ESPN and ESPN+ have reached an exclusive, multi-year rights agreement in the United States for Italy’s Serie A. The agreement will bring more than 340 matches per season to ESPN+, the new multi-sport, direct-to-consumer subscription streaming service from The Walt Disney Company Direct-to-Consumer & International (DTCI) segment and ESPN.
Starting this month, ESPN+ will carry an average of nine matches live each week from August through May, while ESPN networks will televise a Serie A Match of the Week — close to 40 matches per season. Most telecasts will air on ESPN and ESPN2, and the Match of the Week will also be available in Spanish on ESPN Deportes. The 20-team Serie A is home to some of global football’s most recognizable and storied clubs, including Juventus FC, AC Milan, AS Roma, FC Inter Milan and more.
Coverage of Serie A TIM will also feature year-round news and highlights content across ESPN platforms. Additionally, ESPN+ will exclusively feature one-hour season preview and review programs, a weekly preview and highlight shows and a Serie A goals of the week program.
Coverage of the 2018-19 Serie A season will begin Saturday, August 18, with the league’s opening match, Chievo Verona vs. Juventus, airing on ESPN+ (12 p.m. ET). Five-time Ballon d’Or Award winner Cristiano Ronaldo, will make his league debut for Juventus, winners of seven straight Serie A TIM titles. Before joining the club in July, Ronaldo scored a record 450 goals in 438 games in nine seasons with Spain’s Real Madrid, leading the club to four UEFA Champions League titles. His move to Juventus is considered one of the most impactful transfers in international soccer.
SEE MORE: Schedule of Serie A games on US TV and streaming
“We are extremely satisfied with the agreement, which testifies the growing importance and the international recognition of our league,” said Gaetano Miccichè, Lega Serie A President. “This agreement, together with those recently concluded, shows the value of both Serie A TIM and its champions, which will be appreciated by more than 90 million soccer fans and enthusiasts in the U.S. in the next years”.
Added Burke Magnus, Executive Vice President, Programming and Scheduling, ESPN, “The addition of Italy’s Serie A TIM underscores our ambitious goal of making ESPN+ home to the world’s best soccer leagues – and an indispensable destination for fans of the sport in the United States. With Ronaldo’s arrival to Serie A TIM, we anticipate even more interest and exposure for this property in the seasons ahead.”
Hillary Mandel, SVP, North America, IMG Media, said: “IMG and Serie A are delighted to have ESPN as our media partner in the US. This was an extremely competitive process with multiple networks and platforms interested in the rights. Serie A TIM is a premium global football league which is seeing large investment and ambition from the clubs, resulting in players such as Cristiano Ronaldo joining an already strong list of some of the best footballers in the world. It was important for us to find a broadcaster who understood the vision and passion we share to elevate the profile of Serie A TIM to both existing and new fans of Italian football in the US. In ESPN+ and the ESPN networks we have that exclusive partner.”
Italy’s Serie A, now in its 117th season, ranks among the top leagues in the world. Serie A had 58 players on the just-concluded 2018 FIFA World Cup team rosters, which ranked fourth among all leagues.
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ACM1899
August 10, 2019 at 11:44 am
Does anyone know if the upcoming Serie A games will be televised through ESPN+ the same way as last season?
Christopher Harris
August 10, 2019 at 12:22 pm
Yes, same way. Plus one game a week on TV. Schedule is at https://www.worldsoccertalk-wp.futbolsites.dev/serie-a-tv-schedule
HKM
August 9, 2018 at 12:04 pm
Does anyone recall how many Serie A matches aired on beIN last year? It was always so confusing as to how many live matches or replay matches were being show, was it even possible to see all matches live every week like this deal is offering?
Lovac
August 9, 2018 at 12:37 pm
It was all over the place and depended on what else they had on that weekend. I remember weekends without a single live serie A game with maybe a couple on delay. Then there were weekends with maybe four live games. Weekday games fared even worse as they normally went against la liga games, and we know what bein prefers.
LA_Roma
August 8, 2018 at 3:23 pm
So what Sling package alongside ESPN+ should we buy to have an access to all the matches?
