Buena Vista Internet Group (BVIG) has
acquired a controlling interest of 60 per cent in
Soccernet from the
Daily Mail and General Trust.
Soccernet will now become the
cornerstone for ESPN.com
to expand its international operations.
“With Soccernet, we are now well positioned to grow
our audience base outside the United States, introducing
sports fans worldwide to the depth and breadth of coverage
people have come to expect from ESPN.com,” said Kevin Mayer,
executive vice president, television network product
and international, BVIG.
ESPN.com also announced Soccernet’s re-launch with additional
features. The site will not only provides breaking news, match
results, statistics and analysis for leagues in England and
Scotland but also for the rest of Europe, Latin America and
other parts of the world. It is the world’s most popular soccer
site with more than 20 million page views per month.
One of Soccernet’s key features will be a premium fantasy game.
ESPN.com says that the fantasy games on its various sports sites
have generated 2.6 million registrations in the past 12 months.
The Daily Mail expressed satisfaction at the deal, saying that
the ESPN.com brand would enable Soccernet to achieve its potential.
“ESPN is the recognised leader in international sports programming
in television and on the Web, and this relationship will give Soccernet
the backing needed to increase its position as the worldwide football
information provider,” said Paul Zwillenberg, managing director of
Associated New Media, Daily Mail and General Trust’s Internet division.
For English football fans, Soccernet will offer in-depth coverage
of the FA Cup and Worthington Cup, and all the major competitions
in Europe, with news and analysis from ESPN, the Daily Mail and
Evening Standard. Fans can also look forward to live chats with players,
a history and honors section and a referee report.
