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| Country | Netherlands |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Nationwide |
| Network | ESPN |
| Headquarters | Amsterdam,Netherlands |
| Programming | |
| Language | Dutch |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | ESPN Inc. operated by Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV (51 %The Walt Disney Company (Benelux) BV) |
| Sister channels | 24Kitchen BabyTV National Geographic National Geographic Wild Star Channel |
| History | |
| Launched | 29 August 2008; 17 years ago (2008-08-29) as Eredivisie Live 1 August 2013; 12 years ago (2013-08-01) as Fox Sports |
| Former names | Fox Sports (2013–2020) Eredivisie Live (2008–2013) |
| Links | |
| Website | www |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| Digitenne | Channel 24 (ESPN HD) Channel 25 (ESPN 2 HD) |
| Streaming media | |
| Ziggo GO | ZiggoGO.tv (Europe only) |
| ESPN Watch | Watch live (Netherlands only) |
| Canal+ | CANAL+ Sport (Netherlands only) |
ESPN is a Dutch group ofpay television sports channels, owned byESPN Inc., ajoint venture betweenThe Walt Disney Company (which owns a controlling 80% stake) and theHearst Communications (which owns the remaining 20%) and operated by Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV in whichThe Walt Disney Company (Benelux) BV has 51% ownership. ESPN launched as Fox Sports on 1 August 2013, buying out the Eredivisie Live service from the Dutch Football League.[1][2] On 31 December 2020, it was renamed ESPN after theacquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney in 2019. ESPN offers 4 HD channels and 1 Ultra HD channel,Video-on-demand services and ESPN app. Its main competitor is the Dutchpremium television serviceZiggo Sport Totaal.
It launched asEredivisie Live at the start of the 2008–09 season on 29 August 2008.[3] Highlights of the Eredivisie can be seen on the national public broadcasterNOS.
The pundit team includes Jan van Halst,Mario Been andPierre van Hooijdonk.Gary Lineker provides a weekly analysis of the matches, which can be seen on the website of Eredivisie Live. The website also offerspay-per-view matches.
Between the 2009–10 and 2012–13 seasons, Eredivisie Live broadcast theUEFA Europa League live on Thursdays. From 2013–14 the coverage switched to sister serviceFox Sports International for matches of non-Dutch clubs.[4]
In August 2013, the Eredivisie Media & Marketing CV would establish another two channels which includedFox Sports International whileEredivisie Live was rebranded into Fox Sports Eredivisie on 1 August 2013.[5]
On 20 March 2019 The Walt Disney Company acquired21st Century Fox, including Fox Networks Group Benelux and Fox's 51% stake on the channel.[6][7] Since July 2019, Fox Sports 1 is part of theKPN provider basic package.[8] On 1 October 2020, it was announced that the networks would rebrand asESPN on 31 December 2020, due to theacquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney.[9][10]
The number of linear television channels was reduced to 4 on 2 August 2021.[11] ESPN Ultra HD launched on 2 August 2021, During the Johan Cruijff Schaal. This also wasEvert ten Napel's last match as ESPN commentator.[12]
On the 6th of February 2024 it was announced that for the first time by immediate effect allKeuken Kampioen Divisie andVrouwen Eredivisie matches will be able to be watched live for ESPN Subscribers, With 2Keuken Kampioen Divisie matches on Friday on linear TV and the rest only to be able to be watched online by ESPN Extra (which you can access only with ESPN Watch).[13]
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Owners:Walt Disney Company (80%);Hearst Communications (20%) | |||||||||||||||||||
