World Cup News from World Cup Buzz » Fox Soccer Channel

Fox Soccer Continues Push To Be First Name In USA Coverage

Sebastian Shepard — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 06:30:21 +0000

The USA bid to host the 2022 World Cup has some powerful allies including former President Bill Clinton, who governed the country back when it last hosted the event in 1994.

And, as excitement builds for the crucial day of judgment on Dec. 2, when FIFA makes the decision for both the 2018 and the 2022 tournaments, Fox Soccer Channel is making its own bid — to be the go-to name for soccer coverage within the United States.

After winning a major victory by acquiring the rights for the best Champions League matches over ESPN, a giant player in televising sports in the United States, Fox began consolidating control of the TV market by launching Fox Soccer Plus in March 2010, a sister network that also focuses on soccer. It owes its programming to Setanta Sports USA, which signed off air when Fox Soccer Plus launched.

These victories were important for Fox Soccer Channel, as was the long needed move to high definition broadcasting. It signalled the intent of the parent company, News Corporation, to become a serious, if not the serious player for broadcasting soccer in the USA.

Fox Soccer Channel has further good news for fans of USA soccer, and fans of soccer living in the USA in general. It announced, and has been advertising heavily for (on its own airtime, it has to be said) a program called Decision Day 2022, and a sister program called D-Day Minus 1.

The first will air on December 2, 9:30 AM EST as live coverage of the announcement, although coverage will begin that day at 8:30 with a program entitled “Team USA: Journey for Glory.” D-Day Minus 1 airs the Wednesday night before at 9 PM EST. All the programs are set to undergo heavy rotation over the following days. A full list of times is available here.

Although the name indicates its obvious market as the US soccer fan, the 2018 coverage will also be shown on FSC via Sky Sports News’ coverage of the event in England. But the real target of the event is the USA fan, as evidenced by a panel of USA soccer legends, including Eric Wynalda and Cobi Jones. Both men were on the US 1994 World Cup squad.

Keenly aware that the US market for soccer is strongly Latino, Fox Deportes will also be broadcasting the event. Even though the coverage risks a certain cheerleading element, it shows how seriously Fox is taking soccer in America.

ESPN is the main rival to Fox for soccer, but is clearly not publicizing the event as heavily as Fox. They have relegated the coverage to ESPN3, refusing to drop regular shows such as SportsCenter and First Take from the first two of their channels. ESPN Deportes, the Latino-focused channel, will not be airing the event.

Perhaps it is more accurate to say that ESPN was a rival, but is now waning to an afterthought. While Fox Soccer Channel has the luxury of focusing only on soccer, there used to be a question of which channel would become the best destination for fans of the beautiful game in the USA. Now it appears the question has been answered.

For a while, some people hoped that ESPN would step up its efforts, mostly due to its greater accessibility and HD programming. FSC has answered the second issue, and its recently displayed determination should help convince fans in America to switch to their programming. Coverage of baseball, basketball, and Gridiron football, not to mention ice hockey and NASCAR will be preferred on a network like ESPN. You can be sure it won’t happen on FSC.

Christmas Wishes for World Football

George Metellus — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:24:11 +0000

Its the most wonderful time of the year. The holiday season is the only time of the year when you are nice to people you don’t like and the whole thing about being naughty or nice doesn’t matter cause you will still receive gifts. I’ve been more naughty than nice this year, especially that one night at Club Madonna’s. Anyway, I’m thankful that i’ll be receiving gifts but I’m still a bit greedy hoping that these Christmas wishes will come true.

Wish #1:

Stop the negative press about South Africa’s preparations for the 2010 World Cup. There is a sense of prejudice and anti-African sentiment when a negative report or story about South Africa’s preparations is written. If you love The Great Tournament, then you want to see South Africa host this historic World Cup.

Wish #2:

For Barcelona to win the treble this year. Its painful as a Barca fan to suffer through 2 straight trophy less seasons. Not to mention the cloud of Real Madrid, its 9 European Cups and fafillion La Liga titles lingering overhead. I want their lead in La Liga to extend to 24 points by the end of the season and for Real Madrid to qualify for the UEFA Cup or Europa League or whatever its gonna be called.

Wish #3:

For Cristiano Ronaldo to admit that he does not want to play for Manchester United anymore. The world’s most arrogant player wants to play for Real Madrid. He has yet to come out and pledge his undying devotion to Old Trafford. I already transferred him to Real Madrid in FIFA 09. Its getting annoying to hear all this speculation, Man U is the faithful wife, Real Madrid is the freaky mistress and Cristiano is the husband who is afraid to admit that he wants to leave his wife for the freak.

Wish #4:

That Sylvie Van der Vaart, model wife of Real Madrid midfielder Rafael, be loaned to Club America of Mexico or some 1st division Mexican team so that we can see her in a tight and skimpy Porrista outfit before every Mexican League match. “Hot” is not the word to describe this woman’s sex appeal. WOO! If I was Rafael, Sylvie would have had 5 or 6 kids by now. It would be impossible to focus on playing ball.

Wish #5:
VS.
Please put the Italian Serie A back on GOL TV. Fox is screwing up coverage of one of the great leagues in all of sports. This past Sunday, Fox Soccer Channel had Milan-Udinese live and then Fox Sports Espanol at halftime showed the 1st half of the same game on delay. On both Fox channels the same game was on simultaneously, with about 30 minutes game time difference. That’s ridiculous and the weekly wrap up show, Serie A Weekly is nothing but a music video of soccer highlights, its a 30 minute YouTube clip. “Ciao, Italia”, the 1 hour weekly wrap up show that was on GOL TV had commentary and game highlights of every match of the week with standings and the leading goal scorers chart at the end. Much like “Ole, La Liga” for Spain. Per Favore, ritorna calcio italiano alla GOL TV.

Wish #6:

That Ronaldo changes his mind and plays for SC Internacional of Porto Alegre. We know all know that the World Cup’s all-time leading goal scorer recently signed with Corinthians and rumors are swirling that Juan Sebastian “La Brujita” Veron may join Timão as well. Instead, Ronaldo & Veron should sign for O Colorado. It would be intriguing to see Ronaldo up top with Nilmar and Veron acting as Andres D’Alessandro’s midfield enforcer for the newly crowned Copa Sudamericana champs. Its not going to happen but a squad with those players would form the #1 challenger to São Paulo for the 2009 Brasileirão title.

Ladies and Gentlemen, Happy Holidays to you and yours. Celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa safely and I hope your Christmas wishes come true.

Fox Soccer Channel Announces TV Schedule For World Cup Qualifiers

The Gaffer — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 02:41:25 +0000

Fox Soccer Channel has announced its TV schedule for the 2010 World Cup Qualifying matches, scheduled this September. The matches that will be shown in the United States are:

Hungary v Denmark, Saturday, September 6, 1:30pm ET
Ukraine v Belarus, Saturday, September 6, 4pm ET (tape delayed)
Russia v Wales, Wednesday, September 10, 11am ET
Macedonia v Holland, Wednesday, September 10, 2:30pm ET
Slovenia v Slovakia, Wednesday, September 10, 5pm ET (tape delayed)