List of ESPN sports broadcasting rights
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
American cable sports channel ESPN has held numerous broadcasting rights for live and tape-delayed sporting events across many different sports in various levels of competition. ESPN was first launched in 1979 by Bill Rasmussen as a 24-hour national sports network dedicated to live sports and highlights.[1]
Top to bottom: Logos for ESPN, ESPN on ABC, and ESPN+
In 1984, the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) purchased ESPN from Rasmussen and Getty Oil.[2] Initially, ABC Sports and ESPN operated as separate entities. However, ESPN started to integrate into ABC Sports once The Walt Disney Company purchased Capital Cities/ABC in 1996. During this time, ESPN and ABC began to jointly bid on sports broadcasting rights with ESPN airing and producing games for ABC under a time-buy agreement. This integration was fully completed in August 2006, when ABC fully adopted ESPN's production staff, music, graphics, and broadcast rights. ESPN sports broadcasts that air on ABC now air under the branding ESPN on ABC.[3][4]
As ESPN has acquired more sports rights, it has launched more linear channels and outlets to help broadcast sports. ESPN launched ESPN2 in 1993 initially as a youthful alternative to ESPN, but now serves as a secondary general sports channel to the main ESPN network.[5] ESPNews was launched in 1996, serving as an overflow feed with limited live sports. ESPNU was launched in 2005 as a channel focused on college athletics with select ancillary general sports programming.[6] Both the SEC Network and ACC Network were launched by ESPN as specialty channels for Southeastern Conference (SEC) and Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) sports, respectively.[7][8] ESPN also offers Spanish-language sports broadcasts through ESPN Deportes.[9]
ESPN also broadcasts sports on online streaming platforms. ESPN3 previously served as the main streaming provider of ESPN games, which included exclusive programming and ancillary content.[10] ESPN later launched its own over-the-top subscription streaming service named ESPN+ in 2018, which saw much of ESPN3's content moved to ESPN+ along with its own games exclusive to the service.[11][12] ESPN+ also streams some ESPN on ABC telecasts. Both the SEC Network and ACC Network have online streaming components to their networks in SEC Network+ (SECN+) and ACC Network Extra (ACCNX), respectively.
Current rights
Professional sports
| Sport | League / Governing Body | Program / Competition | Network(s) | Release | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American football | National Football League (NFL) | Monday Night Football | ABC ESPN ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2006–present |
|
[13][14] [15][16] [17] |
| Pro Bowl | ABC ESPN ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
1988–1994, 2003–2005, 2010, 2015–present |
Acquired rights from ABC in 2003, acquired from CBS in 2010, direct since 2015 | [18][19] [20] | ||
| NFL playoffs and Super Bowl | ABC ESPN ESPN+ |
2015–present |
|
[21][22] | ||
| NFL Network Games | NFL Network | 2026–present | Five european games and a late-season Saturday doubleheader | |||
| NFL draft | ABC ESPN ESPN Deportes |
1980–present | ESPN produces a separate broadcast for ABC since 2019. | [23][24] [25] | ||
| United Football League (UFL) | UFL on ESPN | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2024–present | Broadcast contract acquired from XFL–USFL merger | [26][27] [28] | |
| Association football/Soccer | UEFA | UEFA Women's Champions League | ESPN Deportes/ESPN+ | 2025–present | Spanish–language rights | [29] |
| The Football Association (FA) | FA Cup | ESPN+ | 2018–present | [30] | ||
| Women's FA Cup | ESPN+ | |||||
| FA Community Shield | ESPN+ | 2018–present | [31][32] | |||
| Women's FA Community Shield | ESPN+ | 2020–present | [33] | |||
| Women's Super League | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2024–present | 57 matches stream on ESPN+ with a minimum of four matches airing on linear ESPN channels. | [34][35] | ||
| Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional | La Liga | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2009–2012, 2021–present |
Select matches previously broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes from 2009 to 2012 in sublicensing agreement with GOL TV. Full broadcast rights since 2021:
|
[36][37] [38] | |
| DFB | 3. Liga | ESPN3 | 2023–present | [39] | ||
| National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) | NWSL on ESPN | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPNEWS ESPN+ |
2014, 2017–2019, 2024–present |
|
[40][41] [42] | |
| Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) | Eredivisie | ESPN+ | 2018–present | [43] | ||
| KNVB Cup | 2025–present | |||||
| Johan Cruyff Shield | ||||||
| Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) | Copa del Rey | ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2020–present | [44] | ||
| Copa de la Reina | ESPN+ | 2020–present | ||||
| Supercopa de España | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2020–present | All matches available to stream on ESPN+.
