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{{Short description|British-based European sports television channel (2002-2013)}}
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{{refimprove|date=September 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
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{{Infobox TV channel
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
⚫
{{More citations needed|date=September 2012}}
⚫
{{Infobox television channel
| name = ESPN Classic
| name = ESPN Classic
| logofile = ESPN Classic (UK) logo.svg
| logo = ESPN Classic (UK) logo.svg
| logosize = 150px
| logo_size = 150px
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2002|3||df=y}}
| launch = 13 March 2006
| closed date = 1 August 2013
| closed_date = {{End date and age|2013|8|1|df=y}}
| owner = [[ESPN Inc.]] ([[The Walt Disney Company]]/[[Hearst Corporation]])
| owner = [[ESPN Inc.]] ([[The Walt Disney Company]]/[[Hearst Communications]])
| replaced_by = [[BT Sport]] (UK)
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| country = [[United Kingdom]]
| sister names = [[ESPN America]]<br>[[ESPN (UK)]]
| area = [[Europe]]
| sister_channels = [[ESPN America]]<br>[[ESPN (UK)]]
| picture format = [[16:9]] ([[576i]], [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])
| picture_format = [[16:9]] ([[576i]], [[Standard-definition television|SDTV]])
| web = [http://www.espnclassic.com www.espnclassic.com]
| share = ~0.0%
| website = [http://www.espnclassic.com www.espnclassic.com]
| share as of = September 2012
| sat_serv_1 =
| sat_chan_1 =
| share source = [http://www.barb.co.uk/viewing/monthly-total-viewing-summary?_s=4 BARB]
| cable_serv_1 =
| availability note = at time of closure
| cable_chan_1 =
| sat serv 1 = [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]]
| sat chan 1 = Channel 425
| cable_serv_2 =
| cable serv 1 = [[Virgin Media]]
| cable_chan_2 =
| cable chan 1 = Channel 533
| cable_serv_3 =
| cable serv 2 = [[Smallworld Cable]]
| cable_chan_3 =
⚫
}}
| cable chan 2 = Channel 424
| cable serv 3 = [[UPC Ireland]]
| cable chan 3 = Channel 409
⚫
|}}


'''ESPN Classic''' was a British sports television channel which launched on 13 March 2006 on [[Sky (UK and Ireland)|Sky]] channel 442,<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}}</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}}</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|publisher=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|publisher=Digital Spy|date=2009-08-14}}</ref> It broadcast a range of archive sports coverage, with a large emphasis on [[football (soccer)|football]].
'''ESPN Classic''' was a British-based European sports television channel which first launched in France in March 2002, followed by Italy in July 2002, and pan-Europe in December 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com/sitetools/s/contact/classicsportfaq.html|title=Classic Sport FAQ|work=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|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 web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/feb/25/espn-bt-vision|title=BT buys ESPN'S UK and Ireland TV channels|publisher=The Guardian|date=25 February 2013}}</ref> ESPN Classic, which was not part of the BT deal, ceased transmission across Europe, the Middle East and Africa at midnight on 1 August 2013.
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 satellite across Europe, the Middle East and Africa at midnight on 1 August 2013.


==Programming==
==Programming==
Much of the channel's output was football. This included action from the [[Premier League]], [[FA Cup]] matches, [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]], [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners Cup]] and [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] finals and some [[England national football team|England]] games. ESPN Classic also showed games from the [[FIFA World Cup]] following a multi-year deal to show 150 classic FIFA World Cup matches from [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]] to [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]].<ref name="Classic World Cup">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a180510/espn-secures-archive-world-cup-footage.html|title=ESPN secures archive World Cup footage|publisher=''[[Digital Spy]]''|date=5 October 2009}}</ref> Though most coverage on the channel was from the colour era, it had shown original black and white footage of [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] finals going back as far as 1959.
Much of the channel's output was football. This included action from the [[Premier League]], [[FA Cup]] matches, [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]], [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners Cup]] and [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] finals and some [[England national football team|England]] games. ESPN Classic also showed games from the [[FIFA World Cup]] following a multi-year deal to show 150 classic FIFA World Cup matches from [[1930 FIFA World Cup|1930]] to [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006]].<ref name="Classic World Cup">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcasting/a180510/espn-secures-archive-world-cup-footage.html|title=ESPN secures archive World Cup footage|website=[[Digital Spy]]|date=5 October 2009}}</ref> Though most coverage on the channel was from the colour era, it had shown original black-and-white footage of [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] finals going back as far as 1959.


