Why No CL Game on ESPN2 this Wed.?

[Jazzies]

Anyone know?

Just wondering what's the reason, and if one match per round will be the norm for the rest of this year's Champions League competition.

Thanks.

[TarheelJTK]

There's a live college football game tomorrow at 1:30.

[gazza]

There's a live college football game tomorrow at 1:30.


Must be F'd Up U vs. Nobody Cares A&M.

[monster]

Must be F'd Up U vs. Nobody Cares A&M.
No, actually it's Western Michigan vs. Northern Illinois.

Here is the rest of the schedule available. Games on both matchdays through the first leg of the quarters (that is all I can find online), but the second leg of the Round of 16 are tape-delayed.

12-06-2005 02:30 pm 04:45 pm UEFA Champions LeagueMatchday #6
12-07-2005 02:30 pm 04:45 pm UEFA Champions LeagueMatchday #6
02-21-2006 02:30 pm 04:45 pm UEFA Champions League1/8th Finals, Leg 1
02-22-2006 02:30 pm 04:45 pm UEFA Champions League1/8th Finals, Leg 1
03-08-2006 12:00 am 02:00 am UEFA Champions League1/8th Finals, Leg 2
03-08-2006 11:30 pm 01:30 am UEFA Champions League1/8th Finals, Leg 2
03-28-2006 02:30 pm 04:45 pm UEFA Champions LeagueQuarterfinal #1
03-29-2006 02:30 pm 04:45 pm UEFA Champions LeagueQuarterfinal #1

[bostonsoccermdl]

No, actually it's Western Michigan vs. Northern Illinois.


Who against who?

:rolleyes: Monster, I know how you feel, and I usually understadn where you are coming from, but this is just frustuating.

I would much rather ESPN give an even bigger middle finger to soccer so we could move on to FSC or another station..

A bunch of college kids who will end up in desk jobs in a year vs. a great Real Madrid match..

<bangs head against the wall.....>

[monster]

Who against who?

:rolleyes: Monster, I know how you feel, and I usually understadn where you are coming from, but this is just frustuating.

Fraustrating that the NCAA conferences can negotiate a better contract and draw bigger audiences than UEFA?

I knew this would happen. They have made a greater commitment to the Champion's League and the moment there is one change and it's the same old song and dance.

I would much rather ESPN give an even bigger middle finger to soccer so we could move on to FSC or another station.

You wouuld rather shrink the potential audience by 60 million? Over what? More CL coverage this year than in the past? Every WC game in HD? A rights fee for MLS?

A bunch of college kids who will end up in desk jobs in a year vs. a great Real Madrid match..

Or a sport that is probably the third most popular sport in the country vs. a soccer match.

When you have to denigrate the other sport or the people playing it, your argument really loses steam.

[gazza]

Or a sport that is probably the third most popular sport in the country vs. a soccer match.

I agree the sport is more popular, but who outside of alumnus of the schools cares about that game?

I would have to think Real Madrid would be a pretty good draw. I mean I like college football as much as any, more than the NFL, and it's not even close I would have set the Tivo for RM.

[bostonsoccermdl]

Fraustrating that the NCAA conferences can negotiate a better contract and draw bigger audiences than UEFA?

I knew this would happen. They have made a greater commitment to the Champion's League and the moment there is one change and it's the same old song and dance.

You wouuld rather shrink the potential audience by 60 million? Over what? More CL coverage this year than in the past? Every WC game in HD? A rights fee for MLS?

Or a sport that is probably the third most popular sport in the country vs. a soccer match.
When you have to denigrate the other sport or the people playing it, your argument really loses steam.

Again, this is mainly out of my frustration. You would think the one safe timeslot is a weekday afternoon, but no.

Look,you make valid points, and half my anger is for ESPN having the leverage to pull this crap. I can only dream of the day that soccer trying to get an American audience can tell ESPN to F'off.

Besides you mention a sport which is "top 3". It is one game. This is a Cl match. big difference.

[monster]

I agree the sport is more popular, but who outside of alumnus of the schools cares about that game?

I would have to think Real Madrid would be a pretty good draw. I mean I like college football as much as any, more than the NFL, and it's not even close I would have set the Tivo for RM.
I would be just as likely to watch this football game as I would the soccer game and I have no tie to either school. It's a common myth on here that only alumns care about college football games. There are people who just enjoy the sport just like there are people who just enjoy soccer.

[catenaccio_L'pool]

You wouuld rather shrink the potential audience by 60 million? Over what? More CL coverage this year than in the past? Every WC game in HD? A rights fee for MLS?
When you have to denigrate the other sport or the people playing it, your argument really loses steam.

Oh please monster...it is not like USC will play...how will you shrink 60 million viewers when you show Western Michigan at Northern Illinois. They are from MAC division where there are NO ranked teams...nobody will watch this junk...i just hope i can find some TV ratings for the college game and compare it to CL ratings

[monster]

Again, this is mainly out of my frustration. You would think the one safe timeslot is a weekday afternoon, but no.

