Live sport - 2nd - 8th August

Here's this weeks live sport on ESPN:

Key:

(HD) - Shown on ESPN HD
(AM) - Shown on ESPN America
(AMHD) - Shown on ESPN America HD

Monday 2nd August:

• MMA - UFC - ESPN (HD) - 02:00 - 04:00
• MLB - Chicago Cubs v Milwaukee - (AM) (AMHD) - 23:00 - 02:00

Tuesday 3rd August:

• MLB - Detroit v Chicago WS - (AM) (AMHD) - 17:00 - 20:00
• Football Friendly - Benfica v Tottenham - ESPN (HD) - 19:45 - 21:00

Wednesday 4th August:

• MLB - NY Yankees v Toronto - (AM) (AMHD) - 17:00 - 20:00
• Football Friendly - Borussia Dortmund v Manchester City - ESPN (HD) - 19:45 - 21:45
• MLB - Atlanta v NY Mets - (AM) (AMHD) - 23:00 - 02:00

Thursday 5th August:

• MLB - Tampa Bay v Minnesota - (AM) (AMHD) - 16:00 - 19:00
• Eredivisie - TBC - ESPN (HD) - 19:30 - 21:30
• MMA - Live Action - ESPN (HD) - 22:00 - 22:45
• MLB - Atlanta v San Francisco - (AM) (AMHD) - 23:00 - 02:00

Friday 6th August:

• MLS - Philadelphia v Columbus Crew - ESPN (HD) - 01:00 - 03:00
• AFL - Essendon Bombers v Carlton Blues - ESPN (HD) - 10:30 - 13:30
• MLB - Chicago Cubs v Cincinnati - (AM) (AMHD) - 18:00 - 21:00
• Rugby 7s - JP Morgan Asset Management 7s - ESPN (HD) - 18:45 - 22:30
• MLB - NY Yankees v Boston - ESPN (HD) - 23:00 - 02:00

Saturday 7th August:

• MMA - Live Action - ESPN (HD) - 01:15 - 02:00
• UFC - 117 - ESPN (HD) - 04:00 - 05:00
• MMA - Live Action - ESPN (HD) - 05:00 - 05:45
• AFL - Geelong Cats v Collingwood - ESPN (HD) - 10:00 - 13:00
• Football Friendly - Rangers v Newcastle - ESPN (HD) - 13:00 - 16:00
• MLB - TBC - (AM) (AMHD) - 17:00 - 20:00
• Football Friendly - Manchester City v Valencia - ESPN (HD) - 19:00 - 21:30
• MLB - NY Yankees v Boston - (AM) (AMHD) - 20:00 - 23:00
• MLB - Philadelphia v NY Mets - (AM) (AMHD) - 23:00 - 02:00

Sunday 8th August:

• MMA - Live Action - ESPN (HD) - 02:15 - 03:00
• Football Friendly - FC Groningen v Ajax - ESPN (HD) - 13:30 - 15:30
• MLB - Detroit v LA Angels - (AM) (AMHD) - 17:00 - 20:00
• MLB - LA Dodgers v Washington - (AM) (AMHD) - 20:00 - 23:00
  

Live sport - 26th July - 1st August

Here's this weeks live sport on ESPN:

Key:

(HD) - Shown on ESPN HD
(AM) - Shown on ESPN America
(AMHD) - Shown on ESPN America HD

Monday 26th July:

• MLB - Chicago Cubs v St Louis - (AM) (AMHD) - 00:00 - 03:00
• MLB - Philadelphia v Colorado - (AM) (AMHD) - 17:00 - 20:00

Tuesday 27th July:

• MLB - Tampa Bay v Detroit - (AM) (AMHD) - 00:00 - 03:00

Wednesday 28th July:

• MLB - Tampa Bay v Detroit - (AM) (AMHD) - 00:00 - 03:00
• MLB - LA Angels v Boston - (AM) (AMHD) - 19:30 - 22:30
• Caribbean T20 - Canada v Leeward Islands - ESPN (HD) - 21:00 - 00:00

Thursday 29th July:

• MLB - Texas v Oakland - (AM) (AMHD) - 00:00 - 03:00
• Football Friendly - MLS All-Stars v Manchester United - ESPN (HD) - 01:30 - 04:00
• X-Games Los Angeles - Ep. 6 - (AM) (AMHD) - 18:00 - 21:00
• Caribbean T20 - Barbados v Guyana - ESPN (HD) - 20:50 - 00:00

