US tv rights to WC2010 European qualifying?

[Megax]

Can anyone tell me who has the tv rights to show the European qualifying stages for the 2010 World Cup?

I emailed Setanta USA 3 times and Setanta UK once - no response at all....not even a "hasn't been negotiated yet" reply.

[Davids26]

I think that certain games are taken up by different outlets. No one network will have the rights to the matches, as I believe the home FA is allowed to sell the rights for WCQ matches to who they choose.

[huhe888]

FOX Sports International (FOX Soccer Channel and FOX Sports en Espanol) will have midweek home games for England (weekend home games may be headed for pay-per-view).

GolTV will have home games for Germany.

RTP Int'l will have home games for Portugal.

RAI Int'l will have home games for Italy.

SportsFive will place its games on videosport.com, with a handful of games likely ending up on Setanta Sports USA (i.e. France) and/or Setanta Premium (i.e. Croatia, Poland, Greece.)

Expect ESPN360.com to end up with a bunch of games as well.

[Megax]

Davids> thanks for your post.

I know from the last few campaigns that both the Rep of Ireland and England are popular enouh that every game will be shown live on PPV and I certainly assume that this trend will continue.

I also know that the Fox Soccer Channel had the rights to the American market for non-ROI/Eng games for the Euro 08 qualifiers and there seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to which teams would be on on any given gameday....it was kind of an international lucky-dip.

Just wondering if Setanta had any interest in taking-on any more International teams (Scotland or Northern Ireland for instance) under an exclusive contract, in order to build up their subscriptions

[huhe888]

I also know that the Fox Soccer Channel had the rights to the American market for non-ROI/Eng games for the Euro 08 qualifiers and there seemed to be no rhyme or reason as to which teams would be on on any given gameday....it was kind of an international lucky-dip.

Just wondering if Setanta had any interest in taking-on any more International teams (Scotland or Northern Ireland for instance) under an exclusive contract, in order to build up their subscriptions

Actually, Setanta bought the U.S. and Canadian TV rights to a package of Euro 2008 qualifiers from SPORTFIVE (the same games that are offered on videosport.com on a pay-per-view basis).

Setanta then swapped some of the excess Euro 2008 qualifier games that it didn't want to FOX Sports International (FOX Soccer Channel and FOX Sports en Espanol) in exchange for the U.S. and Canadian TV rights to the Super 14 Rugby Union (Australia, New Zealand, South Africa) and (Australian) National Rugby League competitions.