• by Erik Sass  @eriksass1, September 12, 2014

Comcast and Univision Communications have struck a long-term deal for the distribution of the Spanish-language Univision Deportes Network. Comcast will deliver Univision Deportes to XFinity TV subscribers who opt for the Digital Preferred or XFinity Latino cable packages, beginning next month.

Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed.

The distribution deal should bring Univision Deportes’ round-the-clock programming to around 12 million households across the U.S., bringing its total subscriber base to around 52 million customers.

High-definition video will be available to viewers in major U.S. Hispanic markets by the end of the year, including New York, Miami, Houston, Chicago, San Francisco, Sacramento, Albuquerque, Denver and El Paso, among others.

While Univision Deportes programming is dominated by international soccer (or fútbol to Hispanic fans), especially Liga MX games from Mexico, the channel also covers Formula 1 racing, boxing, NFL, NBA, and MLB games, reflecting growing interest in these sports among U.S. Hispanics.

Univision Deportes has unveiled a number of new digital products in recent months. In April, the cable network unveiled a new World Cup app, created in collaboration with NeuLion, offering fans access to live streaming coverage of all the World Cup games on smartphones and tablets, along with in-match video highlights, stats, updates, match schedules, club news and team rosters. Following the World Cup the app continues to offer fans additional Univision Deportes news and video, including live streaming of key international matches throughout the year.

For its part, Comcast already offers over 60 channels targeting Hispanic viewers, including both Spanish- and English-language programming, via XFinity TV.