Not now honey, I’m watching the game
Growing up and going to matches at Portman Road, it was always exciting to see a TV camera sitting in some basket lift above the Churchmans Stand. That would be the indication that we’d get to see the highlights of the match on Match of the Day that night. Of course, that was long before SkyTV brought their millions to show live matches. Now, hardly a match takes place without a camera…and now with the broadcast choices we have, we get to see a lot of matches from the far reaches of the world.
In a sign that the sport of Soccer is starting to find its niche in North America, the results of the battle between ESPN, Fox and Setanta over who owns the rights to the UEFA Champions League broadcasts appears to have been won by…wait for it…Fox.
Fox is pretty much cornering the market on TV rights. All ESPN has left now is the World Cup, US International matches and the MLS Game of the week (plus the All-Star game on the Final on ABC)…this is basically what SUM sold them a couple of years ago.
Fox Soccer Channel adds that to the EPL rights they share with Setanta. They also have UEFA Cup and FA Cup rights which, I believe they also share with Setanta.
Doesn’t Setanta currently share Champions League rights with ESPN?
So, what does this mean? Well, I’m pretty sure EPL rights for North America are on the block. I’ve read in a couple of places that ESPN will be bidding on at least part of the package.
Here’s the other thing, will all the Champions League matches be just on Fox Soccer Channel? There’s enough interest in the matches that they could put them on their regional networks. I mean, there isn’t much else on at the times when Champs League matches are played.
Another thing, ESPN has actually done a decent job of pre/post match stuff—if you can tolerate Tommy Smyth—but, common, Fox Soccer will put their entire day and evening around those matches. Think about how Fox Soccer broadcasts MLS matches on Saturdays and compare that to what ESPN does. Now, think how much more coverage you’ll have with Fox.
Oh, and don’t forget ESPN360…does that count for TV rights?
Where will Setanta be in all this?
Bottom line as I see it right now. Fox Soccer Channel will now give us much better Champions League coverage. ESPN will now have more incentive to buy at least some of the EPL Rights. Setanta will probably just work out deals with each so they can still show some matches. At the end of the day, I think we, the viewers, win.
Who knows, maybe ESPN will decide to cover MLS like it has other minor sports it wanted to build up…nah. I’ll get even more sports news from Fox Soccer Report now.
Oh, one last thought. I caught a few minutes of some SoccerNet show on one of the ESPN channels the other night. Anyone know anything about it?
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