What next for ESPN?
Since its UK launch in 2009, ESPN has carved out a niche for itself as arguably Sky's biggest rival for coverage of major domestic sports.
However, the past couple of months haven't been too kind to the US-owned sports broadcaster as BT, the new kid in the market, has set about pinching all its best content.
First, BT announced in June that it had effectively replaced ESPN as the only UK network apart from Sky to hold live rights to Premier League football.
This season, ESPN has 23 live matches from the top tier of English football, but from 2013-14 to 2015-16 BT will air 38 live games a season, with the rest set to be shown by Sky.
That left ESPN relying heavily on its rugby union coverage - until BT rocked the sport by last week announcing a £152 million deal with Premiership Rugby to exclusively broadcast the Aviva Premiership and JP Morgan Asset Management Sevens for four years from 2013-14.
While the exact terms of the BT rugby deal are shrouded in controversy, specifically regarding BT's rights to screen European fixtures involving English clubs, one thing seems clear - ESPN has lost out again.
Of course, the pay TV channel has some other sporting content to fall back on. Also on its line-up are FA Cup, Uefa Europa League and Clydesdale Bank Premier League football, American football, mixed martial arts, the German Touring Car Masters championship and more.
These events are still popular, of course, but it seems unlikely that they'll be enough to justify ESPN's subscription fee going forward.
Although ESPN is available at no extra cost to Virgin Media customers with the XL TV pack and with BT Vision Value Packs, it's a little pricier for Sky subscribers.
If you're with the satellite broadcaster, you'll have to fork out an extra £10 per month on top of the Sky Sports Pack for ESPN. Worse still, if you want ESPN without Sky Sports, it'll cost you £13 per month, and that's a lot to pay for no Premier League football or top flight English rugby.
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