GolTV has stolen FSC's mojo.

[jammybastard]

This morning ArsenalTV was showing the '99 C/L match vs. Barca, while FSC was showing me another infomercial.
It's funny that the supposed "EPL" channel doesn't have LiverpoolTV or ArsenalTV on it. At least they have Milan Classics!
:D
I used to watch FSC regularly, but now it's 50/50 with GolTV.
Between La Liga, American Socccer, and now the 'pool and Arse "channels" Gol is a blessing for this hardcore footy junkie.

I know FSC has some good offerings, but I'm amazed how quickly Gol has grabbed some choice content to contest the "America's soccer channel" title.

BTW - the really big loser is ManUTV. They are stuck on Setanta, a subscriber based service, only available on DirectTv.
Good way to build a fanbase eh?

[writered21]

That was a keen move by Gol TV to pick up Pool and Arse TV, especially for the Sunday games that were a part of the PPV package, that FSC won't show for "free" until Wednesday. Meanwhile, depending on the team, they are on Pool and Arse TV on Monday or Tuesday.

[MasterShake29]

It is funny how FSC has "AC Milan TV" but no AC Milan games (except rarely) and GolTV has Liverpool and Arsenal TV (except for possible UEFA Cup games).

I wonder if it does have to do with their RPV (Rape-Per-View, as Nick Geber put it on WSD) thing or some other reason.

Setanta has Chelsea TV as well.

[joebloe888]

That was a keen move by Gol TV to pick up Pool and Arse TV, especially for the Sunday games that were a part of the PPV package, that FSC won't show for "free" until Wednesday. Meanwhile, depending on the team, they are on Pool and Arse TV on Monday or Tuesday.

GolTV basically bought itself a relatively cheap "insurance policy" to keep the US and Canadian English-language audience on board with Arsenal TV and Liverpool TV.

GolTV was able to get EPL and Champions League games via tape-delay, without having to pay absurd EPL and Champions League rights fees.

Depending on how much ESPN wants to spend, GolTV could lose La Liga after the current season. La Liga is really the ONLY product on GolTV's inventory that attracts English-speaking viewers.

(The Serie A, which had been losing English-language viewers around the world in the past 5 years, may soon hit rock bottom with the match-fixing allegations surrounding Juventus "buying" referee assignments with the FIGC.)

ESPN has the ability blow away GolTV at the La Liga TV rights tender process later this summer if ESPN were to open up "Mickey's wallet".

(Will ESPN balk after doing so much talking? ESPN balked 3 years ago.)

GolTV outbid ESPN for the Latin American rights to the SportFive Serie A package (Juve, Milan, Inter, Roma) for 2005-2006 and 2006-2007. ESPN had to settle for the much less desirable Media Partners package (Lazio and 3 dwarfs).

[joebloe888]

It is funny how FSC has "AC Milan TV" but no AC Milan games (except rarely) and GolTV has Liverpool and Arsenal TV (except for possible UEFA Cup games).

Setanta has Chelsea TV as well.

That's what these "Team TV" packages are for: to allow the "non-rightsholders" to have access to certain products via tape-delay.

GolTV had "Real Madrid TV" when ESPN had the rights to La Liga.

Once GolTV got La Liga, GolTV dropped "Real Madrid TV".

FOX Soccer Channel has "Milan Channel" because it does NOT have US TV rights to AC Milan home games (Milan Channel was thrown in with the Media Partners Serie A package)

GolTV has "Arsenal TV" and "Liverpool TV" because it doesn't have live EPL or UEFA Champions League.

Setanta currently has Manchester United TV and Chelsea TV because it currently does NOT have the English Premier League. That of course will probably change by the start of the 2007-2008 season (if not sooner).

--

Other teams are shopping their tape-delayed packages around.

I would not be surprised if "Barca TV" and "Real Madrid TV" were to show up in the US again.

I recently saw an ad in a trade magazine for "Bolton TV" and "Charlton TV". Whether anyone around the world would want to buy those products is debatable.

[kevruth]

Once GolTV got La Liga, GolTV dropped "Real Madrid TV".

Didn't Real Madrid pull the rights from everyone in order to start their own satelite channel? I don't think GolTV had an option on this one.

I recently saw an ad in a trade magazine for "Bolton TV" and "Charlton TV". Whether anyone around the world would want to buy those products is debatable.

Charlton TV was started last summer. It is available in Africa, the Middle East and Far East. As to which countries I couldn't tell you. I know it offers all of Charlton's matches plus some news features. The show is somewhere between two to three hours per week.

[HSEUPASSION]

who has Celtic TV? That seems like it could pull some viewers in.

[Achtung]

I recently saw an ad in a trade magazine for "Bolton TV" and "Charlton TV". Whether anyone around the world would want to buy those products is debatable.

BoltonTV I can see selling, with all of their international players.