|
[45][46] [47] | ||
| Supercopa de España Femenina | ESPN+ | 2020–present | ||||
| Scottish Football Association (SFA) | Scottish Cup | ESPN+ | 2018–present | |||
| United Soccer League (USL) | USL Championship | ESPN2 ESPNU ESPNEWS ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2016–present | [48][49] | ||
| USL League One | ESPN+ | 2019–present | [50] | |||
| USL Cup | ESPN+ | 2024–present | ||||
| Australian Professional Leagues (APL) | A-League Men | ESPN+ | 2018–present | |||
| A-League Women | ||||||
| CONCACAF | CONCACAF W Champions Cup | ESPN Deportes | 2025–present | Spanish-language rights | ||
| Baseball | Major League Baseball (MLB) | MLB on ESPN | ABC ESPN |
2026–present | Broadcast of 30 regular-season games annually on weeknight, including Little League Classic and Memorial Day. | [51] |
| MLB.TV | ESPN App | Exclusive rights holder of MLB.TV making thousands of games available on the ESPN App | ||||
| Local rights | Exclusive, local in-market streaming rights for six clubs: San Diego Padres, Cleveland Guardians, Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. | |||||
| Game of the day | ESPN will also deliver more than 150 out-of-market regular season games every season across a special ‘game of the day’ offering for subscribers to the ESPN Unlimited plan. | |||||
| Caribbean Professional Baseball Confederation (CPBC) | Caribbean Series | ESPN Deportes | Spanish-language rights | |||
| Basketball | FIBA | FIBA Basketball World Cup | ESPN+ | |||
| FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup | ESPN+ | |||||
| FIBA Intercontinental Cup | ESPN3 | |||||
| National Basketball Association (NBA) | NBA on ESPN | ESPN | 1982–1984, 2002–present |
|
[52][53] [54][55] | |
| NBA Christmas Special | ABC ESPN ESPN+ |
2002–present | [54][56] | |||
| NBA Saturday Primetime | ABC ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2016–present | Simulcasted on ESPN+ since 2025. | [57][58] | ||
| NBA Sunday Showcase | ABC ESPN Deportes |
2003–present | Doubleheader of Sunday afternoon games from 2003 to 2015. Reduced to single game in 2016. Returned to doubleheader in 2022. | [54][57] [59] | ||
| NBA playoffs and NBA Finals | ABC ESPN |
1983–1984, 2003–present |
ESPN aired 10 playoff games in 1983 and 1984, respectively. Since 2003:
|
[52][54] | ||
| NBA Summer League | ESPN ESPN+ |
?–present | ||||
| NBA G League | ESPN ESPN+ |
?–present | ||||
| NBA draft | ABC ESPN |
2003–present | ESPN produces a separate broadcast for ABC since 2021. | [54][60] | ||
| Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) | WNBA on ESPN | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 |
1997–present | [61] | ||
| WNBA on ABC | ABC | 2003–present |
|
[62] | ||
| WNBA playoffs and WNBA Finals | ABC ESPN ESPN2 |
1997–present |
|
[61] | ||
| WNBA draft | ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU |
2001–present | Primarily broadcast on ESPN since 2020. | [63] | ||
| Basketball New Zealand | National Basketball League | ESPN3 | 2020–present | |||
| Tauihi Basketball Aotearoa | ||||||
| Cricket | Cricket West Indies | Super50 Cup | ESPN+ | |||
| Women's Super50 Cup | ESPN+ | |||||
| West Indies national cricket team | ESPN+ | |||||
| New Zealand Cricket | New Zealand national cricket team | |||||
| Super Smash | ||||||
| Darts | Professional Darts Corporation | World Matchplay | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2026–present | Cable-exclusive and streaming rights in the United States | [64] |
| PDC World Darts Championship | 2026–present | |||||
| World Grand Prix | 2026–present | |||||
| Grand Slam of Darts | 2026–present | |||||
| US Darts Masters | 2026–present | |||||
| Golf | PGA Tour | Masters Tournament | ESPN ESPN+ |
2008–present | Cable-exclusive and streaming rights; shared with and co-produced by CBS Sports | [65][66] |
| PGA Championship | ESPN ESPN+ |
1982–1990, 2020–present |
Cable-exclusive and streaming rights; shared with and co-produced by CBS Sports | [65][67] | ||
| PGA Tour Live | ESPN+ | 2022–present | Includes more than 3500 hours of live and exclusive coverage of 35 PGA Tour tournaments and at least 28 tournaments with four full days of coverage. | [68] | ||
| LPGA | LPGA Tour | ESPN+ | 2022–present | |||
| TGL | TGL presented by SoFi | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2025–present | [69][70] | ||
