11 comments

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  tyduffy

  1 year ago

  Money isn't the issue if they want to sign him. But, I think the more likely outcome is that ESPN bids for the TV rights in Britain, and then sign him.
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  PZ

  1 year ago

  I read something a few months ago about ESPN talking to Setanta about buying them. It would give the Disney channel a huge foothold for their properties in Europe and....well, Setanta does own some EPL rights in North America. Should be interesting. Just remember, it was only a few years ago we were paying $20 to watch a fuzzy match on a TV in the corner of the pub....we've come a long way already.
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  Jeff Hash

  1 year ago

  PZ: Just so you know, ESPN ended up walking away from Setanta, reportedly due to Setanta's asking price.
  
  ESPN did, however, purchase the North American Sports Network (NASN) from Setanta in Europe last year, and is planning on rebranding that ESPN this fall.
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  eplnfl

  1 year ago

  well, WHEN ESPN gets the Prem rights Gray and Rae well be lead broadcasters. I think at first ESPN will broadcast only a game of the week and it doesn't mean Gray would have to cut his ties with Sky.
  
  I maybe old fashioned but I always find something lacking with the broadcaster in a studio. It will be important when ESPN makes the move to portray as much as possible of the feel of the game and a look around the stadium. I would expect a on the field reporter also.
  
  So, the question is when not if!
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  olivert

  1 year ago

  Note that ESPN, Inc. does have a sales and programming syndication office located in the Hammersmith section of Greater London.
  
  If ESPN, Inc. were to get its hands on EPL in both the UK and the Americas in 2010, I expect ESPN to either establish a broadcast studio in Greater London, or to rent studio space from IMG Media in London, or to buy whatever studio space from Setanta once it runs out of money.
  
  That means the likes of Tommy Smyth may be asked by ESPN to "retire" (no chance he will move to the UK) while the likes of Healey and Rae may be asked to move across the Atlantic instead of being based in New England.
  
  As for Setanta: its fate is now pretty much sealed now that ESPN has decided to let Setanta suffer and twist in the wind. Setanta will contiune to lose money until ESPN outbids Setanta for every program of value that Setanta has.
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  Tim

  1 year ago

  Before I moved to the States in the late 90's, I used to watch the EPL on Sky Sports in England and I really did not like Andy Gray at all but this summer watching the Euro’s on ESPN I have changed my opinion on him as he has added so much to ESPN’s coverage. For a change they have someone who knows what they are talking about and calls things how he sees them.
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  Paul Bestall

  1 year ago

  We get a bit flippant about Andy Gray over here in the UK, but I wouldn't swap him and Martin Tyler for any other commentary team on UK TV.
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  Aidan

  1 year ago

  No chance. Not being in the stadium gives the commentary less credibility. Plus Sky bumped his wages up to £20k a week following the offer he turned down from Everton.
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  Brian B

  1 year ago

  Andy Gray from the Moon is better than Tommie Smith and Julie Foudy who are embarrasingly pathetic!!!ESPN should realize that commentators have to be at the game and not in a studio.They don't seem to do this with NFL,NBA,etc.Stop being cheap like Fox Soccer Channel ,realize that football is taking off in the USA and fans here deserve the same treatment as other sports.
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  kkfla737

  1 year ago

  Just be thankful they are showing the Euros.
  
  Being cheap isn't it. We are talking about travel and lodging abroad at a time when the dollar is weak and oil prices are through the roof. It's not the same as domestic travel for N. American sports, and these ratings while not terrible do not justify any sort of major expense.
  
  Football is taking off in the US?
  
  Yes maybe, but as I have said before the football taking off in the US is Latin football not European football and these ratings that have excited so many people here back up my point that by and large this is still a very very niche audience.
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  dioforce

  8 months ago

  Heh.. Fox Soccer Channel is cheap as hell. It's a shame. But ESPN will pick up the torch. Allen Hopkins needs to commentate games. He was wicked good when he was with Fox Sports World (FSC), but has been reduced to a lackey for whatever jock douchebags commentate MLS Thursday night.
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