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.Estadão, Quem Somos ,
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 FA Cup Women's FA Community Shield FA Youth Cup Copa del Rey Supercopa de España Copa de la Reina de Fútbol Supercopa de España Femenina Serie A DFB-Pokal 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 Supercopa Internacional 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 Kings World Cup Nations Kings World Cup Clubs Américas Kings League Américas Queens League
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 Circuito de Baloncesto de la Costa del Pacífico
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 of Armenia 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
Darts PDC World Darts Championship World Matchplay Grand Slam of Darts World Grand Prix
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 U.S. Adaptive Open 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 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes Glorious Goodwood Whitney Stakes Fourstardave Handicap International Stakes Kentucky Turf Cup Kentucky Downs Turf Sprint 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
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
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 Super Rugby Americas Currie Cup National Provincial Championship WXV Global Series Women's Six Nations Championship Super Rugby Aupiki Farah Palmer Cup World Rugby Under 20 Championship World Rugby Under 20 Challenger Cup 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