Post by Segaman on Jan 18, 2005 10:10:06 GMT -5
EA Buys ESPN Exclusivity Rights For The Next Fifteen Years
Electronic Arts and ESPN announced a long-term agreement for the development and integrated marketing of EA Sports games containing ESPN content. The agreement is for fifteen years with an option to terminate after ten years under certain conditions and gives EA exclusive first rights to all ESPN content for simulation sports games.
The relationship will include established franchises, which will be enhanced by ESPN telecast, print and online content. There will also be new sports games to be published by EA based on ESPN media properties. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
The agreement gives EA access to ESPN programming, personalities and integrated marketing opportunities on ESPN television programming and other ESPN properties. The ESPN integration will appear in EA Sports console, handheld, PC and wireless games beginning in 2006 upon the conclusion of ESPN's existing video game licensing commitments.
"EA and ESPN have a shared belief that adding ESPN content will improve an already outstanding line of games," said George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports.
"This relationship was created to benefit consumers who are passionate about sports games," said Larry Probst, Electronic Arts Chairman and CEO. "EA Sports recreates the real life experience fans enjoy while watching or playing their favorite sport; while ESPN programming captures the look, sound and excitement of the sports they follow. Together, we believe we can significantly grow the interactive sports category."
This does however put into question the future of ESPN Videogames, the makers of ESPN NFL 2K5, ESPN NBA 2K5, ESPN NHL 2K5, ESPN College Hoops 2K5, and ESPN Major League Baseball 2K5. We're assuming that since this agreement begins with games that will be released in 2006, the games that are released in 2005 would be exempt from this agreement. We contacted ESPN Videogames, and while their offices were closed due to the holiday, we were told by a source that we should expect an official statement tomorrow from Take Two.
gameinformer.com/News/Story/200501/N05.0117.1456.58283.htm