| Handball | International Handball Federation (IHF) | IHF World Men's Handball Championship | ESPN3 ESPN+ |
2021, 2023 |
2021 tournament streamed exclusively on ESPN+. Moved to ESPN3 for 2023 tournament. | [71][72] |
| IHF World Women's Handball Championship | ESPN3 ESPN+ |
2021, 2023 | 2021 tournament streamed exclusively on ESPN+. Moved to ESPN3 for 2023 tournament. | [73][74] | ||
| Ice hockey | National Hockey League (NHL) | NHL on ESPN | ESPN ESPN2 |
1979–1983, 1985–1988, 1992–2004, 2021–present |
|
[75][76] [77][78] [79] |
| ESPN+ Hockey Night | ESPN+ Hulu |
2021–present | [80] | |||
| NHL Power Play | ESPN+ | 2021–present | Over 1050 out-of-market games, replacing NHL.tv. Game feeds originating from regional sports networks and national Canadian broadcasters. | [79][81] | ||
| NHL on ABC | ABC ESPN+ |
1993–1994, 2000–2004, 2021–present |
|
[82][83] [84][77] [79][80] [81] | ||
| Stanley Cup playoffs and Finals | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ |
1993–2004, 2022–present |
|
[85][86] | ||
| NHL entry draft | ESPN ESPN+ |
2022–present | ESPN only broadcasts first round; second to the last round broadcast by NHL Network. All rounds streamed on ESPN+. | [87] | ||
| IIHF | Ice Hockey World Championships | ESPN+ | ||||
| IIHF World Junior Championship | ||||||
| IIHF World U18 Championship | ||||||
| Lacrosse | Premier Lacrosse League (PLL) | PLL on ESPN PLL on ESPN+ |
ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2022–present | All matches available to stream on ESPN+. Select games broadcast on ABC, ESPN, and ESPN2. | [88][89] |
| Women's Lacrosse League (WLL) | 2025–future | [90] | ||||
| National Lacrosse League (NLL) | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2022–present | ||||
| Marathon | N/A | Boston Marathon | ESPN/ESPN+ | 1997–2004 2023–present |
||
| New York City Marathon/New York City Half Marathon | ESPN/ESPN+ | 2012–present | ||||
| Houston Marathon | ESPN3/ESPN+ | 2016–present | ||||
| Mixed martial arts | Professional Fighters League (PFL) | PFL on ESPN PFL on ESPN+ |
ESPN2 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2019–present | [91][92] [93][94] | |
| Legacy Fighting Alliance (LFA) | ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2026–present | Spanish-language rights | |||
| Rugby union | Major League Rugby (MLR) | ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2025–present | [95][96] | ||
| Sailing | N/A | America's Cup | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPNEWS ESPN+ |
1983–2003, 2010, 2024 |
|
[97][98] [99][100] [101][102] [103][104] |
| Surf | N/A | World Surf League | ESPN+ | |||
| Tennis | N/A | Australian Open | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
1984–present | Longest active tenured professional sports property on ESPN. | [105] |
| US Open | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2009–present | Cable-only rights shared with CBS Sports and the Tennis Channel from 2009 to 2014. Full rights since 2015. | [106][107] [108] | ||
| Wimbledon Championships | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2003–present | Cable-exclusive rights shared with NBC Sports from 2003 to 2011. Full rights since 2012. | [109][110] [111] | ||
| Volleyball | League One Volleyball (LOVB) | LOVB Pro | ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU ESPN+ |
2025–present | 10 matches to be broadcast on ESPN networks and 18 matches streaming on ESPN+. | [112][113] |
| Professional wrestling | WWE | WWE Premium Live Events | ESPN DTC ESPN |
2025–present |
|
[114][115] |
Collegiate sports
Conference sports
| Division | Conference | Sport(s) | Release | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I (D-I) | American Conference | Various Sports | 1980–2013 (as Big East) 2013–present |
[116] | |
| America East Conference | Various Sports | 1987–present | [117] | ||
| Atlantic 10 Conference (A10) | Various Sports | 1997–present | [118] | ||
| Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) | Various Sports | 1979/80–present | [119] | ||
| ASUN Conference (ASUN) | Various Sports | 1989–present | [120] | ||
| Big 12 Conference | Various Sports | 1997–present | |||
| Big East Conference | Various Sports | 2025–present | Streaming only | [121] | |
| Big Sky Conference | Various Sports | 1989–present | [122] | ||
| Big South Conference | Various Sports | 1991–present | [123][124] | ||