Friday 30th July:

• MMA - Live Action - ESPN (HD) - 00:00 - 00:50
• X-Games Los Angeles - Ep. 7 - (AM) (AMHD) - 00:00 - 03:00
  
• Caribbean T20 - Campuses & Colleges v Windward Islands - ESPN (HD) - 00:50 - 04:00
• MMA - Live Action - ESPN (HD) - 04:00 - 04:45
• AFL - Essendon Bombers v St Kilda - ESPN (HD) - 10:30 - 13:30
• X-Games Los Angeles - Ep. 8 - (AM) (AMHD) - 18:00 - 21:00
• Rugby 7s - JP Morgan Asset Management 7s - ESPN (HD) - 19:15 - 22:30
• MLB - Viewer's Choice - (AM) (AMHD) - 23:00 - 02:00

Saturday 31st July:

• Caribbean T20 - TBC - ESPN (HD) - 00:50 - 04:00
• AFL - Collingwood v Carlton - ESPN (HD) - 05:00 - 08:00
• FIA GT1 - Championship Race - ESPN (HD) - 10:45 - 12:30
• X-Games Los Angeles - Ep. 10 - (AM) (AMHD) - 18:00 - 22:00
• Caribbean T20 - TBC - ESPN (HD) - 20:50 - 00:00
• X-Games Los Angeles - (AM) (AMHD) - 23:00 - 03:00

Sunday 1st August:

• Football Friendly - Manchester City v Inter - ESPN (HD) - 01:00 - 03:00
• AFL - Western Bulldogs v North Melbourne - ESPN (HD) - 05:00 - 08:00
• Superleague Formula - 1st Race, Brands Hatch - ESPN (HD) - 10:45 - 12:00
• Superleague Formula - 2nd Race, Brands Hatch - ESPN (HD) - 13:45 - 15:30
• X-Games Los Angeles - Ep. 12 - (AM) (AMHD) - 17:00 - 19:00
• X-Games Los Angeles - Ep. 13 - (AM) (AMHD) - 23:00 - 03:00
  

Live sport 31st August - 6th September

Another week, more live sport on ESPN. The start of September:

Key:

(HD) - Shown on ESPN HD
(AM) - Shown on ESPN America

Monday 31st August:

• MLB - Philadelphia v Atlanta - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 04:00

Tuesday 1st September:

• MLB - Minnesota v Chicago WS - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 04:00

Wednesday 2nd September:

• Le Top 14 - Perpignan v Brive - ESPN (HD) - 19:45 - 21:30

Thursday 3rd September:

• MLB - Tampa Bay v Boston - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 00:00 - 03:00

Friday 4th September:

• College Football - NC State v South Carolina - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 00:00 - 03:00
• College Football - Boise State v Oregan - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 03:00 - 06:00
• AFL - TBC - ESPN (HD) - 10:30 - 13:30
  

Saturday 5th September:

• MLB - Tampa Bay v Detroit - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 00:30 - 03:30
• DTM - Brands Hatch - ESPN (HD) - 12:30 - 15:00
• World Cup Qualifier - Denmark v Portugal - ESPN (HD) - 19:00 - 21:00

Sunday 6th September:

• College Football - California v Maryland - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 03:00 - 06:00
• DTM - Brands Hatch - ESPN (HD) - 12:30 - 15:00
• Le Top 14 - Clermont v Toulouse - ESPN (HD) - 20:00 - 21:45
  

UFC 102 to broadcast in HD

ESPN have confirmed to iFight365.com, that UFC 102 will be broadcast live in HD. The fight is due to begin at 3am on Sunday 30th August, and will be the first HD broadcast of UFC in the UK.

