League One Volleyball (LOVB), which begins its inaugural pro season in 2025, announced Thursday that it has entered into an agreement with ESPN to present some of its pro matches across its linear networks and digital platforms.
According to LOVB, ESPN platforms will show 10 LOVB matches across its linear networks when the season begins in January 2025. Eighteen of LOVB’s matches will also stream on ESPN+.
LOVB did not say on which outlets other matches will be shown.
“LOVB has set out on an ambitious path to develop volleyball into the next major American sports league, and we could not think of a better media company to have in this journey than ESPN,” Rosie Spaulding, COO of LOVB Pro, said in a news release.
“With the championship-caliber of our athletes and the level of their play, we believe the sport of professional volleyball will capture the attention and excitement of sports fans across the United States, and we can’t wait to work with ESPN to introduce the next generation of superstar athletes and everything the sport has to offer to today’s passionate fans and tomorrow’s new ones.”
Added Daniel Margulis, senior director of programming and acquisitions at ESPN, in the same news release:
“As our coverage of collegiate volleyball continues to evolve, LOVB provides a great professional complement for those athletes and others to continue their careers and our coverage of both them and the sport. We feel their growth model is an excellent one and are excited to partner with this great organization.”
There will be LOVB Pro teams in Austin, Atlanta, Houston, Madison, Omaha and Salt Lake. Worth noting is that there are already Pro Volleyball Federation teams in Atlanta and Omaha. PVF is finishing its first season this month.
For more information about LOVB: www.LOVB.com.
