# 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.
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
* 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
* Belgian First Division A
* Belgian Cup
* Belgian Super Cup
* Scottish Premiership
* Scottish Cup
* Scottish League Cup
* Süper Lig
* UEFA Women's Championship
* FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)
* UEFA European Championship qualifying
* UEFA Nations League
* Copa do Nordeste
* Argentine Primera División
* Supercopa Argentina
* Uruguayan Primera División
* Uruguayan Segunda División
* Copa Uruguay
* Supercopa Uruguaya
* CONCACAF Gold Cup
* CONCACAF W Gold Cup
* CONCACAF W Gold Cup Qualifiers
* CONCACAF W Championship
* CONCACAF 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 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

### Badminton

* BWF World Championships
* Thomas Cup & Uber Cup
* BWF World Tour

### Baseball

* Major League Baseball
* Mexican League
* Colombian Professional Baseball League
* Little League World Series
* College baseball

### Basketball

* NBA
* FIBA Basketball World Cup
* FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup
* WNBA
* College Basketball
* NBA Summer League
* NBA G League
* NBB
* Basketball Champions League Americas
* 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
* 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 de Suisse
* Tour de Hongrie
* Czech Tour
* Tour Colombia
* 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
* UCI Cycling World Championships
* UCI Road World Championships
* UCI Track Cycling World Championships
* UCI BMX World Championships
* UCI Mountain Bike World Championships
* UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships
* UCI Urban Cycling World Championships

### Futsal

* UEFA Futsal Champions League
* 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
* 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

### Gridiron Football

* National Football League
* College Football

### Handball

* European Men's Handball Championship
* European Women's Handball Championship

### Horse Racing

* Kentucky Derby
* Preakness Stakes
* Belmont Stakes
* Fashion Friday
* Pegasus World Cup
* Saudi Cup
* Super Saturday
* Dubai World Cup
* Grand National
* Epsom Derby
* 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
* Festive Friday

### Ice Hockey

* National Hockey League
* IIHF World Championship
* Champions Hockey League

### Marathon

* Seville Marathon
* Tokyo Marathon
* Rotterdam Marathon
* Boston Marathon
* London Marathon
* Prague Marathon
* Stockholm Marathon
* Berlin Marathon
* Chicago Marathon
* New York Marathon
* Valencia Marathon

### Mixed Martial Arts

* Kombat Taekwondo

### Motorsport

* MotoGP
* Moto2
* Moto3
* FIM Women's Motorcycling World Championship
* MotoE World Cup
* Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup
* Asia Talent Cup
* Dakar Rally
* IndyCar Series
* Indy NXT
* Extreme E
* TCR South America Touring Car Championship
* Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters
* Race of Champions
* AMA Supersport Championship

### Multi-Sport Events

* Special Olympics World Games
* World Games
* Commonwealth Games
* Universiade

### Padel

* Premier Padel
* A1 Padel

### 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
* Six Nations Championship
* The Rugby Championship
* Rugby World Cup South America qualification
* World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
* Super Rugby
* European Rugby Champions Cup
* European Rugby Challenge Cup
* Premiership Rugby
* Super Rugby Americas
* United Rugby Championship
* Currie Cup
* National Provincial Championship
* WXV
* Women's Six Nations Championship
* Super Rugby Aupiki
* Farah Palmer Cup
* Super W
* World Rugby Under 20 Championship
* Six Nations Under 20s Championship
* Under 20s Rugby Championship
* Rugby World Cup Sevens
* World Rugby Sevens Series
* World Rugby Women's Sevens Series
* Top 12 de la URBA
* Torneo del Interior
* Copa Chile
* Major League Rugby
* Campeonato Uruguayo de Rugby
* Test-matches

### Sailing

* Sailing World Championships

### 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

### Table Tennis

* World Table Tennis Championships
* Mixed Team World Cup
* World Table Tennis
* Asian Cup Table Tennis Tournament
* ITTF World Youth Championships