It'll definitely be interesting to see how Setanta plays their cards once they gain EPL rights. You'd figure they'd have to get onto more television providers (Dish Network, cable) and at the same tier as GolTV and FSC.

[_chachi]

i would imagine charlton tv is about as attractive as red bull tv.

[Elisa Uranga]

What is interesting about Arsenal TV is that they have a lot more variety than Liverpool TV. Liverpool TV rarely ever shows interviews with the players or staff.

[bigtoga]

I've watched one Arsenal TV (after season) and it was nothing more than a hash of a few other games from the season; quite boring actually. Are they always just recaps from previously played games? I'm used to MUTV's interviews, youth coverage and more...

[ElJefe]

I've watched one Arsenal TV (after season) and it was nothing more than a hash of a few other games from the season; quite boring actually. Are they always just recaps from previously played games? I'm used to MUTV's interviews, youth coverage and more...
Don't forget the ever-popular viewer interaction segment, "What Should Sir Alex Eat for Lunch?"

[fireballil]

who has Celtic TV? That seems like it could pull some viewers in.
I believe Setanta has Cetlic TV as well as Rangers TV. If Oliver is watching, please correct me if I am wrong.

[TOTC]

Major, major fcukup on FSC's part -- showing a match dated April 14, 2001 (constantly projected on the screen like the FSC shield) between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal.

HOWEVER.

Arsenal is wearing adidas jerseys with block numerals on the back and not the FA-mandated Optima font for letters and numbers. Neither are Spurs. And some guy named Gary Lineker is playing for Spurs. He retired from the side in 1992!

HEY FSC -- THE YEAR IS 1991!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[joebloe888]

I believe Setanta has Cetlic TV as well as Rangers TV. If Oliver is watching, please correct me if I am wrong.

NO.

Setanta already has the Scottish Premier League so it does NOT need either Celtic TV or Rangers TV.

Celtic TV and Rangers TV would be of interest to another media outfit that does NOT have the Scottish Premier League.

[DAGSports]

NO.

Setanta already has the Scottish Premier League so it does NOT need either Celtic TV or Rangers TV.

Celtic TV and Rangers TV would be of interest to another media outfit that does NOT have the Scottish Premier League.
Which must mean the price is too high, because FSC or Gol TV would sign up in a heartbeat if it weren't.

[joebloe888]

Which must mean the price is too high, because FSC or Gol TV would sign up in a heartbeat if it weren't.

You are probably right about the asking price for Celtic TV and Rangers TV being too high.

--

FSC in particular seems to be in a pruning mode for 2006-2007 as it tries to balance its books and prepare for the next EPL contract cycle of 2007-2008 through 2009-2010.

MLS is gone from FSC and is probably gone for good, with ESPN2 and TeleFutura becoming the primary MLS national TV outlets starting with 2007.

CONCACAF Champions Cup is gone, as TeleFutura takes over exclusively in 2007.

The French League is gone. No big loss to FSC from a business perspective.

The Bundesliga is unlikely to be back by the start of the season due to the high asking price. Again, no big loss to FSC from a business perspective.

The Media partners Serie A games will still be there for another season, but will they be worth anything if the scandals were to swallow up most if not all of the "big 6" (Juventus, AC Milan, Inter, Roma, Lazio, Fiorentina)?

The Argentine 1st Division hasn't been the same since the currency devaluation 5 years ago. Any Argentine who is worth anything now plays abroad.

Also, how much EPL will FSC keep for 2006-2007?

FSC is looking a little thin on soccer match programming for the 2006-2007 season compared to the past, though FSC will have enough EPL and FA Cup coverage to justify its existence.

[DAGSports]

I'm guessing Serie A and Liga Argentina might be there for the long-haul. I can see the Bundesliga staying once their marketing agency realizes that nobody will pay what they were quoted as wanting (I've seen a couple of articles on other boards about it).

Ligue 1 is headed to Setanta IMO.

Of course, FSC and Setanta may trade each other inventory (some EPL games for various filler that Setanta currently has).

[Elisa Uranga]

My guess is Gol TV will want the Argentina league. This is the only Latin American league they don't show. Too bad about the French league leaving FSC. I hope Gol gets it. I wasn't very impressed with the Serie A on FSC. The coverage on Gol is great. I also heard that Dean and Schoen are going to Germany to report on WC with a daily American Soccer show. Wonder if Hudson is going - would be nice!

[joebloe888]

My guess is Gol TV will want the Argentina league. This is the only Latin American league they don't show.

As long as FOX Sports Int'l has a programming production deal with TyC in Argentina, then one Argentine game each week will be on FOX Sports en Espanol and FOX Soccer Channel.

Otherwise, the Argentine League will be on TyC Sports USA.

GolTV, which is owned by Tenfield, is one of TyC's biggest rivals in the Southern Cone. TyC used to have the Uruguayan League before "Paco" Casal founded Tenfield and took back the TV rights to the Uruguayan League.