TWI, the television arm of IMG, will also play a principal role in ESPN Classic Sport by providing a variety of support services to the venture, including production and facilities.
ESPN Classic Sport marks ESPN’s first branded network initiative in Europe. The company is 70 percent owned by ESPN and 30 percent owned by Sports Capital Partners, which focuses on sports, media, leisure and lifestyle related businesses.
ESPN Classic Sport will launch first in France early next year with a minimum reach of 2.5 million homes, including the subscribers of CanalSatellite and TPS, France’s direct-to-home satellite TV operators. Subsequent launches will take place in other major European markets over the next several years.
The headquarters and main production office for ESPN Classic Sport will be based in London, with sales, marketing and local production in Paris.
