FC Barcelona and Real Madrid will meet on ABC for the first time Sunday, October 25, expanding the U.S. broadcast reach of El Clásico alongside its streaming and Spanish-language coverage.
ESPN’s official schedule places kickoff at 4 p.m. Eastern, or 2 p.m. Mountain, from Barcelona, Spain. ABC’s pregame begins at 3 p.m. Eastern, or 1 p.m. Mountain. The match will also be available through ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes.
A test of wider access
For viewers receiving ABC over the air, the telecast provides a free broadcast route to a marquee soccer match. For broadcasters and advertisers, it offers an opportunity to assess how a major international sports event performs with wider distribution.
The audience result remains to be seen. One broadcast does not establish a permanent schedule of additional matches or guarantee that free exposure will convert viewers into subscribers.
The RNN question: Can free broadcast television introduce enough new fans to strengthen both advertising and subscription businesses?
Source: ESPN’s official announcement and schedule.
Prepared with AI assistance and source verification.