ESPN has secured a distribution deal with Virgin Media for its ESPN sports channel.

ESPN has secured a distribution deal with Virgin Media in anticipation of the start of the Premier League season, which will allow Virgin customers access to the channels as part of their package.

ESPN was awarded the exclusive rights to 46 live Barclays Premier League matches in the 2009/10 season, and 23 matches a season from 2010-13. It won them after the ailing Irish Broadcaster Setanta, fell into administration at the end of June following a failure to make payments and secure additional funding.

In a statement from the two companies today (30 July) the partnership was announced, which will see all subscribers to Virgin Media’s XL package get ESPN channels for no extra cost. Other customers will be able to pay an additional £8 a month for the service as long as they already subscribe to any combination of Sky Sports channels.

Mark Schweitzer, Chief Commercial Officer of Virgin Media, said: “This agreement solidifies Virgin Media’s place as the home of TV entertainment and is unquestionably the best value TV deal for sports fanatics.

“We’re always looking for ways to go the extra mile for our customers and we think this market-beating offer does this in spades as well as providing a sweetener for the start of the football season.”

Lynne Frank, Managing Director for ESPN Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented on the agreement: “The plan to make the channels available to Virgin Media’s XL customers will help ESPN better serve sports fans in the UK.”

ESPN’s new channel will launch on 3 August, ahead of the airing of its first League Match – Everton versus Arsenal – on 15 August.