ESPN (Brazil)

ESPN is the Brazilian division of ESPN Inc. Launched in March 1989 as Canal+, it was the first country-specific version of ESPN outside the United States, launched in June 1995. The channel has covered major sporting events, like the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 Summer Olympics; the 1998, 2006, 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Pan-American Games. High ratings and prestige in the segment have been marks of the channel; it also won the APCA award twice, in 1995 for "Best Sports Programming" and in 1998 for "Best Coverage of the 1998 FIFA World Cup". Despite having a team that is regarded as one of the best in Brazilian sports broadcasting and important broadcasting rights for international competitions like La Liga, Premier League and the Bundesliga, major local series rights have historically not been present; the Campeonato Brasileiro, Copa do Brasil and the states' championships are held by local Grupo Globo and SporTV. ESPN, however, has purchased the rights to broadcast the 2009, 2010 and 2011 editions of the Copa do Brasil for TV and Campeonato Paulista, Copa Libertadores de América, Campeonato Brasileiro Série A and Copa Sudamericana for radio. In 2007, ESPN Brasil made a partnership with Rádio Eldorado to broadcast sports on radio. The new Rádio Eldorado ESPN used Eldorado's radio assets and the team of commentators from ESPN Brasil. It was renamed Rádio Estadão ESPN in 2007 due to a partnership agreement with the O Estado de S. Paulo newspaper. In 2005 the company incorporated ESPN International coverage, starting to broadcast in two channels. Before this date, programs such as the SportsCenter International Edition, MLB and the NFL were transmitted directly from Bristol, Connecticut, with Portuguese audio from Andre Adler, Marco Alfaro, Sergio Cesario, Roby Porto, José Inácio Werneck, and Roberto Figueroa. Since 2005, shows and games are recorded and broadcast from its studios in São Paulo, though morning schedules continue to include USA and Latin American programs. Prior to May 2011, programs produced by ESPN Brasil generally did not use in-game score graphics, though international programs had them. Beginning that month, ESPN Brasil began using the same score and other graphics used by the US channel. In March 2012, the ESPN'S network in Brazil started with the broadcast 100% in HD with sports events and original programs. This is the same practice of ESPN in USA. The four channels of ESPN in Brazil is broadcast fully in HD. In October 2013, ESPN launched a second screen app, ESPN Sync, to connect to broadcasts of football matches. On May 6, 2020, Brazil's antitrust regulator CADE announced that ESPN and Fox Sports could merge their operations in Brazil together as of January 1, 2022, and not before, due to Fox Sports' broadcast rights and structure in the country, with ESPN taking over broadcast rights and structure after the merger. In November 2021, it was announced that Disney would retire the ESPN Brasil brand after 26 years on air. ESPN Brasil became ESPN, while the current ESPN became ESPN 2, while the current ESPN 2 became ESPN 3, Fox Sports became ESPN 4. The change happened on January 17, 2022, and happened on February 15, 2024, for Fox Sports 2 and ESPN Extra as they became ESPN 5 and ESPN 6. ESPN channels in Brazil Five separate channels of ESPN exist in Brazil: ESPN (formerly ESPN Brasil), the main channel, more football orientated with live debate, news, interviews and major international football games. ESPN2 (formerly ESPN), focused in US-based competitions (NBA, NFL and NHL). ESPN3 (formerly ESPN2), focused in extreme sports, MLB, tennis, rugby, cycling, golf and poker. ESPN4 (formerly Fox Sports), focused in motorsport, boxing, MMA and international football. ESPN5 (formerly Fox Sports 2), focused in football, and WWE. ESPN6 (formerly ESPN Extra), focused in extreme