The ESPN networks will finally be available on Fubo TV. Also: Turner Sports’ brief run with the UEFA Champions League is apparently over; MLS has released the schedule for its planned tournament in Orlando; and more.
Fubo TV finally getting ESPN networks
The streaming service Fubo TV will begin carrying the ESPN family of networks and ABC starting this summer, it was announced Tuesday. Under a deal with Disney that also includes a number of non-sports networks, Fubo will include ABC, ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 on its standard base package and ESPNU, ESPNEWS, ESPN Deportes on higher tiers. SEC Network and ACC Network will be available on the standard package in the conferences’ respective territories and on higher tiers otherwise.
Fubo has long carried the other major sports networks, as well as sports channels not commonly available on the other streaming providers, such as Pac-12 Network. The ESPN networks were among the only sports channels not available on the platform. [Related: SMW’s sports streaming guide.] [ESPN PR 6.24]
Turner reportedly backing out of UEFA deal
Turner Sports has opted out of its UEFA Champions League contract and will “probably” not carry any more matches, Sports Business Journal reported Tuesday. Turner was only in its second year carrying UEFA matches but was already a lame duck; CBS last year acquired Champions League rights beginning in the 2021-22 season.
The Champions League was suspended in mid-March but is supposed to resume in August. Per the report, UEFA could ask Turner to carry those games. It could also shop those rights on the open market, along with rights to next season. While CBS would be “the most logical partner” for those rights, competing outlets ESPN, NBC, Fox Sports, Amazon and DAZN “should expect calls.” [SBJ 6.24]
MLS announces tournament schedule
Major League Soccer on Tuesday announced the schedule for next month’s planned “MLS is Back Tournament” at Walt Disney World in Orlando, with 28 of the 54 matches set to air on ESPN or ESPN2, 16 on FS1 or FOX, and 10 exclusively on TUDN. The full schedule is here.
ESPN would carry the opening matches on July 8, with Orlando City-Inter Miami at 8 PM ET and Nashville-Chicago at 10:30, and well as the August 11 final. TUDN would debut July 9 with a primetime doubleheader (Montreal-New England followed by Dallas-Vancouver), and Fox Sports July 11 (Atlanta-NY Red Bulls on FOX and Cincinnati-Columbus on FS1).
All of the 9 AM ET matches would air on ESPN, starting with NYC FC-Philadelphia on July 9. [ESPN.com 6.24]
Plus: Hill & Champion, NYC Marathon, French Open
Vice has officially announced that it is launching a weekly talk show hosted by former ESPN SportsCenter anchors Jemele Hill and Cari Champion. The show, which was first reported by Outkick the Coverage, will not be limited to sports. … This year’s New York City Marathon, which was scheduled for its customary date in November, has been canceled. … The start of the French Open has been pushed back a week to September 27 to create greater distance from the US Open, which is scheduled to go on as scheduled from August 31-September 13. The tournament would end October 11. [Awful Announcing 6.24, NYRR 6.24, AP via ESPN.com 6.17]
