Disney+ will stream March Madness across Europe and South Africa from March 17 to April 7 as part of ESPN’s global NCAA rights agreement.
The move will bring 134 live games from the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to Disney+ subscribers, with coverage also extending to the Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
The addition marks a further expansion of ESPN content on Disney+ and strengthens the platform’s live sports offer in Europe, where it already carries properties including the UEFA Women’s Champions League, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Europa Conference League in Denmark and Sweden, and LaLiga in the UK and Ireland.
March Madness is one of the biggest events in the US college sports calendar, featuring 68-team single-elimination tournaments for both the men’s and women’s championships. Selection Sunday will take place on March 15.
Diego Londono, SVP networks and sports EMEA at The Walt Disney Company, said: “Bringing March Madness to Disney+ customers across Europe reflects the ongoing collaboration between ESPN and the NCAA, and the commitment both organizations share to grow college basketball internationally.
“ESPN’s decades of experience showcasing championship moments allows us to foster greater appreciation for collegiate athletics, and we’re thrilled to help connect more fans to the passion and tradition of the men’s and women’s tournaments on Disney+.”
The popularity of basketball varies from market to market, but the coverage will be welcomed in Spain, France, Greece, Serbia and Lithuania, amongst others. In wider markets the use of the ESPN brand underlines Disney’s commitment to sports on its streaming service.
Dan Gavitt, NCAA senior vice president of basketball, added: “Collaborating with ESPN and Disney+ allows us to share the excitement of March Madness with a global audience that already values college basketball. The NCAA tournament is the ultimate stage for student-athletes, and broadening access to that experience helps grow appreciation for and interest in the game worldwide.”
Disney said the agreement reflects the wider integration of college sports rights across its platforms. ESPN has held rights to the women’s tournament for more than 30 years and also carries a broader portfolio of NCAA championship events.
In South Africa, Disney said subscribers will be able to access selected NCAA tournament games live through ESPN channels on Disney+.
