It was a huge undertaking to get a UK ESPN up and running in a few short months, and after their debut in England, ESPN is getting some rather interesting reviews. None are really that bad, and there are a few that are rather glowing. Here's a sampling...

The Guardian: "ESPN, who did not get where they are today by refusing to accept this reality, launched its Premier League coverage with Chelsea v Hull on opening day, but where Setanta had parked its tanks on Sky's lawn, ESPN, part owned by Disney, kept its ice-cream vans harmlessly round the corner from Sky's patch.

Its pictures came from Sky cameras, and in the presentation, there was scarcely a whiff of innovation. This is extremely annoying for people like me, used to getting three snappy paragraphs out of an Andy Townsend Tactics' Truck or some similar gimmick. Steven Berkoff was about all there was to laugh at on ESPN, filmed on a stage somewhere, declaiming about the importance of football, in the style of Henry V on the eve of Agincourt, but without entirely losing sight of the Hovis advert. "This is who we are. This is what we are," thundered the great actor. "This is bollocks," was the unworthy response, I am afraid, from my sofa."

The Telegraph: "It was hard, though, not to scoff at ESPN Axis, a half-time analysis gizmo which was essentially a slow-motion replay. Whatever next? A little clock in the corner of the screen?

However, the battle for armchair season-ticket-holders is ultimately won and lost in the commentary box.

There ESPN deployed another ex-BBC stalwart, Jon Champion, and renowned Toffeeman Joe Royle in a standard 1-1 formation. This workmanlike pairing at least offered respite from Sky Sports' Andy "maake noo mistaaake" Gray, whose accent gets increasingly Scottish at moments of arousal, and Martin "Martin" Tyler, who has taken to bellowing "and IT'S LIVE" prior to every kick-off. Of course IT'S LIVE, Martin. That's why we're watching.

So, at the end of the day, a promising debut for ESPN, who showed some classy touches and should have what it takes to compete at this level."

To get such positive reviews, with only seven weeks to prepare, is a very good sign for ESPN in the UK. The "Leader" has also added a slate of games for us folks in the U.S. to watch. Here are the games we'll get to check out this season in the States....

Sat., Aug. 15th

Chelsea vs. Hull City (ESPN2, 7:40am)

Sat., Aug. 22th

Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester United (ESPN2, 9:55am)

Mon., Aug. 24th

Liverpool vs. Aston Villa (ESPN2, 2:55pm)

Sat., Aug. 29th

Chelsea vs. Burnley (ESPN2, 7:40am)

Sat., Sept. 12th

Liverpool vs. Burnley (ESPN2, 9:55am)

Sat., Sept. 19th

Burnley vs. Sunderland (ESPN2, 7:40am)

Sat., Sept. 26th

Portsmouth vs. Everton (ESPN2, 7:40am)

Mon., Sept. 28th

Manchester City vs. West Ham (ESPN2, 2:55pm)

Initially, ESPN is living in the past and Andy Gray is present and incorrect (Guardian)
Premier League opening weekend success for ESPN (Telegraph)

Yesterday, I mentioned that ESPN was going to have a rough go of it with the fans of EPL in England, and today the network announced official plans to launch their new UK channel....

ESPN plan to launch a new channel in the UK on 3rd August called ‘ESPN,’ which will televise 46 Barclays Premier League matches this coming season, it was announced today by Lynne Frank, Managing Director, ESPN for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Frank also announced the channel will be made available in both standard definition (SD) and high-definition (HD), making the UK based premium sports channel the company’s first HD channel in Europe.

The new channel will offer live Barclays Premier League football, international sports and a wide-range of premium U.S. sports previously provided on ESPN America, which will be integrated in the UK into the new channel.

As part of the new arrangement, Sky will retail ESPN to both its residential and commercial customers. Sky will make ESPN available on a premium subscription basis to all Sky homes. This means that all live Barclays Premier League matches will be available in HD to Sky homes. ESPN will appear in the Sky Guide at channel number 417 in SD and channel 443 in HD.

For those of you across the pond, turn to channel 417/443 for all of your ESPN Soccer action. They probably could have come up with a better name for it than "ESPN", but there you have it.