| Big West Conference | Various Sports | Late 80's–present | [125] | ||
| Conference USA (CUSA) | Various Sports | 2001–present | [126] | ||
| Horizon League | Various Sports | 1988–present | [127] | ||
| Ivy League (Ivy) | Various Sports | 1987–present | [128] | ||
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) | Various Sports | –present | [129] | ||
| Mid-American Conference (MAC) | Various Sports | 2003–present | [130] | ||
| Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) | Various Sports | 2005–present | [131][132] | ||
| Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) | Various Sports | 1986–present | [133] | ||
| Northeast Conference (NEC) | Various Sports | 1987/88–present | [134] | ||
| Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) | Various Sports | 1986–present | [135][136] | ||
| Patriot League | Various Sports | –present | Streaming only | [137] | |
| Southeastern Conference (SEC) | Various Sports | 1984–present | Cable-only rights shared with CBS Sports from 1996 to 2023. Full rights since 2024. |
[138][139] | |
| Southern Conference (SoCon) | Various Sports | 2001–present | [140] | ||
| Southland Conference | Various Sports | 1988–present | [141] | ||
| Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) | Various Sports | –present | [142] | ||
| Sun Belt Conference (SBC) | Various Sports | 1979–present | [143] | ||
| West Coast Conference (WCC) | Various Sports | 2001–present | [144][145] | ||
| Western Athletic Conference (WAC) | Various Sports | 1989/90–present | [146] | ||
| Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) | Football | 2015–present | [147] | ||
| ECAC Hockey | Ice Hockey | 2021–present | [148] | ||
| Hockey East | 2022–present | [149] | |||
| NCAA Division II (D-II) | Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) | Basketball, Football | 2021–present | [150] |
Collegiate tournaments
Bowl games
ESPN currently holds broadcasting rights for the majority of college football bowl games. Broadcast rights for bowl games are negotiated directly with the bowl game's organizer. All bowl games are aired on either ABC, ESPN, or ESPN2.[168]
| Bowl game | Release | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 68 Ventures Bowl | 1999–present | ||
| Alamo Bowl | 1993–present | ||
| Armed Forces Bowl | 2003–present | ||
| Bahamas Bowl | 2014–present | Game cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| Birmingham Bowl | 2006–present | Game cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| Boca Raton Bowl | 2014–present | ||
| Celebration Bowl | 2015–present | Game cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | [169][170] |
| Citrus Bowl | 2007–present | ESPN began producing the Citrus Bowl for ABC in 2007. | |
| Cotton Bowl † | 2015–present | ||
| Cure Bowl | 2020–present | ||
| Duke's Mayo Bowl | 2002–present | ||
| Famous Idaho Potato Bowl | 1997–present | Formerly the Humanitarian Bowl and MPC Computers Bowl. | |
| Fenway Bowl | 2022–present | ||
| Fiesta Bowl † | 2011–present | ||
| First Responder Bowl | 2011–present | Game cancelled in 2018 due to weather conditions. | |
| Frisco Bowl | 2014–present |
|
[171][172] [173][174] |
| GameAbove Sports Bowl | 2014–present |
|
|
| Gasparilla Bowl | 2008–present |
|
|
| Gator Bowl | 2011–present | ||
| Hawaii Bowl | 2002–present | ||
| Independence Bowl | 1982, 1984, 1992–present |
Game cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| LA Bowl | 2021–present | [175] | |
| Las Vegas Bowl | 1992–present | Game cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| Liberty Bowl | 1982–present | ||
| Military Bowl | 2008–present | Game cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| Music City Bowl | 1998–present | Game cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| Myrtle Beach Bowl | 2020–present | [176] | |
| New Mexico Bowl | 2006–present | ||
| New Orleans Bowl | 2001–present | ||
| Orange Bowl † | 2011–present | ||
| Peach Bowl † | 1992–present | ||
| Pinstripe Bowl | 2010–present | ||
| Pop-Tarts Bowl | 2001–present | ||
| Rate Bowl | 1992–2005, 2010–present |
|
|
| ReliaQuest Bowl | 1993–present | ||
| Rose Bowl † | 2007–present |
|
|
| Salute to Veterans Bowl | 2014–present | Formerly the Camellia Bowl. | [177][178] |
| Sugar Bowl † | 2011–present | ||
| Texas Bowl | 2009–present |
Source:[179]
†: Indicates a bowl game as part of the College Football Playoff.
