Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

ESPN AMERICA CHANGES (Europe, Middle East & Africa)

BT Group and ESPN announced in February an agreement for BT to acquire ESPN’s UK and Ireland TV channels business.

• Following the agreement with BT, and after further review and consultation, ESPN has decided to cease broadcasting the ESPN America channel across Europe and the Middle East (except the UK and Ireland), and ESPN Classic channels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
• The date that the channels go off air will be different across different markets, based upon distribution agreements. However, in most markets, both channels will continue exactly as they are, unchanged, until 31 July, 2013 (30th June 2013 in the Middle East) and you will continue to get the exact same sports content and coverage until that time.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR MY SUBSCRIPTION?

• You will need to contact your TV provider with whom you have your subscription.

WHERE CAN I WATCH THE SPORTS (e.g. MLB, NFL, NCAA) AND PROGRAMMES (DOCUMENTARIES OR CLASSIC SPORTS) WHEN THEY GO OFF THE AIR?

• Some of the content from ESPN America, such as NCAA sports and X Games, can be watched online via ESPN’s streaming service ESPN Player. (www.espnplayer.com)
• ESPN will also continue to sell some sports and programmes to other broadcasters throughout Europe.
• Other US Sports content will be televised on other channels.

WHAT WILL ESPN BE DOING IN THE FUTURE IN EUROPE?

• ESPN has a successful digital business that includes multiple websites including ESPNFC, ESPN.com, ESPNcricinfo and ESPNF1 as well as sports streaming service ESPN Player.
• ESPN will also continue its content syndication sales business, selling sports coverage and programmes to other broadcasters.

ESPN AND BT (UK CUSTOMERS ONLY)

BT Group and ESPN announced in February that they have agreed BT will acquire ESPN’s UK and Ireland TV channels business (pending regulatory approval). These primarily comprise the ESPN and ESPN America channels and their live sports rights portfolio, including the FA Cup, Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League, UEFA Europa League, and the German Bundesliga.

Click here for more information.

I have a technical issue. Who should I contact?

For all technical information please contact your Digital TV provider or manufacturer.

Please note that we are unable to assist you on hardware and software delivered to you by your Digital TV provider or electronics retailers.

Can you explain the late scheduling changes?

We do apologise for the apparent late change to the schedule.

ESPN America does its very best to provide sports fans with a first-rate television service. Unfortunately, due to the nature of live sport events ESPN America has to prioritize content such as live events and show what would appeal to the majority of viewers, which sometimes interrupts published schedules.

We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to you and hope that this clarifies the situation for you. We can assure you that we do everything in our power to minimise any interruptions and keep to our published schedules.

Why is footage sometimes removed from our shows?

Because of sports rights clearances, not all footage that appears in a programme can be shown in all territories. At times, this means that specific pieces of footage, segments or parts of a programme will not be seen in some territories due to rights restrictions.
We are very sorry for the inconvenience caused to you and hope that this clarifies the situation for you. We can assure you that we do everything in our power to minimise any editing to our programmes.

Why is SportsCenter not available in some schedules?

We have had to make changes to some programming on ESPN America in the UK & Ireland, Nordic & Baltic countries, and Russia, due to some footage rights restrictions for content included in those programmes. We are in discussions about these rights and will update fans as soon as there are further developments. ESPN and ESPN America networks in all other countries – more than 40 throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa – are unaffected.

I want to cancel my subscription to ESPN America.

To get help subscribing or unsubscribing from ESPN America at home, you will need to contact your service provider directly.

Please note that ESPN America is unable to contact your service provider.