Dubai, UAE, 15 July 2008: Arab Digital Distribution (ADD), the largest television platform management company in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced the addition of three ESPN channels to its popular ART, Pehla and FirstNet bouquets at no extra cost to its valuable subscribers. ESPN, NASN and ESPN Classic will air on ART, while ESPN and NASN will be added to the Pehla Silver, Pehla Gold and FirstNet Premium packages. ESPN Classic will also be part of the Pehla Basic and FirstNet Choice bouquets. The channels will be on air in the first week of August 2008.
Announcing the launch of the ESPN channels, Mr. Vinod D’ Mello, Executive Vice-President, Group Strategy and Planning, ADD, said: “We are glad to bring the best in sports entertainment to our viewers through this tie-up. ESPN is the world’s largest sports entertainment network and it is popular not just with Americans and other Western expats but also with the Arab and Asian communities who follow American sports in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries.”
Commenting on the tie-up, Lynne Frank, Managing Director, ESPN, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said, “In a region that is young and dynamic, where sport plays such a vital part in the life of the people, we are thrilled to be reaching new audience. We are pleased to be able to bring ESPN, NASN and ESPN Classic to ADD subscribers. These three channels show ESPN’s desire to meet the needs of sports fans all over the world.”
ESPN is a world leader in sports entertainment dedicated to bringing round-the-clock programming to its viewers across the globe. Founded in the US in September 1979, this cable network covers the best in world as well as American sports, including golf, tennis, cricket, NFL football, NBA basketball, NHL hockey, NASCAR racing and the Soccer League. Its programming is composed of live and taped sporting events as well as sports-related news, documentaries and talk shows.
NASN (North American Sports Network) is a London-based sports network that is the home of North American sport in Europe. It broadcasts a selection of professional and collegiate sports leagues (Major League Baseball, NHL, NFL, CFL, NCAA, etc) 24 hours a day on digital cable and satellite. Launched in December 2002, it was acquired by ESPN in 2007 and is due to witness a change in its name and identity.
ESPN Classic, launched in 1995 and bought over by ESPN in 1997, is a classic sports network that features sport documentaries, sports-themed movies, biographies of famous sports personalities and re-runs, with added commentary, of famous sporting events like the World Series and Super Bowl. |