ESPN Deportes will televise all 28 matches from the MLS Is Back Tournament with Spanish-language commentary. All 28 MLS matches will be streamed live on the ESPN App.
ESPN has acquired multi-platform broadcast rights for the USL Championship through the 2022 season in USA. With the deal including both English- and Spanish-language telecasts, coverage for 19 linear games—consisting of 18 regular-season fixtures plus the USL Championship Final—will be aired by ESPN2, ESPNEWS, ESPNU or ESPN Deportes annually. Matches not aired by any of these TV networks will be available to stream live on ESPN+, and also from within the ESPN App, on computers, mobile devices and smart TVs.
US broadcaster ESPN has secured multi-platform broadcast rights for the USL League One. English-language telecasts will be brought to viewers by ESPN2, ESPNEWS or ESPNU, whereas ESPN Deportes will provide Spanish-language broadcasts. Live streaming of USL League One games will also be available on direct-to-consumer video service ESPN+ and accessible from within the ESPN App.
ESPN and ESPN Deportes will each broadcast 15 matches per year in the US, while ESPN+ will exclusively show up to 10 live games in both English and Spanish.
ESPN has secured English-language U.S. TV rights for the UEFA Euro 2020. The network’s family of channels will combine with Disney-owned network ABC to air all 51 matches from the group stage to the Final. Flagship channel ESPN will show 39 Euro 2020 matches live on television in high definition, whereas ESPN2 will telecast seven games. Both networks will produce 30-minute pregame, halftime and postgame reaction shows for every match they cover. An exclusive program named EURO Tonight will also be broadcast by both ESPN and ESPN2 every matchday after the conclusion of the final fixture. Further news and updates will be provided on daily sports program SportsCenter in the mornings. All UEFA Euro 2020 matches aired on TV by linear networks will be streamed live on the ESPN App.
ESPN reached a sub-license deal agreement with Fox Sports acquiring non-exclusive English and Spanish-language broadcast rights to group-stage matches which will be showcased on channels across the ESPN Network and on it’s digital platforms through WatchESPN, ESPN3. This agreement also grants ESPN Deportes the exclusive Spanish-language rights for 72 live games (playoff round, group stage and knockout phase). ESPN Deportes will air the Champions League Final plus UEFA Super Cup for the 2017-18 season. ESPN Deportes Radio will audio stream the entire tournament through to the 2017-18 season on the ESPN Deportes Radio Network
During the 2011-12 season, ESPN will televise up to 74 matches on ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN3.com, and ESPN Mobile TV. ESPN3.com and ESPN Deportes will offer a handful of exclusive telecasts.