Christopher Harris
August 8, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Sling Orange so you can access ESPN and ESPN2 (as well as a ton of other channels).
theoranjeboy
August 8, 2018 at 12:39 pm
I only watch La Liga and Premier League on a regular basis. I had xfinity and was watching Bein in SD and putting up with it like everyone else, but now since Bein got pulled from Xfinity, I am looking for other options. The only 2 things that I could find was Sling and Fubo Tv. Both of them are over 40 bucks if I want to get NBCSN (Premier League) and Bein Sports (La Liga). So I am just thinking of getting rid of Comcast altogether and going to Sling. I was hesitant in getting rid of Comcast because they actually give me a deal on their Internet service if I am getting TV service. So now they will jack up the price of Internet and that’s my only option where I am at. So I am screwed no matter which direction I go and my bill stays pretty much the same. I am looking to see if there are any other options for me. Without using phones/tablets/laptops – is there any way I can get La Liga only – on a samsung smart tv app? Watching soccer wasn’t this frustrating before, why is this happening in a country where soccer is still not mainstream. I think the providers now know we will do anything to watch it.
Christopher Harris
August 8, 2018 at 1:34 pm
Definitely cut the cord with Comcast. My recommendation would be to first look to see if there are any other Internet service providers in the area other than Comcast. Sometimes there are others available. And if you only want to watch La Liga and the Premier League, you can subscribe to Sling Blue and then add the Sports Extra package (so you can get beIN SPORTS). That’ll total $30/month.
My other recommendation is to buy a Roku streaming stick (if you have a HDMI port on your TV). It’s on sale right now for $50. Slot that into your TV and then you can watch LaLiga plus Premier League (and a ton of other programming) through the Sling TV app on your Roku streaming stick. This way, you don’t have to deal with laptops or mobile phones.
More info about Sling Blue can be found here: https://worldsoccertalk-wp.futbolsites.dev/watch-soccer-via-sling-blue/
theoranjeboy
August 8, 2018 at 10:07 pm
Thanks. So I cancelled comcast. Saved 50
bucks there. Got sling sports international for 10 bucks a month which has bein sports and bein sports en. One of my cousin added me to his youtube tv subscription. It has nbcsn and espn channels I was looking for and both sling and youtube tv have samsung tv app. Both seems to work well. Lets hope that it works throughout the season. I am a happy camper now – just in time for the new season. Go Gunners and Hala Madrid.
Ritchie
August 8, 2018 at 2:59 pm
Direct TV Now-Live a Little plus the Deportes add-on would give you Bein and NBCSN for $45.
That’s pretty much my setup and I Chromecast it to my TVs.
I’m not saying it is the cheapest, but I find sling’s packages confusing while I believe fubo lacks ESPN and ABC.
Monte
August 8, 2018 at 6:00 pm
But Direct TV Now only carry beIN in spanish
Ritchie
August 8, 2018 at 6:45 pm
The bein app gives you all the channels. Since I’m casting anyway, that works for me.
Monte
August 8, 2018 at 10:03 pm
That’s good to know. Do you ever use the beIN Android app??? I continue to have problems with it signing in with sling. I have no issues with the website and I’m able to cast it to my Android TV but the Android phone app never works.
Agreed that sling is confusing and fubo needs ESPN. ESPN is the only reason I’m not currently with fubo.
Ritchie
August 9, 2018 at 9:25 am
I’ll try the android app later. and let you know. As I type this, I’m watching a PSG and Mainz replay on Bein (English) via the IOS Bein app. This is through the $5 deportes add on for direct tv now.
John Curray
August 8, 2018 at 7:12 am
does somebody know what ESPN pays for this deal with IMG? Must be an expensive one…
David
August 8, 2018 at 5:48 pm
IMG and RAI International together are paying $420 million per season for 3 season for Serie A rights. IMG resold the rights to ESPN in the US so it was pretty expensive for ESPN.
John Curray
August 9, 2018 at 7:12 am
yes but the IMG deal is for global Rights outside of Italy. So I would be interested in the US-only figure ESPN is paying now 😉
Toby
August 8, 2018 at 5:23 am
My question is, do I have too much? Fubo w/ International Sports Plus, Sling Orange with Sports Extra, and ESPN+. Is any of my coverage redundant?
