EPL Talk - Latest Comments in How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

jared — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:36:31 -0000

fox soccer channel can emprove there self by bring more games on a saturdays

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

SSReporters — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 23:35:12 -0000

Really? I think FSC is a little too Serie A biased...

Come on, in the summer time they have aired more Italian games than Premiership games.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

CFTV — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 18:01:11 -0000

I think FSC has become more balanced the past year or so in comparison between coverage of the Prem and the rest of the leagues they broadcast. FSC has been showing a ton of classic Barca matches this summer. Will FSC show the league games from this season on delay or is it just the Champions League games on delay that are going to be shown? I have seen an advert for Ronnie coming to Milan aside from the Jose promo. Adding those 2 personalies will make Serie A all the more interesting on and off the field. The Serie A highlight show is a joke when compared to the Premiership Review Show which is top notch. The length of Serie A hinders it because it really doesn't allow you to get a feel for all the teams in the league like the Premiership version.

It will be interesting to see how FSC's schedule looks in comparison now and in 2 years time when all the different TV rights are up for bid.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

JP — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 16:28:29 -0000

Right, because FSC doesn't give enough attention to the Prem already? Come on now, FSC might as well change it's name to Fox English Speaking Soccer Only Channel. The way they promote the Prem compared to any other league aside from the MLS is hugely different. For a channel that also carries Argentine football and Serie A, it is ridiculous to see just how much FSC pours into it's Premier League coverage while treating their other leagues as nothing more than pathetic sideshows. For example, the adverts promoting the upcoming season for the PL are intense, with an epic score sweeping through the 2 min. spot. Almost completely contrast to that advert is their two Serie A adverts: one of which is just a few shots of Mourinho with a reporter's voice-over, and the second one is about a minute long with stereotypical Italian gondola music playing. FSC's website and the vast majority of their programming already are Premier League-centric. I'm surprised that you (generalizing there) guys are actually complaining about a lack of PL programs in the summer months. Every time I turn on the channel, its PL this and PL that. And during the actual football season, it's even more PL-centric. I would say the best way for FSC to improve it's programming would be to show a bit more attention to the other leagues it can offer, rather than focusing on the leagues that speaks English just because it's easier for them to relate to.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:08:53 -0000

Red,

It's simple. FSC is targeting an anglocized soccer community. The Copa Lib doesn't fit their model. Really a pity. If some of the readers of this site watched the knock out rounds Copa Lib they may even think the UEFA Champions League is second rate.

The Superliga issue is complicated. I've been told Telefutura is given exclusive US rights because otherwise the MLS package was not worthwhile for the Univision family of networks. They failed with MLS once before as did Telemundo. Giving them exclusive Superliga rights (which forces dominant English speakers like myself to watch TF for the event, though I don't mind totally since I get TF in HD) which did get excellent ratings last year is what you would call a pay off to the network.

So in other words without Superliga, Univision/Telefutura never would have taken the MLS package to begin with a few years back after having failed with it at a time when the league had bigger stars than when they acquired the package for a second time.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

red — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 23:09:10 -0000

Why not show Copa Libertadores on Fox Soccer Channel? They show it on Fox Sports Espanol but not Fox Soccer Channel. So it's only in Spanish. The two-leg final this year ranked among the top matches I've seen of any league in the last year. Why not show the Mexican playoffs and get the SuperLiga on this channel in English commentary? Why are these SuperLiga games that show top MLS teams only available in Spanish in the U.S.? Their viewership will only increase by showing more live matches from different selected leagues and top tournaments during the summer. Classic games and Review show marathons will bring some, but live matches are always better. There's a lot more to the futbol world than the Premiership for goodness' sakes. Intertoto Cup anyone? Champions League qualifiers? There's always futbol in the summer, they just need to buy it. I'm guessing they don't have the money, however, and that's why it's more boring in the summer.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 16:21:46 -0000

FSC has Miami FC vs PR Islanders tonight: USL action. I'm thinking of heading down to the field myself, but maybe I'll just watch it, since it is so rare Miami FC is on TV.

MLS tonight on HDNet, and nothing on FSC. Pathetic.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

eplnfl — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 13:03:19 -0000

Very creative sporez. FSC can easily add another USL game say mid-week, or Sundays. A US Soccer report covering all aspects of US Soccer would make sense and it should be interactive. Also, it must have American hosts.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:29:27 -0000

Good suggestion Ryan.

