TOLDJA. MultiChoice announce that ESPN intends to end ESPN and ESPN Classic as TV channels on DStv.

MultiChoice is announcing that the satellite pay-TV operator has received notice from ESPN that ESPN "intends to close the ESPN and ESPN Classic TV channels in Africa on 31 July 2013".

MultiChoice says it's a business decision by ESPN which is affecting all its channels in Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Earlier in the week TV with Thinus reported that 31 July would be the last day for ESPN Classic (DStv 231).

The assumption was that ESPN as the main sports channel would still continue and that only ESPN Classic would be going dark. The main ESPN channel (DStv 230) will however likely cease too at the end of the month.

In May TV with Thinus reported that ESPN Classic would likely go dark by the end of July after the news broke in February and I reported that the Disney-owned ESPN is planning to exit international TV markets with big implications for South Africa.

Last year The Walt Disney Company suddenly made it painfully and abundantly clear that it doesn't care so for ESPN outside of America. The Walt Disney Company's chairman and CEO Bob Iger told investors that "ESPN's international business has never been particularly large, nor has it been a huge priority for the company".

ESPN Classic to end on DStv on 31 July; last day will be the end of this month, says ESPN.

ESPN Classic (DStv 231) will have it's last day on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform on 31 July according to ESPN which is ending ESPN Classic as a TV channel for South Africa and Africa. MultiChoice says it isn't confirmed.

In February TV with Thinus reported that ESPN was considering ending ESPN Classic as a TV channel in Africa and other territories following a new contract with BT in the United Kingdom, resulting in a scaled-back ESPN presence for South Africa and Africa.

In May TV with Thinus reported that ESPN Classic will likely go dark at the end of July when ESPN confirmed that it has decided to cease broadcasting ESPN Classic as a TV channel across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Now ESPN tells TV with Thinus in answer to a media enquiry that indeed ESPN Classic's "last day will be the end of this month - 31 July".

Responding to a media enquiry, MultiChoice says "we do not have confirmation as yet about the future of ESPN on DStv. We will make the necessary announcements when we are ready."

MultiChoice now definitely losing the ESPN Classic channel on DStv; ESPN Classic likely to go dark by end of July.

The ESPN Classic (DStv 231) TV channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform is set to vanish soon as the channel will no longer be supplied to Africa.

In February TV with Thinus reported that ESPN said it's "not a definite" that ESPN Classic will be removed, but now ESPN's presence on television in South Africa and Africa will definitely be scaled back and decrease as ESPN decided to can and remove ESPN Classic from pay-TV operator's channel line-ups like DStv.

"Following the agreement with BT, and after further review and consultation, ESPN has decided to cease broadcasting the ESPN America channel across Europe and the Middle East and ESPN Classic channels across Europe, the Middle East and Africa,' says ESPN in a statement.

No specific date is available on when ESPN Classic will go dark on MultiChoice, but its likely - as I previously reported - to be the end of July.

"The date that the channels go off air will be different across different markets, based upon distribution agreements. However, in most markets, both channels will continue exactly as they are, unchanged, until 31 July, 2013 and you will continue to get the exact same sports content and coverage until that time."

For a specific date on when ESPN Classic is terminated, ESPN says subscribers need to contact the TV provider with whom they have a subscription.

The ESPN channel as South Africans see it to stay on air; ESPN Classic under consideration to 'wind down' and exit South Africa.

More clarity is finally emerging: ESPN (DStv 230) as the version of the American sports channel viewers are seeing in South Africa and in Africa on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform remains safe for now despite major changes to the channel's international ownership structure in the United Kingdom; ESPN Classic (DStv 231) could cease to be seen by July.

Yesterday I reported that the days are numbered for the main ESPN American sports channel and ESPN Classic as TV channels in Africa after The Walt Disney Company which owns ESPN sold off ESPN to BT in the United Kingdom.

ESPN Classic was not a part of the deal with BT and that channel is likely going to be "wind down" which means closed.

The part of ESPN which BT got will just be focused on the United Kingdom. Yesterday ESPN said that ESPN America won't be distributed anymore in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (EMEA) region (in which South Africa falls).

ESPN in London today responded to media enquiries I made yesterday when the news of the BT deal broke. ESPN told me that as it pertains to Africa "that it's not definite" that ESPN Classic is leaving Africa and South Africa as a TV channel, and that ESPN is not affected.