Christopher Harris
August 8, 2018 at 8:08 am
There’s very little redundancy, if any. You cover all bases pretty well.
Monte
August 8, 2018 at 5:57 pm
I got sling orange and blue with sports extra, SubAmerica extra (TyC Sports), Willow Cricket, ESPN+, Fanatiz and thinking hard about Bleacher Report……..
GianLuigiB
August 8, 2018 at 12:44 am
I complained about some of the narrators on BeingSports and how Juventus games were pushed aside if a so-so Liga match coincided with the time-slot, but at least I could watch them online as part of my DISH service. The Match of The Week is no more than a weekly ‘promotional event’ for the streaming service. (I’m not paying extra for a streaming service.)
Francesco
August 7, 2018 at 11:39 pm
Does anyone know who will be calling the games on ESPN?
Monte
August 8, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Hopefully the world feed!!!
Peter305
August 7, 2018 at 5:59 pm
I sure hope this means the FA Cup will also end up on ESPN. I don’t think the first official round is until October so we’ll have to be patient.
Francesco Balderacchi
August 7, 2018 at 5:50 pm
Daniel….what app are you using? I’m guessing a web browser will work, but is there an app for Apple TV? How about an app for Windows 10? Inquiring minds NEED to know.
David
August 7, 2018 at 5:58 pm
There is an app for Apple TV. It’s just the regular ESPN app, but it was redesigned when ESPN+ launched.
Francesco
August 7, 2018 at 6:19 pm
So, do you have enter two separate login accounts (one for your cable account and another one for the ESPN+ subscription)?
Ritchie
August 7, 2018 at 6:30 pm
Yes. You will need to login two different ways to get both services.
Guillermo Estrada
August 7, 2018 at 5:39 pm
Would ESPN deportes have more than 40 games since is a soccer (futbol) channel already with Spanish cup games, liga mx games , MLS, Pokal…… napoli games since Mexican goal keeper (Ochoa close to singing with them)
Steve
August 8, 2018 at 8:42 am
As a Napoli fan I wouldn’t count on seeing many of their matches unless you pay extra for Plus. ESPN will be obsessed with Juve and US broadcasters in general have even preferred televising names like Roma and Inter over Napoli. Even though it was one of best teams in Europe last year, Bein typically put Napoli on their Connect app rather than their main channel.
Azer
August 7, 2018 at 5:28 pm
As an EPL & Bundesliga fan, the only match from SERIE A I care about is the one at 2:45PM ET on Saturday & Sunday. It’s Chievo Verona vs Juventus on Aug 18th, 2018 at noon ET, I would rather wait 30 more minutes until 12:30ET and watch Man Utd or Bayern Munich instead. The same goes for the other start times. I don’t mean to complain about this but why can’t we have more SERIE A or other top leagues at our finger tips instead of having to use the computer. ESPN has so many channels to choose for SERIE A matches. I guess High School leagues, little league baseball is more important for them.
Ritchie
August 7, 2018 at 5:36 pm
ESPN/2 will be showing college football and basketball on weekend afternoons in the fall and winter. The TV channels won’t have the available time slots.
Kid Icky
August 8, 2018 at 12:51 am
You won’t have to use a computer if you have something like Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Apple TV, etc… You can watch right from your TV.
Steve
August 7, 2018 at 4:30 pm
What about the FA Cup???, thought that was part of the same package? Nobody has a clue what’s what till it’s announced lol.
Anthony
August 7, 2018 at 3:53 pm
By the way, you know ESPN will get La Liga next year.
Eddie
August 7, 2018 at 8:31 pm
La Liga expire in US by 2019-20 season
DiRT
August 7, 2018 at 3:48 pm
UGH. I hate watching stuff on ESPN+. It’s so tough to find content, future listings and replays, and filter out the stuff you don’t want. It’s not B/R Live bad, but it’s not good. Fubo’s DVR was so simple to use.
Daniel
August 7, 2018 at 4:08 pm
What app are you using? I thought the first week or so was bad, but now it seems well categorized and easy to get to. Agree B/R is the worst ever.