I never saw the Gold Cup broadcast in English and feel it should be replayed- it was our continental championship. Instead FSC replays garbage MLS games from the weekend 5 days later and Fulham v Derby. What a thrill that was.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Ryan — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:19:31 -0000

How about theme days? Like have a Chelsea Tuesday or a Milan Monday, I understand FSC doesn't have the budget to buy more leagues but they could feature more of the leagues they do have rather than airing games in a random order. Or how about today being a red white and blue day, they could at least play some recent US "classics" like the Gold Cup victory, or the friendly matches v. Sweden and Poland ( Just mentioning these because I know for a fact they were shown on FSC live and they have the rights to them)

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

CFTV — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 08:00:28 -0000

I love the idea of running classic EPL Review Shows in chronological order as it would get over the history of the Premiership to people that might only have been watching for the past couple of years. It can't be that expensive to get the tapes from TWI. I even remember when Chris asked the executive at FSC during one of the podcasts interviews about getting the old Review Shows said he thought it was an interesting idea that he would look into it. Those hour long shows would provide awesome filler programming when their isn't much going on during the summer months or they could even air a block in the morning instead of the paid programs.

I don't know why FSC can't try to get the rights of some of the different club highlight videos or documantaries that are only available to people in Europe. Each club comes out with an occasional DVD/Videos Tapes of their best players, goals, and season in review. The shows can range from that movie on Chelsea that aired this spring and has ran a couple of times this summer to Manchester United the 99 Treble to the 1996 Tottenham Hotspur season in review I know I would be watching.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

sporez — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 06:28:42 -0000

Great suggestions for the Channel, Gaffer. I think they could do more original programming, like the Manchester United Premier League Champions show with Nick Webster. I still watch Fox Soccer Report at 10pm 2-3 times a week, mostly out of habit and the fact that I don't like non soccer related TV.

Original Program Ideas for summer months.

1) There has to be soccer leagues out there somewhere in the world that they can work out a deal to pick up during summer. It looks like Norway and Columbia have leagues going right now, for example, and isn't Russia on too? I remember the pundits talking about Russian team being fresh for E2008, etc. I'd watch that with English commentary or international feed with no commentary, no problem - alot of times I'd like the option to shut off the commentary anyway!

2) Soccer video games : console, fantasy, et. al Strategies, what online games are out there, what are good picks for fantasy players, best online mode experiences (console) ETC

3) Outside the game. Possible topics: Why you should loathe Jack Warner, US National Team - Who The Hell Are These Guys? Sepp Blatter, Referees-Do We Need 2 linesmen on each side? Tech, Hooligans, Why Female Streakers are Awesome, Talk to a football manager...Championship, Prem, French, I don't F#@!%ing care, somebody that knows the game.

4) Great Stadiums. The Cathedrals of the beautiful game, and the cities they reside in. Or for that matter, Great Soccer Cities.

5) Soccer movies and documentaries. Seems like an obvious one, but real football factories international, world cup history. history of football. bend it like bloody becks.

6) Steven Cohen, The Reality Show.

7) Nick Webster's Pub Crawl

8) Bobby's Scotland Memories

9) This Week In MLS

10) This Week In World Football

11) What the Papers Say

12) The Transfer Rumour show

.... can i go now?

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Mookie — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 00:56:51 -0000

Get rid of the reality shows for one.

I could care less about Dream Team to be honest with you.

Soccer Saturday from Sky Sports should be aired in place of the usually dull Wigan/Bolton 7:00 AM match.

Air more of "Classic English Soccer".

Give Max Bretos some valium. :)

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Charlie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 16:31:24 -0000

Atlanta Pompey wrote:
Most of the FSC generated shows are little better than Public Access TV.

Bingo! Absolutely 100% spot on perfect.

In Gaffer's poll, I voted "1-10 hours," and all of those hours were spent watching Sky Sports News.

I will watch FSR if I know Bobby McMahon is going to be on, but otherwise it's Gol TV News or Setanta Sports News.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

winstongator — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:24:58 -0000

I caught a highlight of the Battery/Dynamo game on the FSC review show, and it was the online video scaled to TV size!

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

eplnfl — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:22:57 -0000

Good news this weekend is that the USL website will have live games on their website. The excellent quality presentation starts at 7:55pm Eastern.

The Sky Sports news on FSC actually hurts it. It's delayed first of all, and who needs it repeated several times. Show it live or not at all !

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 14:51:34 -0000

Good news for the FSW Canada watchers:

All 15 Superliga matches will be broadcast on FSW Canada beginning next Saturday.

I'll be watching the matches in HD on Telefutura down here in the states! :-)

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Reacharound — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 11:31:05 -0000

Agreed, FSWC is probably even worse than Fox soccer channel, I can live with Fox soccer report and sky sports news (though Sky Sports news is actually pretty crappy in the "offseason", shouldnt they be showing more highlights of other sports instead of showing some interview with a manager twice an hour??)

Its the "Guy Show" or wahtever its called, followed by that other stupid one where they are in a pub just talking, there is no way anyone watches this crap, its unacceptable!

GolTV, yeah I'm ok with it, the Bundesliga and La Liga are good Plus the Bundesliga and La Liga review shows arent too bad either. and that 2010 report is pretty useful, though it was better last year when only the South american qualifiers were played because the whole hour focused on them in more detail.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Lonnie — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 09:41:46 -0000

Fox Sports World here in Canada shows very little live soccer even when the major domestic leagues are up and running. The only thing they have is some Argentine league and Serie A when that is up and running. I have not seen any MLS games on Fox Sports World listings the past couple of weeks. I tune in to HDNet or some other channel to find some MLS coverage.

