Soccer on ESPN

[CHETOLONGHORN]

Does anybody know if the English Premiere League will be show on ESPN? I heard around that ESPN was gonna try to get more involved with Soccer.

 

[Squall]

the rumors are ESPN was ecstatic about the ratings they got for Euro2008 and are preparing a bid to buy the rights to broadcast the EPL NEXT YEAR (aug 2009) once the current contract expires in december.

Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta hold the rights at the moment, but i would love ESPN to get it IF...
1. they show the games in HD, which is how they're broadcast in England
2. throw out the money it takes to ONLY show the broadcast from england, including announcers. if they freaking brought in their own guys to announce it in the studio, it's not worth the HD imo

 

[TexonLongIsland]

Barcelona vs NY RedBulls friendly will be on ESPN2 in HD tonight.

One note:
ESPN2 shows TV coverage starting at 7:00 PM Eastern, but my ticket says it starts at 6:45 ET. I don't know if they are going to join the game in progress or what.

 

[1899horn]

I am curious how espn would juggle the EPL during college football, when they have both channels running hard and fat from 11 to midnight showing college football. Would they just show the very early match, and then expand coverage in december?

 

[Squall]

1899horn - this is the most exciting part....ESPN Classic would be no more. it would e moved to a hidef channel and be changed to ESPN3....featuring....

SOCCER! it would be mostly international stuff, but the bread and butter would be soccer in hidef

google "espn3" and "soccer", you'll find plenty of rumor stuff about it.

again, i would only be excited if they used the British announcers

 

[1899horn]

Thank god. I used to really like espn classic, but since all they show now is classic pool, bowling, and other ridiculous filler, they might as well get rid of it.

It was better when it was classic sports. But then again, any channel is better when they show old NFL films shows.