DishLatino, Dish Network’s Spanish language programming tier, has expanded its sports coverage, adding soccer-focused sports network beIN Sports en Español.
In a statement, Dish said BeIN Sports en Español will be available across all DishLatino packages, and offers a wide variety of sports in addition to its extensive soccer coverage, including motorcross, cycling, rugby and boxing. The network is launching on channel 873 in standard definition, is also available in Dish's America's Top 250, Everything and Multi-Sport Packs.
The parent network – beIN Sports – first came on the scene in 2012, backed by Al Jazeera Sports and other investors, and has gained steam in the wake of the FIFA 2014 World Cup this summer, when it aired several qualifying matches.
"DishLatino is building on this summer's fútbol fever with the launch of beIN Sports en Español," said DishLatino vice president Alfredo Rodriguez in a statement. "Our subscribers will find beIN Sports en Español is a unique addition to our sports lineup, especially in time for the channel's coverage of this fall's many upcoming international sports events."
While beIN Sports mainly focuses on soccer leagues in Europe, Africa and the Middle East – including La Liga in Spain (featuring top players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta), Italy’s Serie A (featuring matchups between powerhouses like Juventus, AC Milan, Roma and Inter Milan) and the French Ligue 1 (featuring free-flowing teams like Paris St. Germain, Olympique Marseille and Lyon) – it also has exclusive rights to the 2015 Copa America in Chile and the Copa del Rey tournament for Spanish League teams, and England’s second division Football League Championship, where the top three teams win promotion to the lucrative Premier League.
"The DishLatino content team has just scored another coup for its customers by bringing our spanish language network to its customers," said deputy CEO of beIN Media Group Yousef Al-Obaidly in a statement. "DishLatino customers are passionate and knowledgeable fans, and beIN Sports en Español will offer them more soccer and top flight international competition than any other channel."