Half of each programming day is dedicated to re-running the Fox Soccer Report of Sky Sports News or dull general talk shows about sport.

I don't even know why I pay the premium to have the channel at this point :)

GolTV also run far too many repeats of their news show but their carrying Bundesliga and La Liga is what make it worth the price for me.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Patrick — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 08:18:20 -0000

While I have tuned in to watch a few of the Italian Classics that I missed during the season, I essentially stop watching FSC in the summer.
The biggest problem is the almost complete lack of LIVE games. Other than the MLS games, there is nothing.

If FSC can take a lesson from the success of Euro 2008 on ESPN, it is that the primary soccer-viewing audience in the US has a great interest in world football. While adding Serie A has been great, FSC has lost the rights to the Brazilian, French, and German leagues in the past few years. I regularly watched the Brazilian (which were on in the summer) and German games.

If it is a matter of rights and something to show live during the summer, I don't believe anyone has the rights to the Russian league. This is an increasingly high quality league filled with many players who end up playing in the EPL and elsewhere. Wouldn't it be great to see the next Jo or Arshavin playing during the relatively football-free summer months?

Finally, it is just ridiculous that the English-language FSC channel does not show the Copa Liberatadores games. I am not going to subscribe to yet another channel on a different cable "tier" for these games, but I definitely would watch them if they were on FSC. Not showing at least the semifinals and finals of this major tournament--which, again, takes place in the summer--is just another FSC decision that hurts many viewers and forces us to go without or pay more money. A decision almost as bad as giving up the early EPL game--not to mention the Monday games-- so we will either have to subscribe to Setanta or wake up to another mind-numbing infomercial.

It would be interesting to know how much less live soccer FSC shows now as a channel dedicated exclusively to soccer compared to back in 2004 (when I started to watch) when it was still Fox Sports World. My guess is significantly less!

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:18:57 -0000

Lou, GOL TV already bought the rights to the rest of CONCACAF. FSC missed that chance. Maybe in 2014.

Being a south Floridian who is surrounded by Latins, GOL TV is the soccer network of record. FSC isn't even on most people's radars. If they watch MLS they watch it on Spanish channels anyhow, and they don't follow the PL or Serie A.

FSC is nowhere with regards to this region. I cannot believe they did not show the Copa Lib final in English tonight. That's this hemisphere's version of the Champions League final and I had to watch it on Justin TV until Jonathan was good enough to call me and tell me Ch 425 was showing it. (they have the English language rights to the Libetadoras and Sudamericana via a deal with Traffic Sports who owns the rights)

They've made their decision to pursue an ex-pat/anglicized strategy. That's fine, and certainly a market exists. But if ESPN encroaches on it, look out. News Corp could conceivably pull the plug.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

eplnfl — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:03:35 -0000

FSC may be facing a similar problem when ESPN jumps into the EPL pool. Will ESPN and FSC share marketing of their product. ESPN and TNT cross-promote the NBA. The USL online video is a dream come true, what quality for the Open cup games I saw last night. FSC can certainly pick up those broadcasts for next to nothing and get US fans wrapped up into it. Regional qualifying should be another strong area for FSC, picking up the games not involving US/Mexico should be an easy job. Canada is a natural team for them to follow. Having FSC become the channel of regional qualifying would be a nice touch.

There is no reason to drop the phone -in during the off season. With transfer's, internationals, friendlies, and general news, the phone in is still a fresh show each week. Classic matches from the previous season, maybe voted on by the fans, would be a nice touch.

However, now that ESPN is a "player" it will be a much more difficult job for FSC to find relevant programming.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Ric — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:51:02 -0000

* Fox Sports en Espanol has Copa Lib tonight

* Nick Webster was at Euro and appeared some on Fox Soccer Report. But it wasn't much.

* I agree that U.S. Open Cup matches would be good for FSC. And I'd have to guess the price wouldn't be too steep, since U.S. Soccer is getting $0 for them right now, with the exception of the final.

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

Kartik — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 15:16:16 -0000

Are you sure FSC doesn't have the Copa Lib final tonight? If they don't I have to find it online. I saw it the first leg the day after on FSC last week so I assumed that had showed it live.

If they cannot even bring us the Copa Lib. final what good is the network?

Re: How Fox Soccer Channel Can Improve Its Summer Programming

sidefoot — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:23:02 -0000

I've got to agree. If FSC carried the feeds of the US Open Cup that I watched online last night then I'd watch. Also if they had the English language rights to SuperLiga and the CONCACAF Champions League I'd watch that too. If they covered the Copa Libertadores, I'd watch that.

Live football exists during the summer in this hemisphere. We don't need to dust off moldy oldies from the FSC archive.