ESPN free for Virgin TV XL customers

Virgin Media has secured a carriage agreement for ESPN's 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.