Other individual games
- Turkey Day Classic: 2006–2013, 2016–present online
- NAIA National Football Championship (2014–present)
Amateur sports
- High School Showcase: Select high school football games, rights purchased à la carte from various state associations (2005–present)
- FA Youth Cup (2018–present)
- Little League World Series (1985[180]–2030)
- Patriot Games (2026): Entire event aired on the ESPN app, with a special later airing on ABC[181]
- Augusta National Women's Amateur
- Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship
- Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific
- Latin America Amateur Championship
Future rights
Professional sports
| Sport | League / Governing Body | Program / Competition | Network(s) | Release | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorsport | Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile | Formula E | ESPN+ | 2026–future | Exclusive streaming rights in the United States; part of worldwide streaming deal with Disney+ | [182] |
Former rights
Professional sports
| Sport | League / Governing Body | Program / Competition | Network(s) | Release | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American football | National Football League (NFL) | ESPN Sunday Night Football | ESPN | 1987–2005 |
Sunday night package moved to NBC Sports in 2006; ESPN acquired Monday Night Football from ABC. |
[183][184] [13] |
| United States Football League (USFL) | USFL on ESPN | ESPN | 1983–1985 | Broadcast games in primetime on Saturdays and Mondays. ESPN offered to broadcast a 22-game slate in 1986, but the league suspended operations instead. The league ultimately ceased to exist. | [185][186] [187] | |
| XFL | XFL on ESPN | ABC ESPN ESPN2 FX |
2020, 2023 |
|
[188][189] [26] | |
| Arena football | Arena Football League (AFL) | Arena Football League on ESPN | ESPN | |||
| Association football/Soccer | CONMEBOL | Copa América | ESPN+ | 2019 | Broadcast rights acquired and moved to Fox Sports beginning with the 2021 tournament. | [190][191] |
| English Football League (EFL) | EFL Championship | ESPN3 ESPN+ |
2008– 2017–2024 |
Matches broadcast on ESPN3, before moving to ESPN+. All EFL broadcast rights moved to CBS Sports in 2024. | [192][193] [194] | |
| EFL League One | ESPN3 ESPN+ |
2008– 2024–2017–2024 |
Matches broadcast on ESPN3, before moving to ESPN+. All EFL broadcast rights moved to CBS Sports in 2024. | [192][193] [194] | ||
| EFL League Two | ESPN3 ESPN+ |
2008– 2017–2024 |
Matches broadcast on ESPN3, before moving to ESPN+. All EFL broadcast rights moved to CBS Sports in 2024. | [192][193] [194] | ||
| EFL Cup | ESPN3 ESPN+ |
2008– 2017–2024 |
Matches broadcast on ESPN3, before moving to ESPN+. All EFL broadcast rights moved to CBS Sports in 2024. | [192][194] | ||
| FIFA | FIFA World Cup | ABC ESPN ESPN2 |
1982, 1986, 1994–2014 |
Full broadcast rights moved to Fox Sports beginning with the 2018 tournament. |
[195][196] [197][198] | |
| FIFA Women's World Cup | ABC ESPN ESPN2 |
1995–2011 |
Full broadcast rights moved to Fox Sports beginning with the 2015 tournament. |
[199][200] [198] | ||
| Lega Serie A | Serie A | ESPN ESPN2 ESPNEWS ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2007–2010, 2018–2021 |
All Lega Serie A rights moved to CBS Sports in 2021. |
[201][202][203] | |
| Coppa Italia | ESPN ESPN2 ESPNEWS ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2007–2010, 2018–2021 |
All Lega Serie A rights moved to CBS Sports in 2021. |
[201][203] | ||
| Supercoppa Italiana | ESPN ESPN2 ESPNEWS ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2018–2021 | Match broadcast on one of the ESPN linear networks (ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNEWS) with Spanish-language coverage on ESPN Deportes. All Lega Serie A rights moved to CBS Sports in 2021. | [201][204] | ||
| Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL) | Bundesliga | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2020–2026 |
|
[205] | |
| 2. Bundesliga | ESPN+ | 2020–2026 | [205] | |||
| DFL-Supercup | ESPN+ | 2020–2025 | [205] | |||
| DFB-Pokal | ESPN+ | 2020–present | [205] | |||
| Major League Soccer (MLS) | MLS on ESPN | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
1996–2022 | All MLS broadcast rights moved to Apple TV+ in 2023. | [206][207] [208] | |
| MLS All-Star Game | ABC ESPN ESPN2 |
1996–2014, 2016, 2018, 2022 |
All MLS broadcast rights moved to Apple TV+ in 2023. | [207] | ||
| MLS Cup playoffs | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPNEWS ESPN Deportes |
1996–2022 | All MLS broadcast rights moved to Apple TV+ in 2023. | [207] | ||
| MLS Cup | ABC ESPN |
1996–2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 |
All MLS broadcast rights moved to Apple TV+ in 2023. |
[209][210] [211][212] [213][207] | ||
| Premier League | Premier League on ESPN | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPN Deportes |
1996–1998, 2009–2013 |
Full rights moved to NBC Sports in 2013. |
[214][215] [216][217] [218][219] | |
| Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) | UEFA Champions League | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPN Deportes |
1994–2009, 2014–2018 |
Full rights moved to Turner Sports in 2018. |
[220][221] [222] | |
| UEFA European Championship | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2008–2021 | Rights moved to Fox Sports beginning with the 2024 tournament. | [223][224] [225] | ||
| UEFA Women's Championship | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPNU ESPN Deportes ESPN+ |
2013–2022 | Rights moved to Fox Sports beginning with the 2025 tournament. | [226][227] [228] | ||
| UEFA Nations League | ||||||
| United States Soccer Federation (USSF) | United States men's national soccer team | |||||
| United States women's national soccer team | ||||||
| Australian rules football | Australian Football League | 2009–2011 | ||||
| Baseball | Major League Baseball (MLB) | Sunday Night Baseball | ABC ESPN ESPN2 |
1990–2025 | ||
| Monday Night Baseball | ESPN ESPN2 |
2006–2021 | ||||
| Wednesday Night Baseball | ABC ESPN ESPN2 |
1990–2021 | ||||
| Home Run Derby | ESPN | 1993–2025 | ||||
| Wild Card Series | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Deportes |
2014–2025 | Formerly the Wild Card Game from 2014 to 2019 and in 2021. ESPN broadcast seven of the eight 2020 Wild Card Series. Exclusive broadcasting rights to the entire Wild Card Series since 2022. | [229][230] [231][232] [233] | ||
| MLB draft | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ |
2007–2008, 2020–2025 |
|
[234][235] [236][237] [238] | ||
| Basketball | N/A | The Basketball Tournament (TBT) | ESPN ESPN2 ESPNU ESPN+ |
2014–2023 | Broadcast rights acquired by Fox Sports in 2024. | [239][240] [241] |
| Euroleague Basketball | EuroLeague | ESPN3 | 2023–present | [242] | ||
| Boxing | Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) | PBC on ESPN | 2015–2017 | Returned again for 2020 only, based on the Top Rank main feed. | ||
| Top Rank | Top Rank Boxing on ESPN Top Rank Boxing on ESPN+ |
ESPN ESPN+ |
2017–2025 | [243] | ||
| Canadian football | Canadian Football League (CFL) | CFL on ESPN | ESPN2 ESPN3 ESPNEWS ESPN+ |
1994–1997, 2008–2022 |
Rights acquired by CBS Sports Network in 2023. |
[244][245] |
| Golf | PGA Tour | U.S. Open | ESPN | 1982–2014 |
Full broadcast rights acquired by Fox Sports in 2015. |
[65][246] [247] |
| The Open Championship | ABC ESPN |
1983–2002, 2003–2009, 2010–2015 |
Full broadcast rights acquired and moved to NBC Sports in 2016. |
[65][248] [249][250] [251] | ||
