Fox Soccer Channel steal UEFA Champions League Soccer from ESPN
Some breaking news I will try to cover more completely later, but Jamie Trecker, sr. writer for Fox Soccer, reported last night on Twitter and now this morning on his blog, that FSC has indeed outbid ESPN for rights to the UEFA Champions League.
IMS’s friend Kartik Krishnayier has a more complete story at Major League Soccer Talk.
You might also want to check Kartik’s entry on Sportel America. If you follow soccer on TV in the US you will definitely want to read this post. Lots of of interesting information from the only two soccer journalist at the show. Why is that?
Here’s a few thoughts for now concerning FSC getting the rights to UEFA Champions League.
I think ESPN actually did a pretty good job of the Champions League coverage. I’m afraid the FSC version will be much cheesier as are many of their broadcasts. I also think having quality soccer on ESPN gave the game some credibility in the US as a sport. Also, will FSC carry these games in high def like ESPN did?
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Yeah no kidding, FSC is barely watchable on a HD TV. It will stink if the games are played in the current FSC SD mode.
This is not good news. I think ESPN did a great job covering and promoting the games which allowed for more recognition by the rest of the ESPN viewers that maybe aren’t aware of the Champions League.
Hey guys, make sure you read Kartik’s post on the subject. It may throw more light on things. Were still waiting for Jamie Trecker to actually write about it in more detail. So far he’s only given brief details. As well, it will be interesting to hear from Fox and what they have planned. Kartik says he’s been in contact with Trecker but again, details are sketchy at the moment.
This is a fantastic web site. I am a big fan even though this is my first contribution.
Years ago, I subscribed to ESPN Deportes so I could have a greater selection of CL games — especially in the fall. Between ESPN2, ESPN Classic, and ESPN Deportes, I am able to select from about 10 different games per Match Day (i.e., week). In addition, I found the game selection bias on ESPN2 and Classsic to be much in favor of English teams. ESPN Deportes provided a more Latin bias, and I was able to watch the Spanish and Italian teams as well.
I hope that Fox broadcasts the CL on both FSE and FSC to maximize game selection, and includes Latin teams as well as their UK counter parts. I also hope that FSE and FSC broadcast many different games a week through delay and repeats, the latter of which never happened with ESPN.
Another positive the leaps to mind is that FSC will never pre-empt live soccer for baseball or basketball, and we will never be forced to watch the big CL games at midnight the way we did in 2006!
I think this is great news. While ESPN certainly raised the profile of the Champions League in this country they still treated it like a red-headed step child. With the acquisition of the rights by FSC we are almost assured full coverage AND repeats of the games later in the week in case you missed it.
How many times has ESPN switched coverage of a CL game to Classic or elsewhere in the spectrum with not so much as a notice? In addition, the ESPN coverage was only an afterthought. FSC will treat the league with full respect and I can’t wait to see what they have to offer.
I couldn’t be happier about this. The way that FSC has handled the CONCACAF coverage (every game) gets me really excited to think that almost every game will be covered by FSC rather than just the games of the European powers.
My $.02
I couldn’t be happier!
I agree with Super Rookie, especially how ESPN would switch coverage. The Deportes CL schedule was rarely made public more than a few days in advance.
It is a significant exaggeration to claim that ESPN did a great job with the Champions League. Initially they intended to show the Man U v Inter second leg on TAPE DELAY. Then they switched it to ESPN Classic. Then they switched it to ESPN2. We all have lives to lead. How are we supposed to keep track of their broadcasts if they can’t? And I can still recall taking an afternoon off to watch an Inter match only to arrive home and find the match preempted by street basketball. I was so delighted.
Nathan, I don’t think it’s a “significant exaggeration.” I don’t disagree with anything your saying. I was speaking more about the production value. Again I will restate, will FSC give us Champions League in hi-def and give us quality post production like ESPN. I will not miss games being preempted and switched from channel to channel.
Brian -
I agree that FSC production values can be poor. With that said, I would hope they are wise enough to know the presentation will have to improve for something as high profile as the Champions League. Oddly, ESPN appears not to have been wise enough to know that a firm broadcast schedule might have been a good idea while the bidding process was open.
One other comment I’d like to make:
I’ve learned that this deal is pretty much done but is definitely not finalized. It’s been reported to me by several sources that Mr. Trecker may be in some very hot water for reporting this story prematurely. I’m sure he has the inside information as FSC’s senior soccer writer. I noticed on Friday that the post had been taken down from his blog so I expected there was trouble and indeed there was.
Jamie Trecker also reported that Jurgen Klinsmann would be hired as the next US National team coach and that never materialized either. As we all know, Bob Bradley was named as coach. I’m thinking Mr. Trecker may get a bit ahead of himself in order to get the scoop.
Wonderful. I’m assuming I am now going to have to listen to that idiot Max Bretos try to commentate a game the man seems to barely understand and listen to his cronies that have never played the sport professionally (and probably not even on the collegiate level) analyze. So much for the sport catching on mainstream here.
Max Bretos is awesome.
He is the best part about FSC.
FSC games look horrible.Gotta go HD in this day and age.