Live Sport 24th - 30th August

Another week, more live sport on ESPN. The final week of August:

Key:

(HD) - Shown on ESPN HD
(AM) - Shown on ESPN America

Monday 24th August:

• MLB - Boston v NY Yankees - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 04:00
• BPL - Liverpool v Aston Villa - ESPN (HD) - 19:00 - 22:30

Tuesday 25th August:

• Little League Baseball - Midwest v Mid-Atlantic - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 03:00
• MLB - LA Angels v Detroit - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 03:00 - 06:00

Wednesday 26th August:

• Little League Baseball - West v Southwest - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 03:00

Thursday 27th August:

• Little League Baseball - US Semi-final - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 03:00

Friday 28th August:

• Little League Baseball - US Semi-final - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 03:00
• AFL - West Coast Eagles v Richmond - ESPN (HD) - 11:30 - 14:30
• Bundesliga - Borussia Monchengladbach v Mainz - ESPN (HD) - 19:30 - 21:30
  

Saturday 29th August:

• MLB - Philadelphia v Atlanta - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 00:00 - 03:00
• BPL - Chelsea v Burnley - ESPN (HD) - 12:00 - 15:00
• Le Top 14 - Perpignan v Toulouse - ESPN (HD) - 15:30 - 17:15
• Bundesliga - Bayern Munich v Wolfsburg - ESPN (HD) - 17:30 - 19:30
• Serie A - AC Milan v Inter Milan - ESPN (HD) - 19:45 - 21:45

Sunday 30th August:

• UFC 102 - Couture v Nogueira - ESPN (HD) - 03:00 - 06:00
• SPL - Hibernian v Celtic - ESPN (HD) - 12:00 - 15:00
• Serie A - Roma v Juventus - ESPN (HD) - 17:00 - 19:00
  

Live sport 17th - 23rd August

Another week over, and more live sport on ESPN:

Key:

(HD) - Shown on ESPN HD
(AM) - Shown on ESPN America

Monday 17th August:

• MLB - Atlanta v Philadelphia - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 01:00 - 04:00
• SPL - Dundee Utd v Hearts - ESPN (HD) - 19:00 - 22:15

Tuesday 18th August:

• MLB - LA Dodgers v St Louis - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 03:00 - 06:00

Wednesday 19th August:

• MLB - NY Mets v Atlanta - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 00:00 - 03:00

Thursday 20th August:

• MLS - Chicago Fire v LA Galaxy - ESPN (HD) - 02:00 - 04:00

Friday 21st August:

• MLS - Seattle v New England - ESPN (HD) - 03:00 - 05:00
• AFL - Sydney Swans v Geelong Cats - ESPN (HD) - 10:30 - 13:30
• Bundesliga - TSG Hoffenheim v Schalke 04 - ESPN (HD) - 19:30 - 21:30

Saturday 22nd August:

• MLB - Boston v NY Yankees - ESPN (AM) (HD) - 00:00 - 03:00
• SPL - Falkirk v Hibernian - ESPN (HD) - 12:00 - 15:00
• Le Top 14 - Toulon v Racing - ESPN (HD) - 15:30 - 17:15
• Serie A - Siena v AC Milan - ESPN (HD) - 19:45 - 21:45

Sunday 23rd August:

• MLS - DC United v LA Galaxy - ESPN (HD) - 00:30 - 02:30
• AFL - Collingwood v Sydney Swans - ESPN (HD) - 05:00 - 08:00
• BPL - West Ham Utd - Tottenham Hotspur - ESPN (HD) - 12:30 - 16:00
• Serie A - Inter Milan v Bari - ESPN (HD) - 17:00 - 19:00
  

Serie A football confirmed for ESPN

More football rights have been confirmed for ESPN, this time the Italian Serie A. The following comes from ESPN:

"ESPN is delighted to announce that it has secured an exclusive deal, with MP & Silva,*to broadcast up to three live Serie A matches per week for the 2009/10 season. Featuring some of the world's greatest players, from recent Inter Milan signing Samuel Eto’o to Juventus veteran Alessandro Del Piero, Serie A is one of the most popular leagues in the world watched by millions around the globe.


ESPN will feature up to three of the top picks from each weekend’s fixtures. The season kicks off on Saturday 22nd August with Siena against seven-time European champions AC Milan, followed on Sunday by Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan as they face Bari. The following weekend’s action will see the prestigious Milan derby as AC take on Inter for early season bragging rights on Saturday 29th August. The next day, on Sunday 30th August, ESPN will broadcast Juventus v Roma.


Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice President & Channel Manager TV, ESPN Europe, Middle East & Africa said: “We’re very pleased to be able to broadcast the Italian Serie A. As one of the best leagues in the world, the live coverage will sit nicely with our Barclays Premier League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League and Bundesliga matches, making the channel the number one stop for football fans around the UK in SD and HD.”

