US broadcast giant ESPN has launched a YouTube channel dedicated to sports wagering as part of a digital expansion of its betting-related content portfolio.
The new ESPN Sports Betting channel will contain segments from the network’s linear sports betting news show Daily Wager, which usually airs on ESPN2. Other content, including coverage from the network’s SportCenter show, will also be included on the channel.
Meanwhile, ESPN also plans to debut a new sports betting show called Bet across all its digital platforms. Co-hosted by Joe Fortenbaugh and Tyler Fulghum, the show will be streamed three times a week and is also available to watch on-demand.
The show’s first production will stream ahead of ESPN’s Monday Night Football (MNF) doubleheader. While times may vary due to events, subsequent Monday shows will go live at the usual time of 6.30pm ET, while streams on Wednesday and Thursday have been billed for 7.30pm ET.
Coverage will be available via the ESPN app and social feeds, including YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
“Bet will allow us to connect with fans and drive the conversation in a way that leverages what we do best on social and digital platforms,” said Mike Foss, ESPN’s senior director for digital and social content.
“We have seen tremendous success and growth in our slate of digital shows in 2020. Bet will showcase an amazing new studio in The LINQ [Las Vegas] and we are tremendously excited about delivering a new live and interactive show core to our audience expansion priority,” Foss added.
Deal with Caesar Entertainment and DraftKings
ESPN has also signed two multi-year partnerships with Caesar Entertainment and DraftKings. Under the terms of each deal, Caesars will become ESPN's exclusive odds provider, while betting operator DraftKings becomes the sports network's exclusive daily fantasy sports provider.
Both parties will also become co-exclusive sportsbook link-out providers to ESPN. As part of its deal with Caesars, US sportsbook William Hill's betting apps will also appear on ESPN's digital assets, including the ESPN web and mobile platforms and the ESPN fantasy app.
“Our new agreements with Caesars and DraftKings collectively represent the next significant milestone for ESPN to diversify our exposure and deepen our commitment in the sports betting space,” said Mike Morrison, ESPN's vice president of business development and innovation.
“We began growing the experience through content, followed by odds utilising William Hill’s sports betting data and a new state-of-the-art studio facility in Las Vegas through our deal with Caesars, and now with the addition of DraftKings, we are bringing together the sports media leader with two of the top brands and best products in the segment,” Morrison concluded.
William Hill was recently named the exclusive sports betting operator for Caesars Entertainment, following the casino's merger with Eldorado Resorts in July.
Source: GMB / SportsPro
