ESPN will air the May 11 El Clásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona on its main linear TV channel for the first time since securing LaLiga rights in 2021. Until now, matches under the eight-year deal have mostly been limited to ESPN+, its streaming platform. This marks a shift in strategy to broaden reach, as linear ESPN is available in over 68 million homes compared to ESPN+’s 24.9 million subscribers. The broadcast will include extensive English and Spanish coverage, with studio programming from Barcelona starting May 8. The move addresses past criticism about limited TV exposure and aims to maximize viewership for one of soccer’s biggest rivalries.
