ESPN secures UEFA finals archive rights

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UEFA has agreed a five-year deal with ESPN for the global rights to 60 of the best UEFA finals, dating back to 1956. The agreement allows first ESPN Classic Sport, plus ESPN’s global networks in the U.S., Africa, Asia, Australia and the Middle East, to televise legendary European football matches.

Included in the package are UEFA European Cup finals, UEFA Cup finals and UEFA European Cup Winners’ Cup finals. Among the games included are AC Milan v Steaua Bucuresti in 1989 and Manchester United v Benfica in 1968.

Tony Stimpson, the director of programming at ESPN Classic Sport, said: “We have worked closely with UEFA since Classic Sport began rolling out across Europe and have been assessing ways to demonstrate the heritage and quality of their classic programming. These unforgettable encounters from a golden age of European club football represent a big step forward for Classic Sport and its program strategy to feature the ultimate line-up of top European football action. We are extremely pleased to have concluded this deal with UEFA and believe that it marks the start of an ongoing and positive relationship with the European governing body.”