Sport1 acquires German ESPN rights

German sports channel Sport1 is launching a new channel, Sport1 US, bringing NBA, NFL and IndyCar Series and other sports acquired from ESPN America.

The new channel will launch as a pay channel on August 1 in both SD and HD versions for viewers in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Distribution contracts were secured with Kabel Deutschland, Sky Deutschland and Unitymedia/Kabel BW.

The launch of the new channels follows the day after ESPN America will cease its transmissions.

Sport1 has acquired a large package of sports rights from ESPN Sports Media including live games from National Football League (NFL) and the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Also acquired are rights to NCAA College Football and College Basketball for the next three seasons 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Motorsports include the IndyCar Series for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 seasons including the Indianapolis 500.

Live coverage of College Basketball will include the Regular Season, starting in November, followed by the Conference Championship Tournaments, the March Madness games consisting of NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championship Tournaments and concluding with NCAA Final Four Tournament and the National Championship.

In a statement, Bernhard Burgener, CEO of Constantin Medien AG, operator of the channel, said "With Sport1 US we extend the digital portfolio under the multimedia umbrella brand Sport1 to another offer in the pay-TV sector – in addition to our already well-established channel Sport1."