ESPN confirmed for BT Vision

BT Vision has secured a carriage agreement for ESPN's standard definition channel.

Available at Channel 34 on BT Vision's EPG, ESPN is being offered without charge to customers on the Bronze, Silver or Gold value packs who previously received Setanta Sports 1.

Subscribers on alternative packs but who also previously paid to receive Setanta Sports 1 will get ESPN for free until August 31 and be contacted with offers to take the channel permanently prior to that date.

For all new customers opting to take a BT Vision value pack, ESPN is available for £7.34 per month for the first three months, rising to £14.68 per month thereafter. There is also a one-off viewing card charge of £9.78.

Launched yesterday on Sky and Virgin Media in standard definition and high definition, ESPN will carry the 46 Premier League and 30 Scottish Premier League games previously owned by Setanta, along with coverage from the German Bundasliga, Portuguese Liga, Dutch Eredvisie, Russian League and the remainder of the US MLS season.

The channel will also broadcast UK exclusive UFC coverage, Top 14 - French Rugby, Australian Rules Football and FIBA - European Basketball Championship, along with US sports including Major League Baseball and NHL ice hockey.

In addition to this, BT Vision will offer its subscribers 28 exclusive Celtic or Rangers matches on-demand, which will become available from 10pm on the day of the game.

BT Vision chief executive Marc Watson said: "We want BT Vision to offer the best value and all-round entertainment - which naturally includes the very best of sport. So the new deal with ESPN is great news for customers.

"But the best news is that ESPN's top-quality sports coverage is provided by BT Vision at no additional cost to customers on our Bronze, Silver or Gold packages."

ESPN EMEA managing director Lynne Frank added: "We are delighted to team with BT Vision to offer their customers ESPN's exciting range of Premier League football and the best in international and US sports. ESPN is set to be a must-have for fans and we are thrilled that the channel is going to be available on BT Vision and other major television platforms."

This move also follows yesterday's announcement that ESPN is now available to all Top Up TV subscribers for £9.99 per month.