Another blow for Sky as BT snap up ESPN along with FA Cup, Europa League and Bundesliga rights

BT's emergence as a serious challenger to BSkyB for sports rights has continued after it was announced that the telecommunications giant has acquired ESPN's UK and Ireland TV channels business.
The move, which was first revealed by Sportsmail's Charles Sale, means that as well as showing 38 Premier League matches from next season, BT Sport viewers will also be able to watch sport currently on ESPN including the FA Cup, Scottish Premier League, Europa League and the German Bundesliga.
Marc Watson, chief executive of BT television, said: 'We are delighted to have reached agreement with ESPN for the acquisition of their UK channels business and that we have been able to add some exciting new sports rights to the ones we already have.

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'The FA Cup, Scottish Premier League and Europa League rights will allow us to offer customers of BT Sport even more quality live football, including our first games from the Scottish top flight and our first European competition rights.
'There will also be the best of US sports available courtesy of this deal, which will further broaden the appeal of BT Sport.'
The deal is expected to completed on July 31 after which BT will continue to operate at least one ESPN-branded channel which is expected to form part of the BT Sport TV package to be launched this summer.
The ESPN channels will be broadcast from BT Sport's new home in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.
'Until completion, the service for current subscribers to the ESPN channels across all television platforms remains unchanged,' said a BT statement.