FAQs
Channel Information
What is ESPN? ESPN stands for Entertainment Sports Programming Network and is one of the leading sports broadcaster in the US. It has developed a reputation for providing world class coverage of top US sporting events like the NFL and Major League Baseball.
ESPN was recently awarded 46 Barclays Premier League matches for the 09/10 season, and will now be broadcasting in the UK in both standard and high definition.
Has it launched? ESPN currently has two channels in the News & Events Pack:
ESPN Classic (Channel 432)
ESPN America (Channel 417)
On 3rd August, ESPN America will become a standalone subscription channel and rebrand to "ESPN".
At this point, ESPN America will no longer broadcast (and therefore not appear in News & Events Pack from this date). ESPN Classic will continue to be available on Channel 432 in News & Events Pack from this date.
Note: News & Events Pack customers will lose ESPN America from 3rd August and will not be entitled to watch the new ESPN channel as part of that Pack.
Which channel will "ESPN" be on?
ESPN: 417
ESPN HD: 443
What are the broadcast hours? Daily, 24 hours
Is there any sub-titling/audio description/sign-language? Currently, no.
Customer Information
How do I get ESPN? Customers can upgrade in three ways:
1. Online at www.sky.com/espn
2. Via their TV remote control, by pressing the Interactive button then via Sky Active
3. By calling the contact centres
Nearer to ESPN's launch, we will contact customers who have registered with further details on how to complete their purchase.
How much does it cost?
1. Sky TV customers with Sky Sports:
2. Sky Sports subscribers will be able to subscribe to ESPN for £9 per month
Sky TV customers (not Sky Sports):
Other Sky TV customers will be able to subscribe from £12 per month
Note: Sky TV customers with ESPN and the HD Pack will also be able to watch ESPN HD.
And that's it. Unlike Setanta, there will not be a set-up fee, and when the VAT rate reverts back to 17.5%, we do not plan to change the prices.
Can I subscribe to ESPN without subscribing to Sky Sports? Yes, all Sky TV customers will be able to subscribe to ESPN but it is cheaper if you have Sky Sports.
Sky TV customers without Sky Sports will pay £12 per month, but it's only £9 per month with Sky Sports.
How do I get ESPN HD from Sky? Subscribe to Sky TV with ESPN and the HD Pack.
Is there a minimum term contract? Customers must keep the channel for a minimum of 1 month after upgrading.
Once I become an ESPN customer who do I contact with any Customer Service queries? Sky TV and freesat from Sky customers should contact Sky.
This also means that the monthly subscription charge for ESPN will appear on your Sky bill.
Will Virgin Media, Freeview or Freesat customers be able to watch any of the ESPN channels / ESPN's Premier League games? This is still to be confirmed. Non Sky TV customers should contact their entertainment provider for more details.
Virgin Media - 0845 454 1111 or Virgin Media - digital TV, broadband, phone and mobile
BT Vision - BT Vision
Top Up TV - 08444 158 158
Programming Information
I have ESPN Classic and ESPN America - will I get the Premier League matches through that? No. ESPN Classic is a separate channel from the broadcaster that's available in the News & Events Pack. It's dedicated to reliving some of sports' greatest moments in history.
On 3rd August, ESPN America will come out of the News & Events Pack and rebrand to "ESPN".
How many Barclays Premier League games can I watch next season on ESPN? In addition to the 92 exclusively live matches on Sky Sports, you will be able to watch 46 live matches on ESPN.
Why didn't Sky just buy the rights to the Premier League? The European Commission has decided that no single broadcaster should be allowed to show all 138 Premier League games live, so the rights to show those are sold off in packages. Sky has four of the six viewing packages for the 09/10 season and ESPN has the remaining two viewing packages.
Apart from football, what else can I watch on ESPN? Major league baseball, national hockey league, College basketball & American football and the entire NASCAR series.
Channel Information
What is ESPN? ESPN stands for Entertainment Sports Programming Network and is one of the leading sports broadcaster in the US. It has developed a reputation for providing world class coverage of top US sporting events like the NFL and Major League Baseball.
ESPN was recently awarded 46 Barclays Premier League matches for the 09/10 season, and will now be broadcasting in the UK in both standard and high definition.
Has it launched? ESPN currently has two channels in the News & Events Pack:
ESPN Classic (Channel 432)
ESPN America (Channel 417)
On 3rd August, ESPN America will become a standalone subscription channel and rebrand to "ESPN".
At this point, ESPN America will no longer broadcast (and therefore not appear in News & Events Pack from this date). ESPN Classic will continue to be available on Channel 432 in News & Events Pack from this date.
Note: News & Events Pack customers will lose ESPN America from 3rd August and will not be entitled to watch the new ESPN channel as part of that Pack.
Which channel will "ESPN" be on?
ESPN: 417
ESPN HD: 443
What are the broadcast hours? Daily, 24 hours
Is there any sub-titling/audio description/sign-language? Currently, no.
Customer Information
How do I get ESPN? Customers can upgrade in three ways:
1. Online at www.sky.com/espn
2. Via their TV remote control, by pressing the Interactive button then via Sky Active
3. By calling the contact centres
Nearer to ESPN's launch, we will contact customers who have registered with further details on how to complete their purchase.
How much does it cost?
1. Sky TV customers with Sky Sports:
2. Sky Sports subscribers will be able to subscribe to ESPN for £9 per month
Sky TV customers (not Sky Sports):
Other Sky TV customers will be able to subscribe from £12 per month
Note: Sky TV customers with ESPN and the HD Pack will also be able to watch ESPN HD.
And that's it. Unlike Setanta, there will not be a set-up fee, and when the VAT rate reverts back to 17.5%, we do not plan to change the prices.
Can I subscribe to ESPN without subscribing to Sky Sports? Yes, all Sky TV customers will be able to subscribe to ESPN but it is cheaper if you have Sky Sports.
Sky TV customers without Sky Sports will pay £12 per month, but it's only £9 per month with Sky Sports.
How do I get ESPN HD from Sky? Subscribe to Sky TV with ESPN and the HD Pack.
Is there a minimum term contract? Customers must keep the channel for a minimum of 1 month after upgrading.
Once I become an ESPN customer who do I contact with any Customer Service queries? Sky TV and freesat from Sky customers should contact Sky.
This also means that the monthly subscription charge for ESPN will appear on your Sky bill.
Will Virgin Media, Freeview or Freesat customers be able to watch any of the ESPN channels / ESPN's Premier League games? This is still to be confirmed. Non Sky TV customers should contact their entertainment provider for more details.
Virgin Media - 0845 454 1111 or Virgin Media - digital TV, broadband, phone and mobile
BT Vision - BT Vision
Top Up TV - 08444 158 158
Programming Information
I have ESPN Classic and ESPN America - will I get the Premier League matches through that? No. ESPN Classic is a separate channel from the broadcaster that's available in the News & Events Pack. It's dedicated to reliving some of sports' greatest moments in history.
On 3rd August, ESPN America will come out of the News & Events Pack and rebrand to "ESPN".
How many Barclays Premier League games can I watch next season on ESPN? In addition to the 92 exclusively live matches on Sky Sports, you will be able to watch 46 live matches on ESPN.
Why didn't Sky just buy the rights to the Premier League? The European Commission has decided that no single broadcaster should be allowed to show all 138 Premier League games live, so the rights to show those are sold off in packages. Sky has four of the six viewing packages for the 09/10 season and ESPN has the remaining two viewing packages.
Apart from football, what else can I watch on ESPN? Major league baseball, national hockey league, College basketball & American football and the entire NASCAR series.
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