Carlo Pozzali, CEO Media Partners and Silva: “We are delighted to increase our relationship with ESPN, a broadcast partner which ensures best coverage for Italian Serie A in United Kingdom.”"

Live sport this week - August 3rd - 9th

Seeing as the channel launches tonight, I will start my weekly feature of posting the live sport that will be shown on ESPN throughout the week.

Key:

(HD) - Shown on ESPN HD
(AM) - Shown on ESPN America

Monday 3rd August:

• No live sport

Tuesday 4th August:

• MLB - Cincinnati v Chicago - ESPN (HD)(AM) - 00:00 - 03:00

Wednesday 5th August:

• MLB - LA Dodgers v Milwaukee - ESPN (HD)(AM) - 03:00 - 06:00

Thursday 6th August:

• MLB - Tampa Bay v Boston - ESPN (HD)(AM) - 00:00 - 03:00

Friday 7th August:

• MLB - NY Yankees v Boston - ESPN (HD)(AM) - 00:00 - 03:00
• Bundesliga - Wolfsburg v Stuttgart - ESPN (HD) - 19:30 - 21:30

Saturday 8th August:

• Football friendly - Toronto v Real Madrid - ESPN (HD) - 00:30 - 02:30
• Italian Super Cup - Inter Milan v Lazio - ESPN (HD) - 13:00 - 15:00
• Bundesliga - Hoffenheim v Bayern Munich - ESPN (HD) - 17:30 - 19:30
• Football friendly - Benfica v AC Milan - ESPN (HD) - 19:45 - 21:45
• MLS - LA Galaxy v New England - ESPN (HD) - 23:00 - 01:00

Sunday 9th August:

• UFC 101 - Penn v Florian - ESPN (HD) - 03:00 - 06:00
• Football friendly - Tottenham Hotspur v Olympiakos - ESPN (HD) - 15:00 - 17:00
• Football friendly - DC United v Real Madrid - ESPN (HD) - 20:00 - 22:00
  

ESPN America will continue to broadcast

For a while now, it has been unclear as to what will happen to ESPN America, and it had been presumed that it would become the new ESPN channel with all American sport moving to the new channel. It has now been confirmed that ESPN America will remain, and will only be switching channel numbers. The following has been added to the ESPN America website:

"While ESPN America will continue to broadcast to customers on the Sky platform, ESPN America will be changing channel numbers. From 3rd August, ESPN America will move from Channel 417 to Channel 430.

ESPN America will also be moving out of the ‘News and Events’ pack and Sky customers will be able to subscribe to ESPN America as follows:

-Sky Sports subscribers can upgrade to receive ESPN America and also receive ESPN & ESPN HD for £9 per month
-Sky Customers can upgrade to receive ESPN America and also receive ESPN & ESPN HD for £12 per month"

"While ESPN will continue to broadcast to customers on the Virgin Media platform, ESPN America will be changing channel numbers. From 3rd August, ESPN America will move from Channel 533 to Channel 531.

Virgin Media subscribers will be able to get ESPN America as follows:

XL Virgin TV Pack Subscriber: Get ESPN America + ESPN, ESPNHD & ESPN Classic included as part of your monthly subscription
L Virgin TV Pack Subscriber with Sky Sports: Add ESPN America and receive ESPN, ESPN HD - HD* for £8
L Virgin TV Pack Subscriber without Sky Sports: Add ESPN America and receive ESPN, ESPN HD - HD* for £10
M Virgin TV Pack Subscriber with Sky Sports: Add ESPN America and receive ESPN, ESPN HD - HD* for £8
M Virgin TV Pack Subscriber without Sky Sports: Add ESPN America and receive ESPN, ESPN HD - HD* for £10 "

While ESPN will continue to broadcast to customers on the Virgin Media platform, ESPN America will be changing channel numbers. From 3rd August, ESPN America will move from Channel 533 to Channel 531."

I know many American sports fans will be pleased to hear this.

ESPN confirmed for Virgin Media, finally!

It has today been confirmed that ESPN will be available to Virgin Media TV customers from August 3rd, and also in HD, along with ESPN Classic. The new channel (and HD channel), will be available to XL TV customers at no additional cost, whilst those on M & L TV can subscribe for £8 a month if taken with Sky Sports, or £10 a month on its own.

