The YES Network will kick off coverage of one the English Premier League's top sides, Arsenal, this Friday.
The regional sports network reached a deal with MP & Silva, the international rights-holder for the Arsenal Football Club, for tape-delayed coverage of the Gunners games in high-definition, as well as ancillary programming about the famed futbol team.
Under the multiyear pact, terms of which were not disclosed, YES will air HD encores of Arsenal action in England's Barclays Premier League, FA Cup and UEFA Champions League, typically the day after a match concludes.
This marks YES's second step on to the pitch with a world-renowned British club. During its rookie season in 2002, YES reached a deal for four hours of weekly programming around Manchester United, including match replays.
As part of the new deal, YES will also televise Arsenal World and Arsenal 360, magazine shows that give fans behind-the-scenes looks at the club and its players off the pitch, while also supplying the latest team news. Additionally, YES obtained the rights to air select classic Arsenal matches.
YES plans to package the match action with the magazine series to create Arsenal programming blocks.
The Arsenal fare -- which begins Friday Oct. 8 at 8: 30 p.m., with a replay of the team's 2-0 loss to Chelsea on Oct. 3, preceded at 8 pm by Arsenal 360 and followed at 10:30 pm by Arsenal World -- will be available throughout the RSN's home team footprint of New York state and Connecticut, northern and central New Jersey and northeast Pennsylvania, as well as on YES National.
The network's national feed is available throughout the country on satellite, telephone companies' video services, and cable.
"This Arsenal package provides additional depth to our already diverse, Emmy Award-winning lineup," said John Filippelli, president, production and programming, YES Network, in announcing the acquisition. "It not only makes our programming more attractive to those living in our traditional regional viewing area, but it also enhances the value of our YES National feed available throughout the country. Those tuning in to our YES National feed will benefit from these Arsenal programs airing in HD throughout our schedule, including when our Yankees and Nets game telecasts are blacked out."
"YES Network's partnership with Arsenal Media is a sign of its dedication in broadcasting the world's best soccer to its viewers," noted Lara Pirazzini, COO, MP & Silva LLC . "MP & Silva is extremely pleased to be able to satisfy the appetite of Arsenal fans in America by aligning with such a successful sports broadcaster."
