ESPN launches multi-platform worldwide soccer brand, ESPNFC

In India, the offering will be available only on online and mobile platforms and will deliver locally relevant content for that region in the native language.

ESPN has launched ESPNFC, a new multi-language and multi-country brand for football fans around the world across TV, radio, online, print and mobile. The new offering will bring together all of ESPN's football properties and house them under one universally recognised name. In India, the offering will be available only on online and mobile platforms.

ESPNFC will add global and regional contributors to ensure coverage of all news and developments, 24X7. Online and on mobile, ESPNFC will have the ability to detect where a fan is accessing content, and deliver locally relevant content for that region and serve that content in the native language. The launch has been timed with the start of the 2012 UEFA European Football Championship.

Commenting on how ESPNFC will help the growth of the brand, Andrew Hall, senior director, digital content, ESPN EMEA, says, "The launch of ESPNFC allows us to take our coverage of the sport to a new level with a road map for new features, writers and an improved technical product. It will also allow us to better serve brands that want to reach soccer fans. We think we can offer fans all over the world very high quality content tailored to their need."

The new offering will also provide unique, customisable digital opportunities for marketers, who can work with ESPN to reach sports fans on both a global and regional scale using ESPN's worldwide sales teams. Hall adds, "For advertisers, the launch of ESPNFC gives our company a new opportunity to connect advertisers with soccer fans and drive user engagement under one universally recognised brand. Offering a single point of entry for global, multi-regional and local initiatives, ESPNFC will be a driver of innovation, creating a fan experience that enables ESPN to better serve our advertising partners around the world."

On ESPNFC, fans can access Live MatchHQ, a re-imagined and enhanced version of GameCast which provides the live game experience for those who are not able to watch the game live. It will also provide data-driven content from the live experience, including real-time scores and stats, highlights and message boards. Additionally, ESPNFC will feature its comprehensive EURO 2012 Top 40 Player Rankings with contributions from ESPN football experts Ian Darke, Steve McManaman, Derek Rae and others.

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