Comments on: ESPN’s Attempt to Take Over World Football http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/ It's always football season somewhere. Thu, 21 Aug 2008 20:41:42 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Football » ESPN’s Attempt to Take Over World Football http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-63422 Football » ESPN’s Attempt to Take Over World Football Wed, 30 Jan 2008 02:17:17 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-63422 [...] Dave wrote a fantastic post today on “ESPN’s Attempt to Take Over World Football”Here’s ONLY a quick extractOn the one hand, if it means I can watch more quality football here in America, I’m all for it. Setanta Sports and Fox Soccer Channel do what they can, but they can only deliver so much, and Dish Network forces me to pay for 50 channels … [...] [...] Dave wrote a fantastic post today on “ESPN’s Attempt to Take Over World Football”Here’s ONLY a quick extractOn the one hand, if it means I can watch more quality football here in America, I’m all for it. Setanta Sports and Fox Soccer Channel do what they can, but they can only deliver so much, and Dish Network forces me to pay for 50 channels … [...]

]]> By: Eric http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-51645 Eric Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:43:42 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-51645 Okay, first of all, ESPN has already begun its takeover of Setanta. There is a speciality channel in the UK called NASN (North American Sports Network) which shows the staples of North America (American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, NASCAR, etc.) to a European audience. Setanta was the co-founder of the network and generally operated it until ESPN bought them out last year. Actually, now that I think about it, Setanta might still operate it, but ESPN calls the shots, which is a central reason for additional non-sporting event ESPN programming on the network, such as Around the Horn and PTI. Secondly, the pursuit of the Premiership rights are for the UK. Face it, ESPN likes to call itself the "Worldwide Leader in Sports," and snarky bloggers love to use "WWL" as shorthand for the Four-Letter Network, but it really does not have a European presence. Its "international" broadcasts and "international audiences" that you always here Derek Rae referring to are generally in South America and especially in Southeast Asia. So if they really want to be the "WWL," they really need to be "WW." Okay, first of all, ESPN has already begun its takeover of Setanta. There is a speciality channel in the UK called NASN (North American Sports Network) which shows the staples of North America (American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, NASCAR, etc.) to a European audience. Setanta was the co-founder of the network and generally operated it until ESPN bought them out last year. Actually, now that I think about it, Setanta might still operate it, but ESPN calls the shots, which is a central reason for additional non-sporting event ESPN programming on the network, such as Around the Horn and PTI.

Secondly, the pursuit of the Premiership rights are for the UK. Face it, ESPN likes to call itself the “Worldwide Leader in Sports,” and snarky bloggers love to use “WWL” as shorthand for the Four-Letter Network, but it really does not have a European presence. Its “international” broadcasts and “international audiences” that you always here Derek Rae referring to are generally in South America and especially in Southeast Asia. So if they really want to be the “WWL,” they really need to be “WW.”

]]> By: Jackie http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49452 Jackie Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:02:55 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49452 Have to say I think you are giving ESPN way too much credit. I'm not sure they would have another channel and I can see them using their own feed through ESPN INTL and giving us much less football than the 8 games we get now. Have to say I think you are giving ESPN way too much credit. I’m not sure they would have another channel and I can see them using their own feed through ESPN INTL and giving us much less football than the 8 games we get now.

]]> By: B.A. http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49261 B.A. Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:36:46 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49261 a different Dave, My first thought, exactly. I don't think I can take Dave O'Brien repeating the same three anecdotes about "the Kop" for 2 hours. a different Dave,

My first thought, exactly. I don’t think I can take Dave O’Brien repeating the same three anecdotes about “the Kop” for 2 hours.

]]> By: a different Dave http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49225 a different Dave Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:11:00 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49225 "Plus, I don’t believe ESPN is dumb enough to have Dave O’Brien call Premier League games." Dear lord, Dave, don't give those nitwits any ideas! “Plus, I don’t believe ESPN is dumb enough to have Dave O’Brien call Premier League games.”

Dear lord, Dave, don’t give those nitwits any ideas!

]]> By: Dave http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49175 Dave Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:04:01 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49175 Indeed, Tony. There are days when I'd like to see the AFL put together a PPV package of their own -- even if it's just an online video package -- but I don't think they believe the U.S. is a big enough audience. Asia is closer and probably a better market in terms of overall growth potential. Indeed, Tony. There are days when I’d like to see the AFL put together a PPV package of their own — even if it’s just an online video package — but I don’t think they believe the U.S. is a big enough audience. Asia is closer and probably a better market in terms of overall growth potential.

]]> By: Greazy Tony http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49170 Greazy Tony Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:59:27 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49170 As a footy fan who doesn't follow soccer I have a feeling I could get really screwed on this deal. If Premier League is the big part of an ESPN buying Setanta deal then footy must be an afterthought. As a footy fan who doesn’t follow soccer I have a feeling I could get really screwed on this deal. If Premier League is the big part of an ESPN buying Setanta deal then footy must be an afterthought.

]]> By: Tom http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49155 Tom Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:02:53 +0000 http://www.davesfootballblog.com/post/2007/12/12/espns-attempt-to-take-over-world-football/#comment-49155 I haven't actually seen anything about ESPN bidding for the U.S. Premier League rights, though it wouldn't be too surprising if they did so if they won the British rights. I could see them buying Setanta, but I think they'd keep the subscription model as it stands in North America rather than asking for an annual fee that would lose them thousands of subscribers. The main problem is that the games aren't on at a very appealing time for ESPN to slot them into their main channels, unlike the Champions' League. I haven’t actually seen anything about ESPN bidding for the U.S. Premier League rights, though it wouldn’t be too surprising if they did so if they won the British rights.

I could see them buying Setanta, but I think they’d keep the subscription model as it stands in North America rather than asking for an annual fee that would lose them thousands of subscribers.

The main problem is that the games aren’t on at a very appealing time for ESPN to slot them into their main channels, unlike the Champions’ League.

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