Looks like NBC Sports Group is prioritizing soccer then, haha. Do you think NBCSN would air any big matches from Serie A or Le Classique (PSG-Marseille) if they do partner up with beIN Sports USA? Also, if they do get a deal signed between the two networks, what would happen to FOX Soccer? Would they lose EPL, their bread-and-butter? As for baseball, that situation is a lot more tricky than soccer. NBC Sports Group would have to battle with FOX Sports, TBS and ESPN. My feeling is that TBS will lose out on baseball to NBCSN. I would really like it if FOX, NBC, and ESPN won the rights and rotated the Fall Classic between the three ala the NFL and Super Bowl. I doubt that will happen and we'll be stuck with f'n Joe Buck for the next 10 years....
Unless miracles happen between now and then, this game has lost it's luster and importance. ManCity is in total chaos. When i started this thread, everything was pointing towards this massive showdown. But, within the last few days, everything changed. So, at this moment, the game will pull somewhere around 0.3-0.4 in the ratings (about 400K-450K is a reasonable number). It doesn't seem like ManCity can fix it's problems. The coach has to go and the team will be revamped for next season. In summary, the game was primed to become a massive game and a game for the ages. Now, it is just like another game...
FOX will ultimately make a lot more money if it were to convert SPEED, FUEL TV, FOX Soccer, and FOX Soccer Plus into "FOX Sports 1", "FOX Sports 2", "FOX Sports 3", and "FOX Sports Plus". That will allow all 4 channels to air college sports after 7pm Eastern Time. Remember that COLLEGE SPORTS are still undervalued compared to pro sports in the U.S. market. Major pro sports (including FIFA World Cup) are or will become "loss leaders" for TV networks in the U.S. but college sports, particularly college football, prints money for sports TV networks. (All bets will be off if Qatar Media were to partner with Comcast and overpay for BIG EAST sports starting 2013. That would cause the B1G and XII to demand FOX and ESPN to overpay for B1G and XII sports when those deals are up for renewal in 2016.)
The idea of clinching the title in Manchester City stadium would still be enough to make Man United fans salivate and not your average game. But for neutrals, that isn't a big reason to watch I guess. Especially on a Monday.
At this rate the only intrigue might be a guard of honor LOL. If that's the case, I hope Nasri starts that game ... for personal reasons.
As they say in this business: THE BALL IS ROUND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [result] Wigan 1-0 Man Utd Man Utd was undefeated vs Wigan prior to that debacle.[/result] 2 more round in the PL before Man City v Man Utd
We are back....it looks like this thread is not dead...this thread traded like the stock market....few days up and few days down...only 2 points separating the two as of today...ManU is playing tomorrow...
The early-season Man City appear to have re-surfaced. Where was this team a month ago? I guess if it stays at 5 point gap this derby match will be quite important on paper. Especially now that Man City has locked-up the better goal differential after that 1-6 victory. Although W,L or draw I still can't see Man City winning the title.
I wouldn't say Manchester City has locked up the better goal differential, but if they don't finish with the best goal differential they will probably have lost to Manchester United and if that happens they probably won't finish tied on points.
The title race is definitely ON. My revised predictions: 450,000 viewers +/- 10% on ESPN2 80,000 viewers +/- 20% on ESPN Deportes 150,000 streams +/- 20% at ESPN3.com == "Momentum" now favors the Citizens...
So are we going with "the ball is round" or "Cold Blooded"? More importantly, who is Gus Johnson supporting on this very important day?
Since this thread is alive and kicking, I will reaffirm what i had stated before... This upcoming Derby will be the highest rated game of the season (Fox Soccer and ESPN2 included, Ex-FOX games) and the highest rated Monday afternoon game ever on ESPN2. I still believe we have a chance of breaking the all-time high ESPN2 EPL TV rating which was about 700K on ESPN2 (if i'm not mistaken)... 0.4 guaranteed projection (500K-550K Viewers) 0.5 Good chance (about 700K viewers)...In-play or in the cards... The match portion of the game will always average higher than the whole telecast. During the telecast, we could peak around 700k viewers with a close game (towards the last 15 minutes or so of the game). 100K+ on ESPNDeportes (averages about 50K household for EPL games) 200K-250K Unique streams on ESPN.3 Slight chance of a 0.6 rating on ESPN2 , but highly unlikely...That would mean 850K-900K viewership..This would have been the case if the game was played on the weekend. We would have seen numbers as high as 850k-1 million for a weekend display on ESPN2. And for comparison, an ESPN showing would have added another 200K-300k to the bottom line for a weekend display, and 100k-150k for a weekday display. Regardless, the numbers are going to be very good for a weekday afternoon game, and for a sporting event live on ESPN2 (versus ESPN). We should see some hype and coverage on ESPN leading toward the match.
Internet, mobile, Satellite radio, and just being at home (Those flipping the channels to see if something good is on)....In today's world, you have so many ways to keep up with the game...
You meant to say Al Gore's internet, right EvanJ? Show some F'n respect for our former VP! A brilliant honkie if ever there was one ... Al Gore's interwebs + Bill Gates' internet machine = good I really hope ManCity and it's small army of Argentinos win this game, on a Tevez hattrick, so that everyone in England who is not a City fan or United hater can suppress the gag reflex that mercenary Tevez is cheered on by the adoring and forgiving Citizen faithful. The REAL fun starts the following week as Man City do all they can to avoid dropping the chalupa ... just like pre-sheik ManCity would typically do.
According to John Ourand of Sports Business Journal via Twitter, Man City vs Man Utd will be switched from ESPN2 U.S. to ESPN U.S. This has been CONFIRMED with an ESPN spokesperson as of 2:26pm Eastern Time on Tuesday.
Oliver...if you remember a while back, in the beginning of this thread, I had mentioned this that this game could be switched to ESPN...Too much at stake... Plus, a great platform for ESPN to start the momentum for the EUROS... The game is too huge to be on ESPN2....if switched to ESPN, expect the following.. 0.5 will be guaranteed rating (700K will be the target audience) 0.6 rating is in-play now....meaning (800K-900k viewers) is probable.. It looks like it is already confirmed... https://twitter.com/#!/Ourand_SBJ ESPN will carry Monday's Man City-Man U match live (2:30pmET), making it the first weekday Premier League match to appear on ESPN.
Don't believe such a restriction exists. ESPN, Inc. is looking to squeeze a few more viewers out of the match telecast. 0.6-0.8% would be the right target for ESPN(1), instead of the 0.4-0.5% expected if the match were on ESPN2. Official press release at following link: http://es.pn/JomccX
If the table stays close (going toward May 13th Final), then we might have another shot @ ESPN for the Finale...On the last day, we might get the winner. But first of all, ManCity has to win this game..