ESPN creates UK agency roster

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 | By Camille Alarcon

The agencies have been brought in to help launch its new channel in the UK on 3 August also called ESPN.

Wieden & Kennedy, which will handle its advertising account, is already the incumbent on ESPN US.

Carat has been drafted to handle media planning and buying. The media agency is the incumbent for Disney.

Bruce Dunlop and Associates will handle on-air branding, while Agenda21 and Collective will oversee digital media activity.

Promotions and publicity will be handled by The Promotions and Publicity Factory.

It is believed that discussions were held with several agencies but there was not a formal pitch process.

The development follows the broadcaster’s acquisition of the rights to televise 46 Barclays Premier League matches this coming season.

It was previously held by Setanta which last month went into administration.

ESPN has also won the rights to air 23 games per season from 2010 to 2013 and the rights to air live games in the Irish Republic.

The new channel will also broadcast international sports and a wide-range of premium US sports previously only provided on ESPN America.

An ESPN spokesman says: “The company has a policy of not making announcements about any marketing agencies from which it contracts work.”