sports and wrestling. ESPN Brazil significant programming rights Football CONMEBOL Libertadores CONMEBOL Sudamericana Recopa Sudamericana Campeonato Brasileiro Série B UEFA Women's Champions League Premier League EFL Championship EFL League One EFL League Two FA Cup EFL Cup EFL Trophy FA Community Shield Women's Super League Women's FA Cup Women's FA Community Shield FA Youth Cup La Liga Segunda División Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Copa de la Reina de Fútbol Supercopa de España Femenina Serie A German Cup Primeira Liga Eredivisie Süper Lig FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA) FIFA Women's World Cup qualification (UEFA) UEFA European Championship qualifying UEFA Women's Championship qualifying UEFA Nations League AFA Liga Profesional de Fútbol Supercopa Argentina Trofeo de Campeones de la Liga Profesional Uruguayan Primera División Uruguayan Segunda División Copa Uruguay Supercopa Uruguaya Serie Rio de la Plata CONCACAF Gold Cup CONCACAF W Gold Cup CONCACAF W Gold Cup Qualifiers CONCACAF W Championship CONCACAF W Championship qualification CONCACAF Champions Cup CONCACAF W Champions Cup CONCACAF Central American Cup CONCACAF Caribbean Cup CONCACAF Under-20 Championship CONCACAF Under-17 Championship CONCACAF Women's U-20 Championship CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship National Women's Soccer League USL Championship USL Super League USL Cup USL League One Liga MX (Atletico San Luis home matches) Liga MX Femenil (Atletico San Luis home matches) Liga de Expansión MX AFC Asian Cup AFC Women's Asian Cup Asian Qualifiers: Road to 2026 AFC Champions League Elite AFC Women's Champions League AFC Champions League Two AFC U-23 Asian Cup AFC U-20 Asian Cup AFC U-17 Asian Cup AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup AFC U-17 Women's Asian Cup Américas Kings League Américas Queens League Bola de Prata American Football National Football League Liga de Fútbol Americano Profesional College Football Badminton BWF World Championships Thomas Cup & Uber Cup BWF World Tour European Men's and Women's Team Badminton Championships Baseball Major League Baseball World Baseball Classic Mexican League Colombian Professional Baseball League Little League World Series College baseball Basketball NBA WNBA College Basketball NBA Summer League NBA G League NBB Liga de Basquete Feminino Liga Ouro de Basquete Athletes Unlimited Basketball Boxing ESPN Knockout College Sports National Collegiate Athletic Association events Cricket Cricket World Cup Women's Cricket World Cup ICC World Cup Qualifier ICC World Twenty20 ICC Women's T20 World Cup ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier ICC Champions Trophy ICC Women's Champions Trophy ICC World Test Championship Final Under 19 Cricket World Cup Under-19 Women's T20 World Cup Cycling Tour de France Tour de France Femmes Vuelta a España La Vuelta Femenina Tour Down Under Paris–Nice Critérium du Dauphiné Tour Colombia Vuelta a El Salvador Volta Ciclista a Catalunya Femenina Tour of Flanders Paris–Roubaix Liège–Bastogne–Liège Omloop Het Nieuwsblad Gent–Wevelgem Dwars door Vlaanderen Amstel Gold Race La Flèche Wallonne Scheldeprijs Brabantse Pijl Brussels Cycling Classic Paris–Tours Futsal AFC Futsal Asian Cup Golf The Masters PGA Championship U.S. Open The Open Championship PGA Tour PGA European Tour President's Cup Ryder Cup U.S. Women's Open U.S. Senior Open U.S. Senior Women's Open Women's British Open Senior Open Senior PGA Championship Walker Cup Curtis Cup Augusta National Women's Amateur The Amateur Championship The Women's Amateur Championship U.S. Amateur U.S. Women's Amateur U.S. Junior Amateur Golf Championship U.S. Girls' Junior Championship Latin America Amateur Championship Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship Women's Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship Horse Racing Kentucky Derby Preakness