gaborzinho

I don't know how everyone else feels about it, but I think it is outrageous
that the USNT match is not shown on any US network. Billiards, tractor pull,
world's strongest man, baton twirling, HS basketball, poker, darts and other
"sports" seem to be of higher priority. Galavision (in Spanish) is the only
network carrying the match, so I may have to travel all the way to Miami to
see it. I am at least lucky, since I am within driving distance!

lheilb8013

My biggest pet peeve about USSoccer, their absolute and incredibly shortsighted
refusal to pony up whatever $$$ are needed to buy English language rights from
FIFA/Concacaf etc. except for the WC and some qualifiers.

First, it's a slap in the face for their loyal fans. So far for Confed Cup and
Gold Cup I've driven an hour to a pub to watch one match on one Spanish
station, watched a Closed Circuit match in Spanish at a very smoky Bar, had a
friend try to tape a match on a second spanish station, actually watched a
match at home on yet a third(Yea!!),and plan to go to the OB on Wed., all
instead of sitting home and watching ESPN as I would have been doing, except
for maybe Wed.


Second, now, imagine that instead of a hardcore fan, I'm a newbie whose
interest in the sport was peaked a little by the US WC run last summer, I read
an article in my sports section about these tournements,and think "these guys
were fun to watch last year let me turn in to these games", then I look at the
TV section and I can't see the games without jumping through hoops. Does anyone
else think we've lost this new fan??? I do


Lloyd Heilbrunn

kevin laberge

Univision is a "US network." Maybe you mean english-speaking network?

FWIW the cost/return ratio for FIFA tournaments like Gold Cup,
Confederations Cup etc. simply don't justify ESPN or any US english-speaking
network buying the rights. I could see the reasoning of at least trying to
buy the semifinals and finals of the Gold Cup, but there's a great chance
the US will be eliminated this Wednesday anyway. So in that case ESPN or
whoever would have the privilage of showing "The three colored diving
hacks", or better yet Costa Rica against Brazil in the final. Whoopee...

Bottom line is that we see almost all of the friendlies and WCQ's. Maybe
someday we'll get the other tournaments on english-speaking TV, but at least
they're on the Univision networks for the most part.

Kevin

lheilb8013

USSoccer should buy the rights, give them to a network, for a piece of the
advertising revenue or something. If Univision can afford the rights, so can
USSoccer......

And the problem with "the Univision networks" is except for Univision proper,
the other two have ZERO market penetration, it is as bad as WUSA on PAX.
Sheesh, I'm 60 miles from Univision, and my cable gets neither one.

A possible compromise would for USSsoccer to partner for the rights with
Univision on the condition that all US games are on the main Network (maybe
they could even do a SAP English PBP)

Lloyd Heilbrunn

colin

During the past few Gold Cups, Sportsnet in Canada has only shown matches
involving our national team. In 2000, we got everything from the group
stage to the final obviously. In 2002, we got everything up to the
third place playoff. This year, if Canada had faced the US on Saturday we
would have gotten the game live, but they were eliminated so that marks the
end of our coverage. So basically the CSA has a deal with Sportsnet, I
assume, where they only have to cover Gold Cup matches with the national
team and nothing more.

gaborzinho

I meant "major" US network. Apart from Univision proper, which I do have, not
too many cable providers that I know of, carry channels such as Galavision. I
don't care if they show it in Korean or Ethiopean, just show it. Galavision
is NOT even available on any Time-Warner affiliates in my area.

jordan zimmerman

I agree. Fortunately, I get the match on DirecTV. But, it's still in
Spanish. I do, though, love to hear that announcer yell "GOL GOL GOL GOL!".

--
Jordan Zimmerman
http://www.jordanzimmerman.com

cryspat99

Pride, National duty, Love of the country, Patriotism, Proud supporter of USNT
no? ;-).
It should be regulated by a law. All games involving the national team ought to
be shown on ABC, NBC, CBS, in alternance

victoria barrett

Eek, too much effort. I'll just move to Marin Co. instead.

cryspat99

GOL GOL GOL GOL!". Golasso!