ESPN Classic (European TV channel): Difference between revisions

| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2002|3||df=y}} (France)<br>{{Start date and age|2002|7||df=y}} (Italy)<br>{{Start date and age|2003|12||df=y}} (Europe, the Middle East and Africa)

| closed_date = {{End date and age|2013|8|1|df=y}} (Europe, the Middle East and Africa)

| area = [[Europe, the Middle East and Africa]]

| web website = [http://www.espnclassic.com www.espnclassic.com]

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'''ESPN Classic''' was a British-based pan-European sports television channel which first launched in France in March 2002, followed by Italy in July 2002, and the [[pan-Europe, the Middle East and Africa|EMEA]] region in December 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/sitetools/s/contact/classicsportfaq.html|title=Classic Sport FAQ|publisherwork=ESPN.com|access-date=2 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://sport-onthebox.com/2013/07/29/espn-classic-to-close-on-july-31/|title=ESPN Classic to close after seven years on air|publisher=Sport-OnTheBox.com|date=29 July 2013}}</ref> On 13 March 2006 ESPN Classic launched on [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]] channel 442 in the UK and Ireland,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://media247.co.uk/skydigital/newsarchive/2006/02/sky_launch_conf.php|title=Disney Cinemagic & ESPN Classic launch in March|publisher=Media 247|date=2006-02-27|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308071645/http://media247.co.uk/skydigital/newsarchive/2006/02/sky_launch_conf.php|archive-date=8 March 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the first channel in the UK under the [[ESPN]] branding. On 3 August 2009, ESPN Classic launched on [[Virgin Media]] channel 533 as a part of the XL pack,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pressoffice.virginmedia.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=205406&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1313434&highlight=|title=Virgin Media and ESPN announce channel deal ahead of Premier League football season|publisher=Virgin Media|date=2009-07-29}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and in early 2011 [[video on demand]] content started to appear on the Virgin Media platform.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/news/a303235/espn-classic-vod-coming-to-virgin-media.html|title=ESPN Classic VOD coming to Virgin Media|website=Digital Spy|date=2011-02-11}}</ref> On 14 August 2009, ESPN Classic launched on [[UPC Ireland]] channel 409 as a part of the Max package.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/digitaltv/a171510/chorus-ntl-to-carry-espn-hd-in-ireland.html|title=Chorus ntl to carry ESPN HD in Ireland|website=Digital Spy|date=2009-08-14}}</ref> It broadcast a range of archive sports coverage, with a large emphasis on [[Association football (soccer)|football]].

On 25 February 2013, [[BT Group]] agreed to acquire ESPN's UK and Ireland TV channels business, consisting of ESPN and ESPN America, the value of the deal was not disclosed, but BT is understood to have paid "low tens of millions".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2013/feb/25/espn-bt-vision|title=BT buys ESPN'S UK and Ireland TV channels|newspaper=The Guardian|date=25 February 2013}}</ref> ESPN Classic, which was not part of the BT deal, ceased transmission on cable and satellite across [[Europe, the Middle East and Africa]] at midnight on 1 August 2013.