MDFootball
August 7, 2018 at 5:25 pm
It’s actually pretty easy – Open the app, click the Browse link at the top and then click the soccer ball. Live and upcoming events on the first row, Past Events (replays) are underneath that.
Yespage
August 8, 2018 at 2:18 pm
Roku it is a pain in the butt. I can only imagine how hard replays will be to find during college football.
Anthony
August 7, 2018 at 3:47 pm
Good deal for ESPN. Interesting that the FA Cup is not mentioned. It would fit on ESPN, but also on NBCSN, who I hope gets coverage.
Yespage
August 8, 2018 at 2:20 pm
Not certain how you can tell this is a good deal. We don’t know what ESPN paid for the rights.
JP
August 7, 2018 at 3:42 pm
Will the match of the week also be available on ESPN+ or do we need to have ESPN through Cable or Sling/Vue etc to watch that one game?
Lovac
August 7, 2018 at 3:57 pm
It says that ESPN+ will carry on average 9 games per week. There are 10 games in every round, so the way it’s written, it seems that the televised match of the week won’t be on ESPN+.
JP
August 7, 2018 at 4:08 pm
That’s terrible. Separating the same property to different platforms makes no sense.
At least B/R Live is making the matches aired on TNT available to B/R Live subscribers too and not forcing them to pay additional $ for cable/satellite.
If they’re going to do this, would make more sense to air more matched on TV and relegate the leftovers to ESPN+. That was the beIN model (mostly)
Christopher Harris
August 7, 2018 at 5:15 pm
Correct. 340 games on ESPN+ and 40 games on TV.
Azer
August 7, 2018 at 9:18 pm
Hi Chris,
I recently received my bill from COMCAST, In the news section it said Comcast is now offering some international channels including RAI Italia. It didn’t say how much it cost. I don’t know if RAI still has rights to SERIE A in Italian but it’s something that got my attention. I just wanted to report this.
Thank you for this wonderful website.
Christopher Harris
August 7, 2018 at 9:31 pm
Correct, RAI International will broadcast Serie A games in the United States in the Italian-language.
Christopher Harris
August 7, 2018 at 5:16 pm
You’ll need ESPN through your TV or streaming provider to watch the game of the week. The games on ESPN+ are exclusive to ESPN+. And the games not on ESPN+ (40 per season), will be on ESPN or ESPN2.
Kid Icky
August 8, 2018 at 12:46 am
If you already have a streaming or cable provider just sign in with your credentials on the ESPN+ app & you can watch regular ESPN through there.
Carl Kennedy
August 7, 2018 at 3:37 pm
Is ESPN+ available via playstation?
Kid Icky
August 8, 2018 at 12:41 am
ESPN+ is a stand-alone subscription based service for $4.99/month or $49.99/year.
You could combine it with whatever streaming, satellite or cable service you might have to watch the regular ESPN channels within the app needed to see ESPN+ content… I have PS Vue & combine it with that.
CTBlues
August 8, 2018 at 7:16 am
There is a WatchESPN app for the PS4, but I am not sure if it has access to ESPN+. It might because on Roku ESPN+ is part of the ESPN app.
HKM
August 9, 2018 at 11:56 am
ESPN+ is not included in the WatchESPN app as it is only app ESPN+ is accessible on is the ESPN app (even though WatchESPN content is also available on the ESPN app).
Dan Nguyen
August 7, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Is there any headline saying which game will be televised for the first week?
Scott
August 7, 2018 at 7:45 pm
8/19 – Torino v Roma (ESPNNews)
8/25 – Juventus v Lazio (ESPN2)
Only the first two weeks are currently known for linear TV
Curtis Williams
August 7, 2018 at 3:07 pm
This is the biggest coup scored by ESPN in a long time!
Jim Stumbaugh Jr.
August 7, 2018 at 2:49 pm
Guessing ESPN also gets the FA Cup?
Marc
August 7, 2018 at 2:47 pm
Wonder if CR7 had any help in this??? DUH
Joeyy
August 7, 2018 at 3:57 pm
this deal was already talked about way before CR7 was even in the conversation