### Taekwondo

* World Taekwondo Championships
* World Taekwondo Grand Prix

### Tennis

* Australian Open
* Roland Garros
* Wimbledon
* U.S. Open
* ATP Finals
* ATP Tour Masters 1000
* ATP Tour 500
* ATP Tour 250
* WTA Finals
* WTA 1000
* WTA 500
* WTA 250
* Next Generation ATP Finals
* Laver Cup

### Triathlon

* PTO Tour

### Volleyball

* Women's European Volleyball Championship
* Men's European Volleyball Championship
* CEV Women's Champions League
* CEV Champions League
* FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World 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
* Cestou ESPN
* Compacto NFL
* Destaques da COMNEBOL Libertadores
* Destaques da COMNEBOL Sudamericana
* Destaques dos X Games
* ESPN FC
* ESPN Filmes
* ESPN League
* F1: The Inside Line
* FA Cup Highlights
* Futebol 90
* Futebol 360
* La Liga World
* Linha de Passe
* Mina de Passe
* Momento ESPN
* Mundo Premier League
* MunDu Menezes
* NBA Action
* Pelas Quadras
* Premier League Stories
* Prévia da FA Cup
* 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

* Abel Neto – "Futebol 360" host
* Airton Cunha – Tennis commentator
* Alex Tseng – host
* André Donke – soccer commentator
* André Kfouri – Reporter; "ESPN League" and "SportsCenter" host
* Amoroso – soccer commentator
* André Linares – Reporter
* André Plihal – "Resenha" and "Bola da Vez" host
* Antonio Martoni – Rugby commentator
* Antony Curti – NFL, College Football and MLB commentator; "ESPN League" co-host
* Ari Aguiar – Play-by-play announcer and "ESPN League" host
* Bruno Vicari – "SportsCenter" host
* Caco da Motta - soccer commentator
* Carlos Eugênio Simon – referee 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
* Daniela Boaventura – "ESPN FC" host
* Diego Lugano – soccer commentator and "Resenha" and "ESPN FC" 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" host
* Eduardo Elias – "SportsCenter" host
* Elton Serra - soccer commentator
* Eugênio Leal – soccer commentator
* Fábio Luciano – soccer commentator
* Fausto Macieira – MotoGP commentator
* Felipe Motta – "SportsCenter" host
* Fernando Campos – soccer commentator
* Fernando Meligeni - Tennis commentator
* Fernando Nardini – Play-by-play announcer and "SportsCenter" co-host
* Fernando Saraiva – soccer commentator
* Gian Oddi – Soccer commentator
* Gláucia Santiago – "SportsCenter" host
* Gustavo Berton – Reporter
* Gustavo Hofman – Soccer commentator and Reporter
* Gustavo Zupak – Soccer commentator
* Hamilton Rodrigues – Play-by-play announcer
* Hugo Botelho – Play-by-play announcer
* João Castelo Branco – Reporter
* José Roberto Lux "Zé Boquinha" – NBA and College Basketball commentator
* Juliana Tesser – MotoGP commentator
* Léo Bertozzi – Soccer commentator
* Leonardo Gaciba – referee commentator
* Lilliany Nascimento - Reporter
* Luciana Marianno – Play-by-play announcer
* Luciano Amaral – "ESPN FC" host
* Luiz Carlos Largo – Play-by-play announcer
* Marcela Rafael – "SportsCenter" host
* Mariana Spinelli – "SportsCenter" host
* Mario Marra – soccer commentator
* Matheus Pinheiro – Play-by-play announcer
* Matheus Suman – Play-by-play announcer
* Maurício Bonato – Play-by-play announcer
* Mauro Naves – soccer commentator
* Mendel Bydlowski – Reporter
* Osvaldo Pascoal – soccer commentator
* Paulo Antunes – NFL and MLB 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
* Rafael Reis – Reporter
* Raphael Prates – soccer commentator
* Renan do Couto – Play-by-play announcer
* Renan Rocha – Play-by-play announcer
* Renata Ruel – referee 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 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
* Weinny Eirado – NFL, MLB and College Football commentator
* William Tavares – "Futebol 90" host; play-by-play announcer and "Linha de Passe" co-host
* Zé Elias – soccer commentator
* Zinho – soccer commentator