GolTV: Why no Barca today?

[NattyBo]

All due respect to the Ecuadorian league, but in the closing parts of a title race against Real Madrid, GolTV opted to show Dep. Cuenca vs Emelec instead of the Barcelona game..it just doesnt make much sense. Did someone else have the rights to this game or what?

I mean I understand you cant just cater to La Liga fans, but c'mon. I would think that a much larger part of your viewing audience was interested in Barca rather than the Ecuadorian league today.

[OldFanatic]

They didn't have the Fiorentina - AC Milan match from yesterday either. Is this some sign of cost-cutting?

[MasterShake29]

I think I remember reading there's some rights issue with Fiorentina home matches. That doesn't explain the Barcelona decision though.

[constantino3]

Hi,

The Barca games was picked by Voom, apparently the Worldsports HD channel will continue operating; I've read some posts here that under Dish's operation.

The Fiorentina game was not shown because when Messina and Fiorentina ascended to Series A from Series B, they didn't sell their home TV rights to the group that handled all the other teams TV rights, so we didn't get those rights.

Constantino
GolTV, Inc.

[Spartak]

Constantino, what's the latest on Serie A returning to GolTV next year? I've heard rumours that GolTV will not be renewing the contract with Serie A.

[NattyBo]

Hi,

The Barca games was picked by Voom, apparently the Worldsports HD channel will continue operating; I've read some posts here that under Dish's operation.

The Fiorentina game was not shown because when Messina and Fiorentina ascended to Series A from Series B, they didn't sell their home TV rights to the group that handled all the other teams TV rights, so we didn't get those rights.

Constantino
GolTV, Inc.


Thanks Constantino. I hope this doesnt happen as the title race winds down...I need my barca fix! :)

[OldFanatic]

The Barca games was picked by Voom, apparently the Worldsports HD channel will continue operating; I've read some posts here that under Dish's operation.

But that game was today - May 1.

VOOM ceased to exist as of April 30. It is true that WorldSport HD channel still exists, but nobody can see that channel as of today. Is it that WorldSport HD still holds the rights to some of these matches, and didn't make them available, even though they themselves can't show them anywhere? I would highly doubt they would have all of their expensive equipment and men running around at Camp Nou for a match they couldn't show anywhere. :D

Yes, the old VOOM channels will move under Dish's operation. But as of today, WorldSport HD is not one of them. Only 10 out of 21 VOOM channels can be seen on DISH today. WorldSport HD is expected to be added sometime in 2006.

Also, I remember that even when VOOM existed some matches could be seem on both WorldSport HD as well as GolTV (sometimes concurrently LIVE, sometimes only WorldSport HD LIVE and GolTV tape delayed). I don't remember if there ever were WorldSport HD exclusive matches back then, never seen on GolTV. Assuming that was not the case, I don't see how VOOM shutting down should impact today's Barcelona telecast.

Hopefully this is not a trend even in the absence of VOOM.