A significant proportion of the football action on ESPN Classic was archive [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] football coverage, including matches covered by regional ITV companies. However much of the football seen on the channel was not shown with the original commentary. Instead, many games, especially the Premier League and FA Cup games, tended to feature commentary dubbed on more recently by commentators such as [[Jon Champion]] and Paul Dempsey, or commentary by [[Sky Sports]] broadcasters such as [[Martin Tyler]] and [[Alan Parry]] which seemed to be from the international feed of the time. Similarly, the footage from games where commentary was later added did not include original on-screen captions, with ESPN adding captions themselves. Some 1960s European Cup finals also had a new commentary dubbed on by [[Tony Jones (football reporter)|Tony Jones]].
A significant proportion of the football action on ESPN Classic was archive [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] football coverage, including matches covered by regional ITV companies. However much of the football seen on the channel was not shown with the original commentary. Instead, many games, especially the Premier League and FA Cup games, tended to feature commentary dubbed on more recently by [[Jon Champion]] and Paul Dempsey, or commentary by [[Sky Sports]] broadcasters such as [[Martin Tyler]] and [[Alan Parry]] which seemed to be from the international feed of the time. Similarly, the footage from games where commentary was later added did not include original on-screen captions, with ESPN adding captions themselves. Some 1960s European Cup finals also had a new commentary dubbed on by [[Tony Jones (football reporter)|Tony Jones]].


The channel also showed some [[rugby union]] international matches, including action from the [[Rugby World Cup]], as well as past matches from the rugby union Premiership. Other sports featured included [[cricket]], ESPN-produced vintage [[boxing]] matches, [[The Ultimate Fighter]] and more recently, action from American sports to complement the live American sports action which was broadcast on [[ESPN (UK)|ESPN]] and [[ESPN America]].
The channel also showed some [[rugby union]] international matches, including action from the [[Rugby World Cup]], as well as past matches from the rugby union Premiership. Other sports featured included [[cricket]], ESPN-produced vintage [[boxing]] matches, [[The Ultimate Fighter]] and more recently, action from American sports to complement the live American sports action which was broadcast on [[ESPN (UK)|ESPN]] and [[ESPN America]].


In addition to the programmes mentioned above, ESPN Classic had made a variety of other programmes. These included ''Sport Years'' as well as many football compilation programmes. In addition, to mark the 30th anniversary of [[ESPN]], the channel showed the [[ESPN Films]]' ''[[30 for 30]]'' series.
In addition to the programmes mentioned above, ESPN Classic had made a variety of other programmes. These included ''Sports Years'' as well as many football compilation programmes. In addition, to mark the 30th anniversary of [[ESPN]], the channel showed the [[ESPN Films]]' ''[[30 for 30]]'' series.


ESPN Classic regularly repeated the sporting action that it showed on the channel with the same material often being shown time and time again. Some of the action, especially ESPN-produced programmes and series, had been broadcast on the channel on dozens of different occasions.
ESPN Classic regularly repeated the sporting action that it showed on the channel with the same material often being shown time and time again. Some of the action, especially ESPN-produced programmes and series, had been broadcast on the channel on dozens of different occasions.


==BBC-produced programming==
==BBC-produced programming==
⚫
During the first three years of the channel sporting action from the BBC was featured extensively. However, this deal expired in mid 2009 and was seemingly not renewed as for the next eighteen months the channel did not feature any sport produced by the BBC. Therefore, sports such as [[rugby league]], [[golf]], [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]], [[darts]] and [[snooker]] were not shown on the channel nor were events such as domestic cricket prior to 1999 (the year that the BBC lost the rights to show live cricket), [[Wimbledon tennis]], the [[Olympic Games]] and football coverage to which the BBC had the exclusive rights, which had included showings of 1970s and 1980s editions of [[Match of the Day]] under the title of "The Dead Good Match" with the opening and closing titles removed, and some editions were truncated, with only one of the matches covered in a particular programme being shown. One exception had been BBC-produced coverage of rugby union's [[Rugby Union Six Nations Championship|Five Nations]] tournament shown during the [[2011 Six Nations Championship]].


