ESPN CLASSIC SPORT LAUNCHES ENGLISH-LANGUAGE SERVICE - available to over 50 countries across Europe.

ESPN Classic Sport is rolling out a new english-language sports channel to cable and satellite subscribers in over 50 countries across Europe.The new service is available from 15 December 2003. ESPN Classic Sport complements live sports coverage, showcasing an addictive mix of vintage sporting programming from around the world, from the past 50 years.

December 19 2003--As part of its European expansion in 2004, ESPN Classic Sport is to launch a new English-language service that will transmit 24-hours a day, seven days a week, offering viewers a compelling mix of the greatest sporting moments from Europe and around the world, from the last fifty years.

As of 15 December 2003, the English-language service is available to cable and satellite subscribers in more than fifty countries across Europe. The network will initially be available on systems in Belgium, Germany, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Russia, Scandinavia, and Switzerland, rolling out to additional European territories throughout 2004. A separately produced English-language network for the U.K. is under consideration.

The new English-language network further establishes ESPN Classic Sport as a significant sports television brand, currently attracting over 7 million European subscribers. ESPN Classic Sport already has widespread distribution among multi-channel homes in France and Italy (88% and 100% respectively) via operators such as Canal Satellite, TPS, NOOS, FTC, UPC and SKY Italia. ESPN Classic Sport is also available as a three-hour branded block to 2.3 million subscribers in Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia.

Roch Pellerin, Managing Director of ESPN Classic Sport, said: Were excited about launching our third full-time network in Europe. An English-language service will give us additional programming flexibility at a time when sport will be a top viewing priority in 2004, with great anticipation building up around EURO 2004 in Portugal and the Olympic Games in Athens. This new network will also allow our cable and satellite distribution partners to broaden their sports offering and bring fans the passion of unforgettable triumphs and victories.

ESPN Classic Sport features an entertaining mix of the greatest sports programming, including full-length matches, highlights, profiles, games, and films, which complement live local and international sports events.

Highlights on the new English-language channel will include boxing hero Muhammad Alis Rumble In The Jungle with George Foreman in 1974, the Borg/McEnroe tie-break marathon in the 1980 Wimbledon Final, and Carl Lewis feat of winning four gold medals at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Great games from Euro Football past tournaments, together with the best moments from Europes rich footballing heritage are also showcased.

For further information, please contact:
Mike McKibbin, Director of Marketing ESPN Classic Sport, tel: +44 20 8233 66 31
or
Sarah Horner, MediaVision, tel: + 34 91 657 1256
or Chris Bellitti ESPN Corporate Communications, tel: + 212 456 02 65

Editors Notes:

1.     ESPN is an international, multi-media sports entertainment company, owned by the Walt Disney Company (80%) and the Hearst Corporation (20%).

2.    ESPN Classic Sport is 70% owned by ESPN Inc and 30% by affiliates of Falconhead Capital.

3.    In the United States, ESPN Classic is the leader in presenting classic moments in sport, and now reaches over 50 million subscribers. ESPN also has an equity interest in ESPN Classic Canada.

4.    Today, there are seven ESPN networks in the United States (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNews, ESPN Classic, ESPN Deportes [launching in January 2004], ESPN Now, and ESPN Today). ESPN, the flagship network, reaches more than 86 million US households.

5.    ESPN Classic Sport owns more than 25,000 hours of sports programming covering more than 80 different sports from athletics to windsurfing. ESPN Classic Sport televises an entertaining mix of vintage full-length matches, highlights, profiles, documentaries, magazine programmes and sports films, which complement live local and international sports events.

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