ESPN in the UK

ESPN has unveiled the Barclays Premier League fixtures that it will broadcast exclusively live in December. These new games join a host of live football on ESPN during the coming months, including the First and Second rounds of the FA Cup, four match days of the UEFA Europa League group stage, action from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League, plus, Rangers matches from the Irn-Bru Scottish Football League. In addition to top British football, ESPN will bring fans televised coverage of European leagues including Italy’s Serie A, Germany’s Bundesliga and France’s Ligue 1.

For the Barclays Premier League, ESPN will kick off the final month of the year with exclusively live coverage of the clash between Reading and Manchester United on Saturday 1^st December. Reading are without a win in the league so far this season and will face a tough test when title contenders United visit the Madejski Stadium. On Saturday 22^nd December, Liverpool will face Fulham live on ESPN – a match-up which saw Fulham twice beat Liverpool last season. Saturday 29^th December sees Arsenal welcome Newcastle to the Emirates in a fixture that produced late drama last season with an injury time winner from former striker Robin van Persie.

Over the remaining weeks of 2012, ESPN will also air exclusively live UEFA Europa League action. Multiple games are set to be broadcast during each matchday of the group stage, with British teams such as Liverpool, Tottenham and Newcastle aiming to secure a spot in the round of 32. In addition, the FA Cup continues on ESPN with first and second round matches – plus replays – during November and December as teams compete for a place in the third round in January and a potential glamour tie against a Barclays Premier League club.

Also, ESPN’s extensive coverage of European leagues will continue, bringing viewers some of the biggest games on the continent, such as Juventus v Inter Milan and the Rome derby between Lazio and Roma in Serie A, Montpellier v PSG in France’s Ligue 1, and Bayern Munich v Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga.

Jeroen Oerlemans, Vice President TV Channels, ESPN, Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: “We’re delighted to announce this latest set of live and exclusive Barclays Premier League games. These matches add to a line-up of fixtures from England, Scotland and across Europe that are sure to be full of excitement as sides compete for league titles, battle to progress in European competition, and, write their own chapter of FA Cup history.”

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OCTOBER

Barclays Premier League

Saturday 6^th                   West Ham United v Arsenal                    4:30pm

Saturday 20^th                 Norwich City v Arsenal                           4:30pm

Saturday 27^th                 Manchester City v Swansea City             4:30pm

Clydesdale Bank Premier League

Saturday 20^th                 St Mirren v Celtic                                   11.45am

Friday 26^th                     Motherwell v Hibernian                           7pm

UEFA Europa League – Group Stage – Matchday 3

Thursday 25^th – At least two live televised matches. Details announced at a later date.

NOVEMBER

Barclays Premier League

Saturday 3^rd                  West Ham United v Manchester City       4:30pm

Saturday 17^th                 Norwich City v Manchester United          4:30pm

Saturday 24^th                 Aston Villa v Arsenal                             4:30pm

FA Cup – First Round

Saturday 3^rd & Sunday 4^th – Two matches exclusively live (plus two replays at a later date)

UEFA Europa League – Group Stage – Matchday 4 & 5

Thursday 8^th – At least two live televised matches. Details announced at a later date.

Thursday 22^nd – At least two live televised matches. Details announced at a later date.

Clydesdale Bank Premier League

Saturday 10^th                 Inverness CT v Hearts                            11.30am

Saturday 17^th                 Aberdeen v Celtic                                  11.45am

Wednesday 28^th             Hearts v Celtic                                       6.45pm

Irn-Bru Scottish Football League

Sunday 25^th                   Elgin City v Rangers                              11.15am

DECEMBER

Barclays Premier League

Saturday 1st                 Reading v Manchester United                 4:30pm

Saturday 22^nd                Liverpool v Fulham                                4:30pm

Saturday 29^th                 Arsenal v Newcastle                              4:30pm

FA Cup – Second Round

Saturday 1^st & Sunday 2^nd – Two matches exclusively live (plus two replays at a later date)

UEFA Europa League – Group Stage – Matchday 6

Thursday 6^th – At least two live televised matches. Details announced at a later date.

Clydesdale Bank Premier League

Saturday 8^th                   Kilmarnock v Celtic                                11.45am

Irn-Bru Scottish Football League

Saturday 15^th                 Montrose v Rangers                              12pm