This confirmation of carriage on Virgin Media comes shortly after ESPN confirmed a number of football rights including MLS, Eredivisie and Portuguese Liga football.

More football in the bag

According to Broadcastnow.co.uk, ESPN has today revealed further football rights, including the remainder of the MLS season starting from August 8th, which will include David Beckham playing for LA Galaxy against New England.

They also have a multiyear deal for German Bundesliga for up to 5 matches per week, including previews and highlights. On top of this, they will show Portuguese Liga, Dutch Eredivisie and Russian Premier League games.

Further football includes Real Madrid's pre-season friendly tour of North America, Benfica's friendly against AC Milan and Tottenham Hotspur's friendly against Olympiakos. The Italian Super Cup will also be shown live.

ESPN favourites to win UFC rights

According to an article on The Sun website, Sky have snubbed a deal for the UFC rights, which leaves ESPN as favourites to show the UFC in August. An official announcement is set to be made next week.

August-November Premier League fixtures confirmed

The first lot of fixtures between August and November have been confirmed, including which channels will be broadcasting them. Below is a list of the games confirmed for ESPN so far:

August

• Saturday 15 Everton v Arsenal 5.15pm
• Sunday 23 West Ham v Tottenham 1.30pm
• Monday 24 Liverpool v Aston Villa 8pm
• Saturday 29 Chelsea v Burnley 12.45pm

September

• Saturday 12 Tottenham v Manchester United 5.15pm
• Saturday 19 West Ham v Liverpool 5.15pm
• Saturday 26 Fulham v Arsenal 5.15pm
• Monday 28 Manchester City v West Ham

October

• Saturday 3 Manchester United v Sunderland 5.15pm
• Monday 5 Aston Villa v Manchester City 8.00pm
• Monday 19 Fulham v Hull City 8:00pm
• Saturday 24 Chelsea v Blackburn Rovers 5.15pm
• Saturday 31 Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers 5.15pm

November

• Saturday 7 Wolves v Arsenal 5.15pm
• Monday 9 Liverpool v Birmingham City 8.00pm
• Saturday 21 Manchester United v Everton 5.15pm
• Saturday 28 Aston Villa v Tottenham 5.15pm

That's a total of 17 games between August and November, with some promising fixtures amongst them. If you want to see the full list of fixtures to be broadcast, which includes the Sky games too, they're available here.

As soon as the rest of the fixtures are available, they'll be here.

Major new information

It's all been coming thick and fast today, with plenty of major information about the ESPN UK channel and more potential rights coming in.

Firstly, the SPL big wigs are to vote on a joint £65m TV deal from BSkyB and ESPN, according to Evening Times. A decision should be made very soon, so there may well be a definite answer tomorrow.

As previously mentioned a few days ago, the ESPN UK channel has been confirmed to be available on Virgin TV, and today it has been confirmed that it will go live on the 4th of August 2009, on the already known channel number of 533. This means it'll be available in time for the start of the new season.

Along with this information, The Guardian say that the new channel will replace ESPN America, and be known simply as ESPN. They also say it'll launch on the 3rd of August, so whether it'll be the 3rd or 4th is unclear right now. The new channel will take channel number 417 on Sky, and the HD channel will be available on channel number 443. For existing Sky Sports subscribers, it will cost £9 a month to subscribe to ESPN, whilst all other customers will be charged £12 a month.

It is not known what the subscription fee will be for Virgin Media customers, or whether the HD channel will be available at launch, or if at all. As soon as we have more information, you'll see it here.

The ESPN Classic channel will remain as normal.

ESPN confirmed for Virgin Media

The new ESPN channel has been confirmed for Virgin Media, and will launch in August on channel 553. According to an official Virgin channel listing PDF, the channel will be a premium channel, so will have to be subscribed to for a an additional fee.

ESPN fighting for Scotland World Cup Qualifier

ESPN is facing opposition from Sky and the BBC for the rights to show Scotland's important World Cup Qualifier against Norway, on August 12th. The game was originally to be broadcast by Setanta Sports, but since Setanta went into administration, competition is fierce for picking up their rights.

Confirmation will come next week as to who will be showing the game, and it has been confirmed that it will be shown live.

Source: The Guardian