⚫
In March 2011, a new deal between ESPN and the BBC was signed which provided ESPN Classic with access to around 80 hours of footage.<ref name="ESPN Classic makes deal to show sports from BBC's archive">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/mar/31/espn-classic-makes-deal-with-bbc-to-show-archive-footage|title=ESPN secures archive BBC footage|publisher=[[Media Guardian]]|date=31 March 2011}}</ref> However, this was far less than under the previous agreement which had given the channel access to around 630 hours. The new deal meant that previous ESPN-produced programmes based on the BBC archive, such as the darts series ''Bellies and Bullseyes'', were once again shown on the channel along with new programmes, such as athletics series ''Solid Gold - Team GB'' and other one-off programmes such as a compilation of top Grand Nationals. This new deal with BBC Sport coincided with a new look for the channel, the first new look since ESPN UK launched in summer 2009.
⚫
During the first three years of the channel sporting action from the BBC was featured extensively. However, this deal expired in mid 2009 and was seemingly not renewed as for the next eighteen months the channel did not feature any sport produced by the BBC. Therefore, sports such as [[rugby league]], [[golf]], [[Athletics (sport)|athletics]], [[darts]] and [[snooker]] were not shown on the channel nor were events such as domestic cricket prior to 1999 (the year that the BBC lost the rights to show live cricket), [[Wimbledon tennis]], the [[Olympic Games]] and football coverage to which the BBC had the exclusive rights, which had included showings of 1970s and 1980s editions of [[Match of the Day]] under the title of "The Dead Good Match" with the opening and closing titles removed, and some editions were truncated, with only one of the matches covered in a particular programme being shown. One exception had been BBC-produced coverage of rugby union's [[Rugby Union Six Nations Championship|Five Nations]] tournament shown during the [[2011 Six Nations Championship]].

⚫
In March 2011, a new deal between ESPN and the BBC was signed which provided ESPN Classic with access to around 80 hours of footage.<ref name="ESPN Classic makes deal to show sports from BBC's archive">{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/31/espn-classic-makes-deal-with-bbc-to-show-archive-footage|title=ESPN secures archive BBC footage|publisher=''[[Media Guardian]]''|date=31 March 2011}}</ref> However, this was far less than under the previous agreement which had given the channel access to around 630 hours. However, the new deal meant that previous ESPN-produced programmes based on the BBC archive, such as the darts series ''Bellies and Bullseyes'', were once again shown on the channel along with new programmes, such as athletics series ''Solid Gold - Team GB'' and other one-off programmes, and a compilation of top Grand Nationals. This new deal with BBC Sport coincided with a new look for the channel, the first new look since ESPN UK launched in summer 2009.


==Live action==
==Live action==
⚫
ESPN Classic occasionally showed live action when two events to which ESPN has the rights took place at the same time. The first live sport that the channel showed was two [[UEFA Europa League]] matches, on 29 September and 20 October 2011. The first of the two games was [[NK Maribor|Maribor]] and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham]].


⚫
On 9 January 2012, the channel broadcast the third evening of the [[BDO World Darts Championship]] because the main channel was showing a third round match from the [[FA Cup]]. This happened again a year later when for the same reason ESPN Classic again showed the third evening's action.
⚫
ESPN Classic occasionally showed live action when two events to which ESPN has the rights took place at the same time. The first live sport that the channel showed was two [[UEFA Europa League]] matches, on 29 September and 20 October 2011. The first of the two games was [[NK Maribor|Maribor]] and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham]].

⚫
On 9 January 2012, the channel broadcast the third evening of the BDO [[World Darts Championship]] because the main channel was showing a third round match from the [[FA Cup]]. This happened again a year later when for the same reason ESPN Classic again showed the third evening's action.


On 5 May 2012, ESPN Classic broadcast two live events - the final day of rugby union's Premiership league season and a football match from [[Serie A]]. This was due to the main channel showing live coverage of the [[FA Cup]] Final.
On 5 May 2012, ESPN Classic broadcast two live events - the final day of rugby union's Premiership league season and a football match from [[Serie A]]. This was due to the main channel showing live coverage of the [[FA Cup]] Final.
Line 56: Line 55:
On 1 September 2012, ESPN Classic showed a live rugby union match from the [[Aviva Premiership]] because the main network was broadcasting its weekly match from football's Premier League. The same happened two weeks later although the clash this time was due to the main channel showing the [[Scottish Premier League]].
On 1 September 2012, ESPN Classic showed a live rugby union match from the [[Aviva Premiership]] because the main network was broadcasting its weekly match from football's Premier League. The same happened two weeks later although the clash this time was due to the main channel showing the [[Scottish Premier League]].


