ESPN and EA join forces @ Gaming Target

Written by John Scalzo on January 17, 2005

News: The TV sports giant signs a contract with the video game sports giant to provide ESPN content for EA games.

After the NFL deal and the AFL deal, EA has set their sights on possibly the biggest acronym in all of sports: ESPN. Today, EA and ESPN have signed a deal that gives EA access to all "ESPN programming, personalities, and integrated marketing opportunities on ESPN television programming and other ESPN properties."

The contract will go into effect in 2006 after ESPN's deal with Sega expires this year.

"EA and ESPN have a shared belief that adding ESPN content will improve an already outstanding line of games," said George Bodenheimer, President, ESPN Inc. and ABC Sports.

"This relationship was created to benefit consumers who are passionate about sports games," said Larry Probst, Electronic Arts Chairman and CEO. "EA SPORTS recreates the real life experience fans enjoy while watching or playing their favorite sport; while ESPN programming captures the look, sound and excitement of the sports they follow. Together, we believe we can significantly grow the interactive sports category."

No financial information was revealed, but both parties have announced the deal is good for 15 years, with an option for either side to terminate after 10 years under certain conditions. EA is allowed to add ESPN content to any existing EA Sports titles and the company has plans to create new titles "based on ESPN media properties." No specifics were announced for that.

So here we sit again, less than a week removed from EA's last spending spree. EA has gotten very big for their britches in the last few weeks and the feeling in the gaming community is that this is not a good thing. Longtime fans remember when EA stood for the little guy in a sea of Segas and Nintendos. Today, they just punted Sega like a football.

We at Gaming Target will keep you posted the next time EA buys something big. It'll probably be tomorrow or next monday at the latest.