ESPN signs media deal for inaugural pro season of League One Volleyball.

• Ahead of its inaugural Pro season, ESPN has struck a multi-year media rights deal with League One Volleyball.
• The first season of LOVB Pro will feature 10 matches on ESPN's linear networks and 18 matches on ESPN+ starting in January.
• The 2025 pro season of LOVB will consist of six teams located in Atlanta, Austin, Texas, Houston, Madison, Wisconsin, Omaha, Nebraska, and Salt Lake City.

The multi-year media rights deal between ESPN and League One Volleyball has been announced, starting with the league's inaugural professional volleyball season.

The first season of LOVB Pro will feature 10 matches on ESPN's linear networks and 18 matches on ESPN+ starting in January. The financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.

"ESPN's senior director of programming and acquisitions, Daniel Margulis, stated in a release announcing the deal that LOVB provides a great professional complement for athletes and others to continue their careers and our coverage of both them and the sport. He added that he feels their growth model is an excellent one and is excited to partner with this great organization."

ESPN is set to launch a new streaming service in the fall of next year, and has also partnered with and to launch a joint venture sports streaming service, expected this fall.

ESPN will cover LOVB's 2025 pro season, which runs from April until the middle of the month and features six teams in Atlanta, Austin, Houston, Madison, Omaha, and Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, the league's inaugural pre-season is set to begin in November 2024.

ESPN has been chosen by LOVB Pro as the ideal media company to join in their mission to transform volleyball into a major American sports league, according to Rosie Spaulding, the chief operating officer of LOVB Pro, in a statement.

With over 1,200 youth teams and 47 clubs in 22 states across the U.S., LOVB is a leading youth volleyball organization. Spaulding, the CEO of LOVB, stated in an interview with CNBC that the introduction of a professional league makes the business a "true youth-to-pro ecosystem."

"We are thrilled to have partnered with ESPN for our inaugural season, as we believe it will provide the necessary visibility and awareness for our professional league. This partnership will not only benefit the professional athletes but also our youth club athletes who are just starting their journey."

ESPN will offer LOVB Pro matches in select countries and territories, including Canada, the Caribbean, Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.