Monday, June 22, 2009

UF Quick Throw: Breaking News!

According to the Associated Press, ESPN have just won the rights to broadcast Setanta's 46 Premier League games in the UK next season. How will this affect ESPN's attempts to crack the footy market in the USA? Nobody knows but this is a first step into the world of the Premier League for ESPN. Setanta lost their rights to the games when they failed to pony up the latest, required installment of cash to the Premier League last week. Stay tuned for more as we get it.

17 comments:

BackBergtt said...

GOD DAMNIT

BackBergtt said...

"ESPN plans to make its Barclays Premier League coverage widely available across multiple pay-TV platforms."

Do what now?

Bigus Dickus said...

Show it on SKY and Virgin etc in the UK, sell the games on a channel as a package. Like having Setanta but now its ESPN PREM TV.

BackBergtt said...

Ah okay.

I'm still confused as to what impact this will have on the US broadcasting this year and the next.

BackBergtt said...

Also breaking: LFC have officially announced the Johnson signing.

Bigus Dickus said...

As far as impact here? No one knows until Setanta go belly up and someone picks up the US pieces.

BackBergtt said...

So does Setanta still hold the US rights then?

Seems that because FOX got the strangehold on the new deal picking up those pieces won't be as attractive here, you only get to show a game two thirds of the season.

Bigus Dickus said...

Don't know, but this year on Direct I had 6 live games a week including the Setanta 'Extra' channel. Basically you can show em all here if you have the infastructure and the cash.

EbullientFatalist said...

This is good news!


Right?

BackBergtt said...

So I read this is the tea time Saturday games. That means five GMT and noon EST right?

Bigus Dickus said...

If you like footy in HD? Yeah, if you like Tommy Smythe and Usless Lalas? No.

BackBergtt said...

*and Monday night games.

Point being, if that is the case, we are square back to the 'ESPN will be showing college football and basketball' in that time slot if they somehow get the rights here. Unless it goes to ESPN Classic, which again, does not have much better penetration than FSC.

BackBergtt said...

"If you like footy in HD? "

Are either of the two British ESPN channels in HD?

Bigus Dickus said...

Nope, don't believe so, but here neither is Setanta!

EbullientFatalist said...

My position as always is more footy is better, whomever carries the games and fuck who the announcers are - I know how to work the mute button (thanks to the vuvuzelas)

Jacob said...

@EF-That is almost exactly my position.

Email us at said...

Per EPL Talk, The WWL will also be carrying La Liga Stateside for the upcoming season.