Tag Archives: Fox & Hound

English Premier League, La Liga and ESPN

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Barclays Premier League trophySome of you may have seen a few items related to the English Premier League broadcast rights. Sentanta has gone into receivership and their UK broadcast rights have been pulled. ESPN has won the rights to broadcast 46 live Premier League matches in the United Kingdom for the 2009-10 season, and has also been awarded a contract for the 2010-13 seasons.

For those who read the notice closely, you will have noticed that they are UK rights, not USA rights. As Ive’s notes

What it might mean is better coverage of the EPL on programs like Sportscenter, and improved soccer coverage on ESPN as it handles covering the EPL in England.

In related news, ESPN struck a deal with GolTV to partner in multimedia broadcast coverage of the Spanish League, which includes FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

The new deal will allow ESPN to show La Liga matches on ESPN, ESPN Deportes as well as ESPN360.com. More than 95 matches will be shown on Deportes, with at least 114 matches set to be streamed on ESPN360.com. ESPN2 will televise select matches (‘Super Clasico anybody?) while ESPN Mobile TV will also air matches. GolTV will continue to air its 120 La Liga matches throughout the year.

By the way, I’ve been contacted by both Fox & Hound as well as Boomer’s, the place taking over the old Coester’s space, regarding the possibility of broadcasting soccer and attracting our community. So we’re keeping a close eye on how we’ll get our fix. Look for updates right here!

US Soccer Roster Named For Game Against Mexico On Wednesday

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World Cup 2010 logoHead Coach Bob Bradley named the roster for the Qualifying game against Mexico on Wednesday. Unfortunately Jack Jewsbury is in Florida now training with the KC Wizards following his six weeks with the Nationals.

Eighteen of the 20 players on the roster participated in the first two rounds of World Cup qualifying last year. Bradley has called on a dozen players from foreign-based clubs, led by team captain Carlos Bocanegra and 2008 U.S. Soccer Male Athlete of the Year Tim Howard, who is unbeaten in four matches against Mexico and has posted an impressive five shutouts in five all-time World Cup qualifying appearances. Clint Dempsey finished 2008 tied for the team lead in goal scored (4), with all of his strikes coming in World Cup qualifying action. DaMarcus Beasley is one of four players on the roster who started in the last World Cup qualifier against Mexico, scoring the insurance goal in the 2-0 win on Sept. 3, 2005, in Columbus. Oguchi Onyewu, who set up Steve Ralston for the game-winner that day, scored a career-high three goals for the U.S. in 2008, including a header against Mexico in the 2-2 draw in Houston. Michael Bradley, who scored the game-winning goal in the 3-0 semifinal round qualifying win against Trinidad & Tobago, tied with Heath Pearce for the most appearances for the team in 2008, each starting in 11 of 14 matches. José Francisco Torres – who plays in the Mexican Primera División – is the only player on the roster who is not based in Europe or the United States.

More importantly, we need to find a new place to watch the game on Wednesday. I’m sorry to say that Coester’s is closed, some say temporarily, only time will tell. I’m going to approach The Fox & Hound, I created some real business for them during the State Cup (and World Cup) in 2006. If you have another suggestion, let me know and I’d be happy to approach them.