On 20 and 22 September 2012, ESPN Classic showed live coverage of the [[European Darts Championship]] because the main channel was showing football's [[Europa League]] and the Aviva Premiership respectively. The following day (Sunday 23rd) ESPN swapped its coverage with the darts being shown on the main channel with much of its traditional Sunday fare of European league football plus another Aviva Premiership match airing on Classic.
On 20 and 22 September 2012, ESPN Classic showed live coverage of the [[European Darts Championship]] because the main channel was showing the
UEFA Europa League and the Aviva Premiership respectively. The following day (Sunday 23rd) ESPN swapped its coverage with the darts being shown on the main channel with much of its traditional Sunday fare of European league football plus another Aviva Premiership match airing on Classic.


On 4 May 2013, ESPN Classic was used to provide coverage of a second game from the final set of league matches of the 2012–13 Aviva Premiership season.
On 4 May 2013, ESPN Classic was used to provide coverage of a second game from the final set of league matches of the 2012–13 Aviva Premiership season.
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==See also==
==See also==
*[[ESPN]]
*[[ESPN]]
*[[ESPN (UK)]]
*[[BT Sport ESPN]]
*[[ESPN Star Sports]]
*[[ESPN Star Sports]]
*[[ESPN America]]
*[[ESPN America]]
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{{ESPN}}
{{ESPN}}
{{Television in the Netherlands}}
{{Italian television stations}}
{{Sports television channels in Italy}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Espn Classic (Uk)}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Espn Classic (Uk)}}
[[Category:ESPN media outlets]]
[[Category:ESPN media outlets|Classic]]
[[Category:Television channels in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Defunct television channels in Italy]]
[[Category:Television channels in Flanders]]
[[Category:Television channels in Flanders]]
[[Category:Television channels in Belgium]]
[[Category:Television channels in Belgium]]
[[Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports television channels in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports television in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports television in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Sports television in Poland]]
[[Category:Sports television in Poland]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2006]]
[[Category:Sports television in Italy]]
[[Category:Italian-language television stations]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in Italy]]
[[Category:2013 disestablishments in Italy]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2002]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 2013]]
[[Category:Classic television networks]]

Latest revision as of 01:44, 14 December 2023

ESPN Classic
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaEurope
Programming
Picture format16:9 (576i, SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerESPN Inc. (The Walt Disney Company/Hearst Communications)
Sister channelsESPN America
ESPN (UK)
History
LaunchedMarch 2002; 22 years ago (2002-03)
Closed1 August 2013; 10 years ago (2013-08-01)
Replaced byBT Sport (UK)
Links
Websitewww.espnclassic.com

ESPN Classic was a British-based European sports television channel which first launched in France in March 2002, followed by Italy in July 2002, and pan-Europe in December 2003.[1][2] On 13 March 2006 ESPN Classic launched on Sky channel 442 in the UK and Ireland,[3] 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,[4] and in early 2011 video on demand content started to appear on the Virgin Media platform.[5] On 14 August 2009, ESPN Classic launched on UPC Ireland channel 409 as a part of the Max package.[6] It broadcast a range of archive sports coverage, with a large emphasis on 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".[7] ESPN Classic, which was not part of the BT deal, ceased transmission on satellite across Europe, the Middle East and Africa at midnight on 1 August 2013.

Programming[edit]

Much of the channel's output was football. This included action from the Premier League, FA Cup matches, European Cup, European Cup Winners Cup and League Cup finals and some England games. ESPN Classic also showed games from the FIFA World Cup following a multi-year deal to show 150 classic FIFA World Cup matches from 1930 to 2006.[8] Though most coverage on the channel was from the colour era, it had shown original black-and-white footage of European Cup finals going back as far as 1959.

A significant proportion of the football action on ESPN Classic was archive ITV football coverage, including matches covered by regional ITV companies. However much of the football seen on the channel was not shown with the original commentary. Instead, many games, especially the Premier League and FA Cup games, tended to feature commentary dubbed on more recently by Jon Champion and Paul Dempsey, or commentary by Sky Sports broadcasters such as Martin Tyler and Alan Parry which seemed to be from the international feed of the time. Similarly, the footage from games where commentary was later added did not include original on-screen captions, with ESPN adding captions themselves. Some 1960s European Cup finals also had a new commentary dubbed on by Tony Jones.