How can that be? Here is what is going on and ESPN is explaining further - so hopefully this gives more clarity about these American sports channels as seen in South Africa and their future:

ESPN: (in South Africa and elsewhere sub-Saharan Africa) is the channel which shows ESPN live sports in South Africa and elsewhere in the sub-Saharan region. "Neither the agreement with BT, nor the proposal around ESPN Classic in the EMEA region" will be impacting this channel, ESPN tells me.


ESPN Classic: ESPN says that "separate from the agreement with BT in the United Kingdom, there is a proposal to wind down ESPN Classic across Europe, the Middle East and Africa region". This is therefore the TV channel which is in danger of ceasing to exist on DStv.

(Keep in mind that Disney chairman and chief executive officer said in May 2012 that it's considering existing ESPN from a number of international TV markets.)


ESPN America: ESPN tells me this is a separate channel brand name. The channel is named ESPN America - for a channel that operates in the United Kingdom and Europe. "ESPN America is not a channel available in Africa. It has several feeds which are available in different parts of Europe and a portion of the Middle East," says ESPN.

When ESPN said it will stop distributing its ESPN America TV channel in international markets and in the EMEA region in its press statement, it's referring to the 3rd channel. 


That is why ESPN (number one) is "not affected" and why ESPN Classic (number two) will likely go the way of the dodo - although it's not a 100% certainty yet.

It's an intricate arrangement which leaves a lot of questions. Does ESPN Classic have any real chance of survival? Is ESPN as a brand in Africa and South Africa getting stronger or weaker or treading water?

Why did ESPN not yesterday communicate pro-actively the huge changes of ownership and the nuanced implications of, and to the various channels, to South Africa's press covering television within an African context? If ESPN Classic bites the dust will it be by July or sooner or later? Will ESPN (number one; the channel shown in South Africa) remain viable as a channel?

It's going to be very interesting over the coming months to keep track of ESPN Classic which is on life-support. Because it's not ESPN America but only ESPN, the ESPN TV channel is out of the woods. But what now?

The next few months is definitely going to yield a very interesting play-by-play when it comes to ESPN and ESPN Classic.

ESPN: 'Not a definite' that ESPN Classic is leaving Africa as channel by July, main ESPN not affected by deal.

ESPN says it's "not a definite" that ESPN Classic as a TV channel will not be seen anymore in Africa and that the main ESPN will remain.

Yesterday a deal was announced - to close at the end of July - by which BT in the United Kingdom takes over the running of an ESPN TV channel which belonged to the The Walt Disney Company. ESPN as far as TV channels are concerned, is considering retracting from the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region.

UPDATE Tuesday 25 Feb 22:40 - ESPN explains what exactly is going on and happening with each of the ESPN channels as seen in South Africa and its future.

ESPN Classic which is seen on DStv on MultiChoice does not form a part of this deal and ESPN is said to consider close down that channel. The ESPN channel's deal with BT does not extend to Africa, but what exactly that means for Africa and South Africa, is also not very clear.

The Disney-owned ESPN said in May 2012 that it was considering exiting a number of international TV markets as a result of the growing costs of acquiring live sporting rights.

Yesterday ESPN said that the main ESPN America TV channel will no longer be distributed anymore outside of America in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (only a version of it and only in the United Kingdom).

Now ESPN is clarifying somewhat what it means for the South African and Africa market.

Yesterday ESPN issued no statement to spell out and clarify exactly what the implications are for both of these American sports channels within and from an African context, and ESPN did not respond to media enquiries asking specifically about the implications of the BT deal, and how that is affecting viewers in Africa.

But now ESPN is responding. Paul Melvin, the director of communications for ESPN for the Europe, Middle East and Africa region (EMEA) says: "Separate from the agreement with BT in the United Kingdom, there is a proposal to wind down ESPN Classic across Europe, the Middle East and Africa region and the non-UK ESPN America channel feeds across Europe."

"However at this stage that is a proposal, and is subject to the appropriate review and consultation process - so there is no definite outcome. Neither the agreement with BT or the proposal around ESPN Classic affect the ESPN channel in South Africa," according to Paul Melvin.


