ESPN free to Virgin XL customers

[craigb]

Happy days!

Our deal means that we'll be carrying all of the ESPN channels available:

ESPN - So far ESPN has announced a line up that includes the 46 Barclays Premier League matches and 23 Clydesdale Bank Premier League matches, with more great sports content to come.

ESPN HD- Just the same great line up as ESPN - but in glorious High Definition!

ESPN Classic - is the unique 24/7 sports channel featuring the greatest games, stories, heroes and memories in the history of sport, with a mix of all-time classic highlights, matches, interviews, profiles and documentaries.

ESPN America* - features the best sporting action from North America, including the NHL, MLB, NFL and NCAA College Sports.

[Danielle]

another HD channel cool if right, what's your source mate?

[craigb]

It's a virgin press release, not allowed to post links due to my post count!

[jack the kipper]

its on the ds website

[jack the kipper]

standard definition and high definition channels.
On August 3, ESPN America will be replaced in the UK by a new subscription-based ESPN service available in standard and high definition. It will carry the Premier League matches acquired after Setanta's collapse along with sports currently shown on ESPN America. ESPN has also recently acquired additional football rights from the SPL, MLS and top divisions in Europe.
ESPN and ESPN HD will be offered free of charge to customers taking Virgin Media's top XL tier of television service. The channels will also be available to customers on the M and L tiers for £8 per month if they subscribe to Sky Sports or £10 standalone. All Virgin Media television customers will receive the channels free in August.
ESPN HD will only be available to those customers who take Virgin's high definition V+ PVR.
Virgin Media chief commercial officer Mark Schweitzer said: "This agreement solidifies Virgin Media's place as the home of TV entertainment and is unquestionably the best value TV deal for sports fanatics. We've got all the sports content you'd expect and adding the new ESPN channels to our line-up will mean our customers can watch all the football action they want.
"We're always looking for ways to go the extra mile for our customers and we think this market beating offer does this in spades as well as providing a sweetener for the start of the football season. We are extremely proud to have partnered with ESPN, which is the world's leading multimedia sports entertainment company."
Virgin's price point undercuts ESPN's price on Sky, where it is offered at £9 per month for Sky Sports subscribers and £12 standalone.
Lynne Frank, ESPN's managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, said: "We are delighted to add Virgin Media as a new distribution partner and to offer millions more sports fans ESPN's compelling mix of Barclays Premier League and Clydesdale Bank Premier League football, as well as the best of international football and top quality sports.
"The plan to make the channels available to Virgin Media's XL customers will help ESPN better serve sports fans in the UK. It's an exciting season ahead and we look forward to bringing our new channels, ESPN and ESPN HD as well as ESPN Classic, to as many sports fans as possible."
ESPN's opening EPL game will be Everton v Arsenal on August 15, with coverage starting from 5:30pm.
More articles about Virgin Media, ESPN, Setanta, Cable, Digital TV Previous story: Pace profits triple as pay TV demand soars More on this story from around the web

[Watto]

quick question...
say i got virgin +hd box and lowest tv package (package m + £5 a month extra for "hd service") - could i receive espn hd through my eurovox +hd box?

[Luii]

Originally Posted by Watto

quick question...
say i got virgin +hd box and lowest tv package (package m + £5 a month extra for "hd service") - could i receive espn hd through my eurovox +hd box?

I think all you need is a feed coming into your house, so it can be just broadband or anything. Then with the Eurovox +HD you will get all the channels, even the HD ones

[Watto]

thanks for that luii

if i just ring up and get my 50mb broadband, no tv, no phone line and get a eurovox hd box i can pick up all tv channels, espn hd, etc?

[Luii]

I'm not sure with the 50Mb but I would guess so, as long as theres no difference with the signals coming into the house

[rick1019]

I'm disappointed, as a big boxing fan, most live boxing is on ESPN2 and VM say its carrying ALL of the ESPN channels?
I don't see ESPN2 or ESPN360