Stakes Belmont Stakes Pegasus World Cup Saudi Cup Dubai World Cup Grand National Epsom Derby Prix de Diane Royal Ascot Eclipse Stakes Haskell Stakes Glorious Goodwood Whitney Stakes Fourstardave Handicap King's Plate International Stakes Irish Champion Stakes Woodbine Mile Coolmore Turf Mile Stakes Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe Spinster Stakes British Champions Day Breeders' Cup Melbourne Cup Bahrain International Hong Kong International Races Ice Hockey National Hockey League Marathon Seville Marathon Tokyo Marathon New York City Half Marathon Rotterdam Marathon Boston Marathon London Marathon Madrid Marathon Prague Marathon Stockholm Marathon Sydney Marathon Berlin Marathon Chicago Marathon Frankfurt Marathon Venice Marathon New York Marathon Valencia Marathon Mixed Martial Arts Professional Fighters League Legacy Fighting Alliance Kombat Taekwondo Motorsport MotoGP Moto2 Moto3 FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup Asia Talent Cup Harley-Davidson Bagger World Cup Dakar Rally IndyCar Series Indy NXT NASCAR Cup Series NASCAR O'Reilly Auto Parts Series NASCAR Truck Series NASCAR Brasil Series DTM ADAC GT Masters Extreme H AMA Supersport Championship Multi-Sport Events Special Olympics World Games Commonwealth Games Padel Premier Padel Hexagon Cup Reserve Cup Polo Campeonato Argentino Abierto de Polo Campeonato Abierto de Hurlingham Campeonato Abierto del Tortugas Country Club Rugby Rugby World Cup Women's Rugby World Cup Nations Championship Nations Cup Six Nations Championship The Rugby Championship Rugby World Cup South America qualification World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup Super Rugby Premiership Rugby Super Rugby Americas Currie Cup National Provincial Championship WXV Women's Six Nations Championship Super Rugby Aupiki Farah Palmer Cup World Rugby Under 20 Championship Six Nations Under 20s Championship Under 20s Rugby Championship SVNS Women's SVNS SVNS 2 Top 14 de la URBA Torneo del Interior Major League Rugby Campeonato Uruguayo de Rugby Test-matches Skiing FIS Alpine World Ski Championships FIS Nordic World Ski Championships FIS Snowboard World Championships FIS Freestyle World Ski Championships FIS Alpine Ski World Cup FIS Cross-Country World Cup FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup FIS Nordic Combined World Cup FIS Ski Jumping World Cup FIS Snowboard World Cup Tennis Australian Open Roland Garros Wimbledon U.S. Open ATP Finals ATP 1000 ATP 500 ATP 250 WTA Finals WTA 1000 WTA 500 WTA 250 Billie Jean King Cup Next Generation ATP Finals Laver Cup Triathlon Ironman World Championship Ironman Pro Series Volleyball Women's European Volleyball Championship Men's European Volleyball Championship LOVB Pro Athletes Unlimited Volleyball Weightlifting World Weightlifting Championships Yachting America's Cup America's Cup Qualifiers and Challenger Playoffs America's Cup World Series Women's America's Cup Youth America's Cup Programs broadcast by ESPN Brazil Além da Bola ATP Tour Uncovered Bola da Vez Clássicos ESPN Compacto NFL Destaques da CONMEBOL Libertadores Destaques da CONMEBOL Sudamericana Destaques dos X Games Equipe F ESPN Filmes ESPN League F1: The Inside Line FA Cup Highlights F Show La Liga World Linha de Passe Mina de Passe Momento ESPN Mundo F Mundo Premier League MunDu Menezes NBA Action Pelas Quadras Premier League Stories Prévia da FA Cup Puxeta Resenha Resenha da Rodada Show da Rodada: La Liga Show da Rodada: Premier League Show da Rodada: Serie A SportsCenter Abre o Jogo SportsCenter Brazil SportsCenter U.S. UEFA Nations League: Match Day Highlights UEFA Nations League: Match Night Highlights ESPN Brazil staff Airton Cunha – Tennis commentator Alex Tseng – host André Donke – soccer commentator André Hernan - Presenter André Kfouri – Reporter; "Equipe F" and "SportsCenter" host Amoroso – soccer commentator André Linares – Reporter André Plihal – "Resenha" and "Bola da Vez" host Antonio Martoni – Rugby commentator Ari Aguiar – Play-by-play announcer and "ESPN League" host Bruno Andrade - soccer commentator Bruno Vicari – "SportsCenter" host Caco da Motta - soccer commentator Carlos Eugênio Simon – soccer refereeing commentator Celso Ardengue - soccer commentator Celso Unzelte – soccer commentator Christian Fittipaldi – IndyCar Series commentator Cícero Mello – Reporter Cledi Oliveira – Play-by-play announcer Conrado Giulietti - Play-by-play announcer Diego Lugano – soccer commentator and "Resenha" co-host Edgard Mello Filho – Motorsport commentator Eduardo Affonso – Reporter Eduardo Agra – NBA and College Basketball commentator Eduardo de Menezes – Reporter and "Além da Bola" and "F Show" host Eduardo Elias – "SportsCenter" host Elton Serra - soccer commentator Eugênio Leal – soccer commentator Fábio Luciano – soccer commentator Fausto Macieira – MotoGP commentator Felipe André - Reporter Felipe Motta – "SportsCenter" host Felipe Silva - soccer commentator Fernando Campos – soccer commentator Fernando Meligeni - Tennis commentator Fernando Nardini – Play-by-play announcer and "SportsCenter" co-host Fernando Ribeiro – Play-by-play announcer Fernando Saraiva – soccer commentator Flávio Pereira - Play-by-play announcer Gian Oddi – Soccer commentator Gláucia Santiago – "SportsCenter" host Guilherme Giovannoni - Basketball commentator Gustavo Berton – Reporter Gustavo Hofman – Soccer commentator and Reporter Gustavo Zupak – Soccer commentator Gustavo Santos - Play-by-play announcer Hamilton Rodrigues – Play-by-play announcer Helen Luz - Basketball commentator Hugo Botelho – Play-by-play announcer Jaílson Vilas Boas - soccer commentator João Castelo Branco – Reporter José Roberto Lux "Zé Boquinha" – NBA and College Basketball commentator Juliana Tesser – MotoGP commentator Leonardo Bertozzi – Soccer commentator Leonardo Gaciba – soccer refereeing commentator Leonardo Sasso - Basketball commentator Lilliany Nascimento - Reporter Luan Amaral - Reporter Luciana Marianno – Play-by-play announcer and "Mina de Passe" host Luciano Amaral – "Mundo F" host Luisão - soccer commentator Luiz Carlos Largo – Play-by-play announcer Marcela Rafael – "SportsCenter" host Mariana Becker - Reporter Mario Marra – soccer commentator Matheus Pinheiro – Play-by-play announcer Matheus Suman – Play-by-play announcer Maurício Bonato – Play-by-play announcer Melbya Rolim - Reporter Mendel Bydlowski – Reporter Osvaldo Pascoal – soccer commentator Paulo Antunes – NFL and NBA commentator; "ESPN League" co-host Paulo Calçade – Soccer commentator Paulo Soares – Play-by-play announcer and "SportsCenter" host Pedro Henrique Torre – Reporter Rafael Marques – soccer commentator Raphael Prates – soccer commentator Renan do Couto – Play-by-play announcer Renan Rocha – Play-by-play announcer Renata Ruel – soccer refereeing commentator Renato Rodrigues – soccer commentator Ricardo Melo – golf commentator Roberta Barroso – Reporter Rodrigo Bueno – soccer commentator Rogério Vaughan – Play-by-play announcer Rubens Pozzi – Reporter and Sportscenter co-host Silas Pereira – soccer commentator Teliana Pereira - tennis commentator Thiago Alves – Play-by-play announcer and Motorsport commentator Thiago Simões – Soccer, cricket and NHL commentator Ubiratan Leal – Soccer and MLB commentator Vinicius Moura – Play-by-play announcer Vinicius Nicoletti – Reporter Victoria Leite - Reporter Victor Martins – Motorsport commentator Vladimir Bianchini - Reporter Weinny Eirado – NFL, MLB and College Football commentator William Tavares – "Linha de Passe" co-host; play-by-play announcer and "Equipe F" host Zé Elias – soccer commentator Zinho – soccer commentator See also ESPN ESPN (Latin America) ESPN International References External links (in Portuguese) ESPN Brazil official site ESPN on X ESPN on Facebook ESPN on Instagram ESPN Brasil's channel on YouTube