| Ice hockey | National Hockey League (NHL) | World Cup of Hockey | ESPN ESPN2 ESPNEWS |
2016 | [252] | |
| Indoor soccer | Major Indoor Soccer League | 1985–1987, 2005–2006 |
Championship games only in 2005 and 2006 | |||
| Lacrosse | Women's Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL) | ESPN3 ESPNU |
2019 | All matches aired on ESPN3 except for final, which aired on ESPNU. League closed in 2020. | [253][254] | |
| Mixed martial arts | Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) | UFC Numbered UFC Fight Night UFC on ESPN UFC on ABC |
ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPNEWS ESPN+ |
2019–2025 | First acquired rights linear broadcast match rights. Later acquired exclusive rights for UFC Numbered PPVs events on ESPN+. | [255][256] |
| Motorsport | American Le Mans Series | 1999–2013 | ||||
| Champ Car World Series | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN Classic |
2007 | Series merged with IRL, beginning with the 2008 season | |||
| Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) | 1980–2001 | |||||
| Global Rallycross | 2011–2013 | |||||
| Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile | Formula One (F1) | ABC ESPN ESPN2 ESPN+ |
1984–1997, 2018–2025 |
Current coverage simulcasted from Sky Sports. | [257][258] | |
| FIA Formula 2 Championship | ||||||
| FIA Formula 3 Championship | ||||||
| F1 Academy | ||||||
| Porsche Supercup | ||||||
| IndyCar Series | IndyCar Series on ESPN | ESPN ESPN2 |
1996–2008 | Rights moved to Versus Channel in 2009. ESPN continued to produce the broadcasts of five races that aired on ABC through 2018, including the Indianapolis 500. | ||
| Indianapolis 500 | ABC | |||||
| NASCAR | NASCAR on ESPN | ABC ESPN |
1981–2000, 2001–2002, 2007–2014 |
ESPN's contract portion moved to NBC Sports in 2015. |
||
| National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) | ESPN | 1980–2015 |
Rights moved to Fox Sports in 2016 |
|||
| Tennis | Atlanta Open | 2010–2017 | ||||
| ATP Finals | 2000–2019 | |||||
| Canadian Open | 2004–2017 | |||||
| Citi Open | 2004–2017 | |||||
| French Open | ESPN ESPN2 ESPN3 |
1986–1993, 2002–2015 |
ESPN relinquished sublicensing agreement after the 2015 tournament. |
[259][260] [261][262] [263][264] [265] | ||
| Indian Wells Masters | ?–2007, 2011–2019 |
|||||
| Miami Open | 1985–2007, 2011–2019 |
|||||
| Silicon Valley Classic | 2004–2017 | |||||
| Winston-Salem Open | 2004–2017 | |||||
| Thoroughbred racing | N/A | Belmont Stakes | ABC | 2006–2010 | Broadcast rights returned to NBC Sports in 2011. | [266][267] |
| Breeders' Cup | ABC ESPN ESPN2 |
2006–2011 | Broadcast rights returned to NBC Sports in 2012. | [268][269] | ||
| Wrestling | AWA Championship Wrestling | 1985–1990 | ||||
| Global Wrestling Federation | 1991–1994 | |||||
| UWF Fury Hour | 1995 |
Collegiate sports
Conference sports
| Division | Conference | Sport(s) | Network(s) | Release | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCAA Division I (D-I) | Big Ten Conference | Basketball | 1979–2023 | Big Ten signed new contracts with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and NBC Sports beginning with the 2023–24 NCAA season. | [270][271] | |
| Football (FBS) | 1979–2022 | Big Ten signed new contracts with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, and NBC Sports beginning with the 2023–24 NCAA season. | [270][271] | |||
| Mountain West Conference (MW) | Football (FBS) | Broadcast rights moved to Fox Sports and CBS Sports in 2020. | [272] | |||
| Pac-12 Conference | Basketball | 2012–2024 | ESPN did not renew agreement after the 2023–24 NCAA season. | [273] | ||
| Football (FBS) | 2007–2023 | ESPN did not renew agreement after the 2023–24 NCAA season. | [273] |
Individual teams
- BYU Cougars football: 2011–2020 (shared with BYU TV; BYU reserves all rights to their events)