NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The Atlantic 10 Conference and ESPN have
reached a multi-year media rights deal for more than 500 conference events each
year to be carried on ESPN+, the first multi-sport, direct-to-consumer
subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company Direct-to-Consumer
& International segment in conjunction with ESPN.
The comprehensive new deal makes ESPN+ the exclusive
streaming home for most Atlantic 10 sports and includes exclusive games from
multiple A-10 Championships including men's and women's basketball, men's and
women's soccer, field hockey, women's volleyball, baseball, softball and
women's lacrosse.
"The A-10 and ESPN have had a long-term linear
television agreement that has been a win-win for both parties," stated
Atlantic 10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade. "This additional agreement
gives the Atlantic 10 and its membership unprecedented visibility on some of
the best streaming technology in sports, and it gives ESPN+ a wealth of
high-level collegiate sports content. I can't thank ESPN enough for their
partnership with the Atlantic 10 Conference."
"ESPN+ has quickly established itself as a go-to destination
for exclusive sports content," said ESPN Executive Vice President of
Programming and Scheduling Burke Magnus. "We are thrilled to add the
Atlantic 10 Conference, carrying more games from the conference, including
multiple exclusive championship events, than any other network, while also
offering an increasingly personalized experience on the ESPN app. The new deal
bolsters our college sports offerings on ESPN+ to go along with professional
leagues such as MLB, NHL, MLS and premier events from Grand Slam tennis, Top
Rank boxing, UFC and the PGA Tour."
Beginning with the 2018-19 athletic season, ESPN+ will be
the home of all digital-only Atlantic 10 home events. This includes all men's
and women's basketball games not televised, as well as all home Olympic sport
events that are streamed. ESPN+ will also be the exclusive home to all A-10
Olympic Sport championship events and the digital platform will carry the first
round of the men's basketball championship (two games) and the women's
basketball quarterfinals (four games). This will supplement ESPN's coverage of
Atlantic 10 men's and women's basketball regular season games through the
existing linear television partnership. An ESPN's linear network will continue
to air the A-10 Championship final of the women's championship.