What this means: So the decision to close down ESPN Classic and not show that channel in Africa anymore is a proposal, meaning it could, or could not happen.
ESPN, the main American channel ... is being withdrawn from this region of which Africa forms part, although ESPN also says it is not affected.

BREAKING. The end of ESPN and ESPN Classic on MultiChoice's DStv; channels set to go dark by July in South Africa and Africa.

DStv and DStv subscribers are losing the ESPN (DStv 230) and ESPN Classic (DStv 231) channels from the MultiChoice pay-TV platform in South Africa and Africa since ESPN Classic will soon cease to exist as a channel and ESPN America will no longer be distributed outside of America, except for the United Kingdom.

UPDATE: ESPN responds: ''Not a definite that  ESPN Classic is leaving, ESPN "not affected".

2ND UPDATE Tuesday 25 Feb 22:40: ESPN explains what exactly is happening with each of its ESPN channels as seen in South Africa and their possible futures.

The apparent loss of the channels follow a deal in which Disney, which owns ESPN, sold ESPN in the United Kingdom to BT in a transaction set to be concluded by the end of July.

That deal excludes ESPN Classic which will likely be killed off by ESPN across Africa as a TV channel, and at the same time the main ESPN will no longer be made available outside of America in international markets except for in Britain. [UPDATE: A day later ESPN says that as it pertains for specifically Africa, this is not necessarily what will be happening.]

Disney no longer saw value in ESPN Classic and didn't regard the channel as a core focus of value outside of America. While ESPN America remain valuable, that channel won't be distributed anymore in Europe, Africa and the Middle East (only a version of it and only in the United Kingdom).

While the BT Group which will continue to operate one ESPN-branded channel with NASCAR, NCAA college football, and NCAA college basketball, that is only for the United Kingdom. ESPN will stop distributing its ESPN America TV channel in international markets.

I sought clarity on the matter but an ESPN spokesperson did not respond to my media enquiry today asking for confirmation and what is happening to ESPN and ESPN Classic in South Africa and Africa on MultiChoice.

In May last year I reported that the Disney-owned ESPN is considering exiting a number of international TV markets as a result of the growing cost of acquiring live sports rights. Then ESPN also didn't respond when I asked what this means for Africa and South Africa.

The Disney-owned ESPN said in May that it was considering exiting a number of international TV markets as a result of the growing costs of acquiring live sporting rights. In May 2012 it was the Disney Company's chairman and chief executive officer, Bob Iger himself who told investors "that the opportunities for ESPN are limited internationally."

"ESPN's international business has never been particularly large, nor has it been a huge priority for the company," Bob Iger said.

That was shockingly harsh and unexpected words - words that signalled (what has now happened) which is that Disney and ESPN doesn't really care that much for ESPN as a channel or channels outside of America.

"We could not be more proud of the TV channel built and nurtured by our talented team over the past four years," said Ross Hair, the managing director of ESPN for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region in a statement. "The value of that hard work is reflected in this deal with BT and the continuation of ESPN on television screens across the UK and Ireland."

Programming note: ESPN Classic profiles Springbok captains John Smit and Victor Matfield in fascinating, original one-hour documentaries.

ESPN Classic (DStv 231) has produced two stunning, fascinating and simply must-watch original one-hour documentaries focusing on the careers of ex-Springbok rugby captains, the first of which will be shown today, and the second one next Saturday.

The ESPN Classic documentaries profile both John Smith today at 18:00, and Victor Matfield next Saturday at 15:00.

John Smit: Rugby Icon today (10 November) at 18:00 as well as Victor Matfield: Rugby Icon next Saturday (17 November) at 15:00 feature interviews with coaches Heyneke Meyer, Pieter de Villiers and Jake White, fellow Springboks Bryan Habana and Bakkies Botha and also include personal reflections from John Smit and Victor Matfield.

The documentaries look back at John Smit and Victor Matfield's lives, their early days, the roles they played at club level and their exploits - both on the field and off the field - until their retirement from international rugby after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

ESPN Classic refreshes its channel logo somewhat with a now solid black swoosh design.

ESPN Classic (DStv 231) has refreshed the channel's logo with a now solid black swoosh design.

The sports channel rebroadcast classic sport events. ESPN didn't offer an explanation for the logo change.