Expanding on its existing relationship with ESPN, the all-sports media outlet owned by Disney, Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS 0.89%) announced today it will "serve as the exclusive eCommerce provider of licensed merchandise and sporting goods on ESPN.com and related digital properties." Exact terms of the deal were not announced, but Dick's said it is a "multi-year agreement."
Dick's Sporting Goods has already partnered with ESPN, sponsoring college basketball's "Champ Week." The two also combined to air Dick's Hell Week, a documentary that follows a high school football team during an intense pre-season training camp. Dick's first Hell Week documentary, prior to being picked up by ESPN, followed a Detroit-area high school football team and aired online last year.
The deal between Dick's and ESPN will also include "integrated shopping opportunities ... featured across ESPN platforms in the near future – including ESPN.com, ESPN The Magazine, ESPN Radio and mobile properties like ScoreCenter, GameCast and WatchESPN," according to Dick's announcement.
Commenting on the expanding relationship with ESPN, Dick's Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lauren Hobart said in the release, "This groundbreaking collaboration with ESPN blends sports content and commerce, solidifying DICK's as the premier destination for licensed product."
Financial terms of the partnership were not disclosed.