Look,you make valid points, and half my anger is for ESPN having the leverage to pull this crap. I can only dream of the day that soccer trying to get an American audience can tell ESPN to F'off.

Besides you mention a sport which is "top 3". It is one game. This is a Cl match. big difference.
Yeah, it is one game. One game that these two schools were smart enough and resourceful enough to move to a time when they could get the slot. Good for them. I don't begrudge them that. I will never understand why soccer fans have to take it personally when they don't get their way.

I don't ever want ESPN to be told to ******** off because no one else has shown any inkling of putting any real money into covering soccer.It's funny how ESPN gets this bad rap while the channels that supposedly will do a better job presenting the sport don't use their own camera crews or the announcers at the stadium.

If people were honest, they would admit that everyone cuts corners on soccer coverage in America.

[bostonsoccermdl]

I don't ever want ESPN to be told to ******** off because no one else has shown any inkling of putting any real money into covering soccer.It's funny how ESPN gets this bad rap while the channels that supposedly will do a better job presenting the sport don't use their own camera crews or the announcers at the stadium.

If people were honest, they would admit that everyone cuts corners on soccer coverage in America.

They do but FSC at least sticks to their agenda. ESPN has the leverage to ******** around where they see fit.

[monster]

Oh please monster...it is not like USC will play...how will you shrink 60 million viewers when you show Western Michigan at Northern Illinois. They are from MAC division where there are NO ranked teams...nobody will watch this junk...i just hope i can find some TV ratings for the college game and compare it to CL ratings

1. You shrink 60 million by going to FSC which has a penetration of 30M vs. 90M for ESPN2.

2. The MAC title game has gotten between 1.5M and 2M viewers on ESPN and ABC over the past several years. The Pitt-Ohio game, granted a non-conference matchup, got a 1.6 (http://mac-sports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/091505aaa.html) earlier this season. I know it's several years old, but they got a 1.16 for a game in 2002.

3. ESPN2's college football averages about a .77 or so. CL reportedly averages around a .2.

It's no big deal if you want to watch the CL game more than the college football game, but it's kind of silly to pretend that there aren't lots of people out there who will watch college football regardless of who is playing.

[sixer1]

While I am dissapointed that there's no CL tomorrow and I know in previous years I would throw a fit, I know it's better not to. Monster is correct is in his point. Not only will the alumunus watch the game, but the degenerate gamblers (there are alot) will watch and have money on the game. They will be the majority of people watching. BTW, College Football is probably the most profitable sport shown on ESPN. Tons of commercial breaks with high ad-buys.

[catenaccio_L'pool]

3. ESPN2's college football averages about a .77 or so. CL reportedly averages around a .2.
It's no big deal if you want to watch the CL game more than the college football game, but it's kind of silly to pretend that there aren't lots of people out there who will watch college football regardless of who is playing.

Thanx for the numbers monster...I just dont get it...with ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX and some local stations, there is so much friggin college football that they shouldnt block my champs league...I just dont get it...Ah well

[rangers00]

Thanx for the numbers monster...I just dont get it...with ESPN, ABC, CBS, FOX and some local stations, there is so much friggin college football that they shouldnt block my champs league...I just dont get it...Ah well

there is so much soccer available in the U.S.: FSC, FSE, GolTV, why shouldn't they block your champions league?

Wait, who's blocking your champions league?

These are the games available tomorrow on TV in the U.S.A, on American stations nationally available:

Real Madrid x Olympique Lyon, Liverpool x Real Betis, Anderlecht x Anderlecht, Fenerbahce X AC Milan.

[OldFanatic]

These are the games available tomorrow on TV in the U.S.A, on American stations nationally available:

... Anderlecht x Anderlecht ....

Wow!!!!! Now that is one match I'm very eager to watch! I'm placing my first and second mortgage as bets on the outcome of this match. Much better than placing any bets on Southwestern Central Illinois vs. Northeastern upper highland Michigan.

[MasterShake29]

One might ask why in the world these two schools are playing on a Wednesday afternoon? Is no one working tomorrow?

[pething101]

One might ask why in the world these two schools are playing on a Wednesday afternoon? Is no one working tomorrow?

I would bet they are playing on Wed afternoon b/c someone at ESPN asked them to move their game from Sat afternoon to Wed afternoon b/c ESPN can make more money showing this game than it could showing the CL match.

That, and ESPN is giving them a good chunk of change plus nationwide exposure for recruiting purposes.

Just a hunch, I could be wrong.

[guignol]

... the degenerate gamblers (there are a lot) will watch and have money on the game. They will be the majority of people watching. BTW, College Football is probably the most profitable sport shown on ESPN. Tons of commercial breaks with high ad-buys.in the who has the real answer competition, we have a winner!

the commercials and flags are the reason i can no longer stand to watch what used to be my favorite sport (in the 49er glory years). canal+ in france shows an NFL game every week. they show every play, plus replays of all the big ones, plus pre and postgame in... 30 minutes.