ESPN Launches Multi-Platform Soccer Brand ESPNFC

ESPN this week will introduce ESPNFC, a new multi-language and multi-country brand for soccer fans around the world across TV, radio, print, online, print and mobile.  Just in time for the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship, the new offering will bring together all of ESPN’s soccer properties and house them under one universally recognized name.

Online and on mobile, ESPNFC will have the ability to detect where a fan is accessing content, and deliver locally relevant content for that region and serve that content in the native language.  ESPNFC will also provide unique, customizable digital opportunities for marketers who can work with ESPN to reach sports fans on both a global and regional scale using ESPN’s worldwide sales teams.

“ESPN is solidifying its dedication to soccer year-round with the launch of ESPNFC,” said John Skipper, president, ESPN, Inc. and co-chairman, Disney Media Networks. “It represents one of ESPN’s most significant global commitments to the sport and leverages the core strength of what ESPN does well — serve sports fans.  In short, ESPNFC is the definitive source for soccer coverage worldwide.”

Beginning this week, fans can experience a preview of ESPNFC with branded content online and on mobile platforms specific to the EURO 2012 tournament in Poland and Ukraine.  Later this year online and on mobile — around the start of new soccer seasons around the world — ESPNFC will expand to encompass all major leagues and competitions worldwide. ESPNFC will also be integrated into ESPNdeportes.com, which serves the Spanish-speaking community in the US, and across soccer content on many of ESPN’s global TV, radio and print platforms.  The company will also rename its signature global multi-platform soccer debate and discussion show to ESPNFC PressPass (from ESPNsoccernet PressPass), reflecting the new brand.

Throughout the EURO 2012, ESPNFC will provide comprehensive coverage of one of the leading international soccer competitions, including live TV coverage, on-demand video highlights, studio programming clips, news, analysis and commentary, real-time scores, stats and more.

Inside ESPNFC, fans can access Live MatchHQ, a re-imagined and enhanced version of GameCast which provides the live game experience for those who are not able to watch the game live.  It also provides data-driven content from the live experience, including real-time scores and stats, highlights, message boards and more — all in one place.

EURO 2012 on ESPN Platforms
ESPN TV networks will combine to televise more than 200 hours of live coverage of the EURO 2012 with all 31 matches available in high definition, with additional coverage carried on ESPN3, WatchESPN, ESPN Deportes Radio, and ESPN Mobile TV.

Every ESPN and ESPN2 match will feature 15-minute pregame, halftime and a postgame shows.   The opening match will feature a 30-minute pregame program, while the quarterfinal through final matches will each include 45 minutes of pregame content.  A live, 30-minute UEFA EURO 2012 Report show will air in-between matches from June 8-15.

ESPN Deportes, the Spanish-language home of the EURO 2012 in the United States, will provide comprehensive coverage of the event with more than 6.5 live hours on days with two match windows, from June 9 – 15.  Highlights from Fuera de Juego include a 30-minute pregame show beginning at 11:30 a.m.; a halftime program; a 30-minute program aired in-between matches; and a special one-hour postgame at 5 p.m.

ESPN3, ESPN’s live multi-screen sports network, will simulcast all 31 matches in Spanish and English.  All matches will be available for replay on ESPN3 shortly after completion and archived through the end of the calendar year (Dec. 31, 2012). Fans will also be able to go to WatchESPN to catch all the ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3 live match action online at WatchESPN.com or on smartphones and tablets via the WatchESPN app.  The service — available to video subscribers of Time Warner Cable, Bright House Networks, and Verizon
FiOS TV — gives fans the ability to watch ESPN’s live networks, no matter where they are.  A total of 25 matches will also be made available live on ESPN Mobile TV.

Every match will be made available on-demand in full the day it airs. Additionally, ESPN Deportes On Demand will make a highlight of every game available, in addition to full length matches from Spain and Portugal.

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