US network Fox and cable-television broadcaster ESPN tabled a joint bid by yesterday’s deadline in the sales process for the next cycle of US rights to the English Premier League, the top division of football in England, according to the SportsBusiness Daily website.
US media company NBCUniversal was also among the bidders for the rights, but its offer was “not as strong as some were expecting,” the website said. The report added that sources had said that NBCUniversal may have been less determined to acquire the rights following its acquisition earlier this week of Formula One rights in the US for the four years from 2013 to 2016, especially as the motor racing championship’s schedule clashes with some Premier League games.
Pay-television broadcaster beIN Sport, the IMG agency, and the Discovery Communications media company were also understood to be considering bidding.
Fox is the incumbent US rights-holder in a three-year deal, from 2010-11 to 2012-13. The network exploits the rights on its Fox Soccer channel and also sublicenses rights to ESPN.
“Fox has increased the league’s US exposure tremendously during this current three-year cycle, and we hope to be able to continue to grow the league and sport in America going forward,” Fox Soccer executive vice-president and general manager David Nathanson said.