MetaMedia Selected to Live Stream ESPN Games to Cinemas

ESPN
(Image credit: ESPN)

LOS ANGELES—MetaMedia, which specializes in delivering movies, premium content and live events to cinemas and other venues, has announced that it has been selected the exclusive live streaming provider for Theater Sports Network, which has a theatrical distribution agreement with ESPN to livestream regular season Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) college football and major New Year's Bowl games into U.S. cinemas.

The ESPN and Theater Sports Network agreement covers the New Year's Six Bowl games including the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl, the Capital One Orange Bowl, the CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game, and the College Football Playoff National Championship Presented by AT&T. In all, the agreement includes approximately 75 games during the 2023-24 college football season.

"We believe that Theater Sports Network has identified an unmet demand for families and fans to view live sports on massive movie theater screens and are thrilled to be selected as their livestreaming partner," said Jason Brenek, CEO of MetaMedia. 

ACC games that air on ESPN platforms are available for Theater Sports Network distribution in the away team markets– or in both home and away markets for neutral site games. The cost of attendance to watch the games will be determined by participating local theaters.

"We believe movie theaters are the next great frontier for live sporting events, and we are elated with this unprecedented agreement with ESPN," explained Scott Daw, president and COO of Theater Sports Network. “We look forward to bringing these games to ACC football fans. We believe that theaters have the ability to generate excitement around live sporting events. These events will replicate the feel of a football stadium experience as fans gather and fill theaters to watch the games on the big screen. As we move forward, we hope to add games from additional college football conferences as well as other live sporting events."

For more information and a schedule of games in specific areas, fans can visit theatersportsnetwork.com.

MetaMedia bills itself as the world's first global, cloud-based entertainment delivery platform for cinemas, drive-ins, and other out-of-home venues. Currently connected to more than 5000 screens across the US and Canada in all the top 50 cities, MetaMedia seeks to expand and redefine the cinemagoing experience. 

George Winslow

George Winslow is the senior content producer for TV Tech. He has written about the television, media and technology industries for nearly 30 years for such publications as Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News and TV Tech. Over the years, he has edited a number of magazines, including Multichannel News International and World Screen, and moderated panels at such major industry events as NAB and MIP TV. He has published two books and dozens of encyclopedia articles on such subjects as the media, New York City history and economics.