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.
GOD DAMNIT
ReplyDelete"ESPN plans to make its Barclays Premier League coverage widely available across multiple pay-TV platforms."
ReplyDeleteDo what now?
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.
ReplyDeleteAh okay.
ReplyDeleteI'm still confused as to what impact this will have on the US broadcasting this year and the next.
Also breaking: LFC have officially announced the Johnson signing.
ReplyDeleteAs far as impact here? No one knows until Setanta go belly up and someone picks up the US pieces.
ReplyDeleteSo does Setanta still hold the US rights then?
ReplyDeleteSeems 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteThis is good news!
ReplyDeleteRight?
So I read this is the tea time Saturday games. That means five GMT and noon EST right?
ReplyDeleteIf you like footy in HD? Yeah, if you like Tommy Smythe and Usless Lalas? No.
ReplyDelete*and Monday night games.
ReplyDeletePoint 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.
"If you like footy in HD? "
ReplyDeleteAre either of the two British ESPN channels in HD?
Nope, don't believe so, but here neither is Setanta!
ReplyDeleteMy 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)
ReplyDelete@EF-That is almost exactly my position.
ReplyDeletePer EPL Talk, The WWL will also be carrying La Liga Stateside for the upcoming season.
ReplyDelete