The channel also showed some rugby union international matches, including action from the Rugby World Cup, as well as past matches from the rugby union Premiership. Other sports featured included cricket, ESPN-produced vintage boxing matches, The Ultimate Fighter and more recently, action from American sports to complement the live American sports action which was broadcast on ESPN and ESPN America.

In addition to the programmes mentioned above, ESPN Classic had made a variety of other programmes. These included Sports Years as well as many football compilation programmes. In addition, to mark the 30th anniversary of ESPN, the channel showed the ESPN Films' 30 for 30 series.

ESPN Classic regularly repeated the sporting action that it showed on the channel with the same material often being shown time and time again. Some of the action, especially ESPN-produced programmes and series, had been broadcast on the channel on dozens of different occasions.

BBC-produced programming[edit]

During the first three years of the channel sporting action from the BBC was featured extensively. However, this deal expired in mid 2009 and was seemingly not renewed as for the next eighteen months the channel did not feature any sport produced by the BBC. Therefore, sports such as rugby league, golf, athletics, darts and snooker were not shown on the channel nor were events such as domestic cricket prior to 1999 (the year that the BBC lost the rights to show live cricket), Wimbledon tennis, the Olympic Games and football coverage to which the BBC had the exclusive rights, which had included showings of 1970s and 1980s editions of Match of the Day under the title of "The Dead Good Match" with the opening and closing titles removed, and some editions were truncated, with only one of the matches covered in a particular programme being shown. One exception had been BBC-produced coverage of rugby union's Five Nations tournament shown during the 2011 Six Nations Championship.

In March 2011, a new deal between ESPN and the BBC was signed which provided ESPN Classic with access to around 80 hours of footage.[9] However, this was far less than under the previous agreement which had given the channel access to around 630 hours. The new deal meant that previous ESPN-produced programmes based on the BBC archive, such as the darts series Bellies and Bullseyes, were once again shown on the channel along with new programmes, such as athletics series Solid Gold - Team GB and other one-off programmes such as a compilation of top Grand Nationals. This new deal with BBC Sport coincided with a new look for the channel, the first new look since ESPN UK launched in summer 2009.

Live action[edit]

ESPN Classic occasionally showed live action when two events to which ESPN has the rights took place at the same time. The first live sport that the channel showed was two UEFA Europa League matches, on 29 September and 20 October 2011. The first of the two games was Maribor and Birmingham.

On 9 January 2012, the channel broadcast the third evening of the BDO World Darts Championship because the main channel was showing a third round match from the FA Cup. This happened again a year later when for the same reason ESPN Classic again showed the third evening's action.

On 5 May 2012, ESPN Classic broadcast two live events - the final day of rugby union's Premiership league season and a football match from Serie A. This was due to the main channel showing live coverage of the FA Cup Final.

On 1 September 2012, ESPN Classic showed a live rugby union match from the Aviva Premiership because the main network was broadcasting its weekly match from football's Premier League. The same happened two weeks later although the clash this time was due to the main channel showing the Scottish Premier League.

On 20 and 22 September 2012, ESPN Classic showed live coverage of the European Darts Championship because the main channel was showing the UEFA Europa League and the Aviva Premiership respectively. The following day (Sunday 23rd) ESPN swapped its coverage with the darts being shown on the main channel with much of its traditional Sunday fare of European league football plus another Aviva Premiership match airing on Classic.

On 4 May 2013, ESPN Classic was used to provide coverage of a second game from the final set of league matches of the 2012–13 Aviva Premiership season.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Classic Sport FAQ". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2 October 2018.
  2. ^ "ESPN Classic to close after seven years on air". Sport-OnTheBox.com. 29 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Disney Cinemagic & ESPN Classic launch in March". Media 247. 27 February 2006. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012.
  4. ^ "Virgin Media and ESPN announce channel deal ahead of Premier League football season". Virgin Media. 29 July 2009.[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ "ESPN Classic VOD coming to Virgin Media". Digital Spy. 11 February 2011.
  6. ^ "Chorus ntl to carry ESPN HD in Ireland". Digital Spy. 14 August 2009.
  7. ^ "BT buys ESPN'S UK and Ireland TV channels". The Guardian. 25 February 2013.
  8. ^ "ESPN secures archive World Cup footage". Digital Spy. 5 October 2009.
  9. ^ "ESPN secures archive BBC footage". Media Guardian. 31 March 2011.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=ESPN_Classic_(European_TV_channel)&oldid=1189793879"