Football Network set to debut in 2003

[USAsoccer]

According to USAtoday Rudy Martke.

He claims that the network has signed the Atlantic 10.

I was unaware that the A-10 had a football league.

In any case, assuming this network does start, and that it's primary focus is College Football in the Fall, what will it do in the Spring and Summer....

I mean, with a name like "The Football Network"...it does not take a rocket scientist to figure where that might go....

For my book, MLS shoud stay with ESPN/ABC until and unless the money is worth a move.

[kenntomasch]

You're not serious, are you?

[eric515]

Originally posted by USAsoccer
According to USAtoday Rudy Martke.

He claims that the network has signed the Atlantic 10.

I was unaware that the A-10 had a football league.

In any case, assuming this network does start, and that it's primary focus is College Football in the Fall, what will it do in the Spring and Summer....

I mean, with a name like "The Football Network"...it does not take a rocket scientist to figure where that might go....

For my book, MLS shoud stay with ESPN/ABC until and unless the money is worth a move.

The A-10 is a I-AA football league, and it looks nothing like the hoops incarnation of the conference. Will and Mary, James Madison, Maine, Deleware, etc. are some of the teams who play in football there.

As for it taking on footy in the spring...we will see. Maybe they will try and find any and all indoor football instead.

I had heard of the new National College Sports Network, brought to you by the initial creators of Classic Sports (which was bought by ESPN) and it will feature entirely collegiate sporting events, which should help the exposure of college soccer.

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by kenntomasch
You're not serious, are you? I'm afraid he might be.

[monster]

http://www.footballnetwork.com/cfscripts/home.cfm

http://www.ncta.com/industry_overview/programList.cfm?network_id=250&detail=1

[kenntomasch]

From the first site:


"Currently, ABC, ESPN, Fox and CBS hold the rights to air NFL games and TFN has not been developed to compete with the major networks, but to compliment their programming."

"Hey, nice programming you got there."

You can tell immediately they're serious. As the NFL owners said of the AAFC in 1946, "Let them get a ball first."

Let them get on anyone's cable system first.

[USAsoccer]

Kenn: "Surely you must be kidding"

USA: "I am not kidding, and don't call me Surely!"

:p

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by kenntomasch
From the first site:



"Hey, nice programming you got there."

You can tell immediately they're serious. As the NFL owners said of the AAFC in 1946, "Let them get a ball first."

Let them get on anyone's cable system first. Real life LOL

[slip2break]

I think that this would be promising 10 years down the road, when cable picks it up....... football is football.

-r

[SoFla Metro]

Originally posted by slip2break
I think that this would be promising 10 years down the road, when cable picks it up....... football is football.

-r If it takes them ten years to get picked up on cable systems, that'll be nine years after they're dead and buried.

[slip2break]

Originally posted by SoFla Metro
If it takes them ten years to get picked up on cable systems, that'll be nine years after they're dead and buried.

This is very true indeed. I meant this more from a MLS standpoint. Chances are they will be spreading throughout the country on a market by market basis. This sort of development makes them more suited to support USL teams, who only enjoy regional support.

-r

[kenntomasch]

There is every indication they intend this to be an American Football network, and no indication that, simply because the rest of the world, and a certain small percentage of people in this country, who call soccer "football", the people who run The Football Network have, or would ever have, any inclination whatsoever to show soccer.

This would be like someone starting The Polo Channel, and the people at bigwaterpolo.com figuring this is their big chance to get their sport on TV.

Unless they're funded to the hilt, they're going to struggle, as a great many cable networks do. Even the ones who are able to get on basic or expanded basic or even a premium tier cable service.

I know someone who has a Dish, and they have The NFL Channel. I'd watch that all the time if I had it, it's terrific. And if they made a real push for it, it would kill everybody.

[MtMike]

If they were gonna show I-AA football, it might as well be the cream of the crop Big Sky Football, home of the defending champion Montana Grizzlies. (that's what Mt stands for in my handle). Join us this season as the Griz march towards a 3rd championship. Can they cope with the loss of veteran leadership like Vince Huntsberger, Yohance Humphrey, and Etu Molden. Find out, this fall, on the football channel.

Man, I'm gonna have to add back the Fox Sports Net channel pack for the Fall and Winter. Gotta have my Fox Sports Northwest.

[geordienation]

Look at the bright side: Now there is some place for the Poulan WeedEater-Wheetabix-Bluebonnet-Motor City Bowl to be shown each year.

[SeattleFan]

Originally posted by kenntomasch
There is every indication they intend this to be an American Football network, and no indication that, simply because the rest of the world, and a certain small percentage of people in this country, who call soccer "football", the people who run The Football Network have, or would ever have, any inclination whatsoever to show soccer.
Here's one of those indications that they have no interest in Association Football, from http://www.footballnetwork.com/cfscripts/mission.cfm:

The Football Network's mission is to deliver ... newsworthy and unique football related programming for the more than 200 million football fans around the world.
Only 200 million? That's not our football.