The Cynical Truth

[Martin Daoust]

I was ready to apply for a job in ESPN's Programming Department(Since I could make those complete misjudgements every bit as easily as they do)until I read the link and saw it includes ESPN PACIFIC RIM where Beckham will always be a saint no matter what club he plays for. That is the ONLY logical explanation for this change, as ratings in America will TANK(ManUre supporters won't watch, there just aren't nearly as many Real or Marseille supporters as Arsenal or Inter supporters, and the high school and college footballers who would watch will be practicing or playing at game time). Unfortunately, Becks's overwhelming popularity in the Far East will more than make up for the non-existant ratings here...so get ready, as ESPN2 will become Real Madrid TV...

[prk166]

Originally posted by Martin Daoust
I was ready to apply for a job in ESPN's Programming Department(Since I could make those complete misjudgements every bit as easily as they do)until I read the link and saw it includes ESPN PACIFIC RIM where Beckham will always be a saint no matter what club he plays for. That is the ONLY logical explanation for this change, as ratings in America will TANK(ManUre supporters won't watch, there just aren't nearly as many Real or Marseille supporters as Arsenal or Inter supporters, and the high school and college footballers who would watch will be practicing or playing at game time). Unfortunately, Becks's overwhelming popularity in the Far East will more than make up for the non-existant ratings here...so get ready, as ESPN2 will become Real Madrid TV...

puff, puff, give

[OPArsenal]

Originally posted by prk166
puff, puff, give I've always heard it "puff, puff, pass." Martin is now coming dangerously close to winning my Conspiracy Theorist of the Week Award, and it's only Tuesday...

Rien mais le Treble!

OPArsenal

[Martin Daoust]

WHAT conspiracy-ESPN decides that Beckham gets bigger WORLDWIDE ratings than Arsenal-Inter. That's all, so the American Audience-nearly all Gooners or Inter supporters-get screwed. That's all that is. American viewers-some of whom TOOK THE AFTERNOON off to watch the match have NO match to watch really-not one worth blowing off work for anyway. I stated there was no logic in it as far as American viewers go and BACKED my points quite accurately. BUT seeing they are presenting it in the Pacific Rim as well strongly suggests they are counting on the viewers in Japan and the Far East to off-set flatlining ratings here. No conspiracy-just business and cynicism here...

[OPArsenal]

Is Arsenal v. Inter not gonna be on ESPN2 anymore?

OPConcerned

[DallasGooner]

Originally posted by OPArsenal
Is Arsenal v. Inter not gonna be on ESPN2 anymore?

OPConcerned

Nope, its now Real v Marseille.

Now I am sure your saying "but that game is on the 16th, Arsenal play on the 17th!" Yep, but ESPN does not get the ratings on CL games in the US to show both Tues and Wed games so they just show 1 of them. So now on ESPN2 instead of Arsenal-Inter is

OFFSHORE ADVENTURES (PRIMETIME) 2:30 pm to 2:55 pm

ESPN PRIMETIME OUTDOORS PREVIEW 2:55 pm to 3:00 pm

NEW AMERICAN SPORTSMAN 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Yippie!

[DallasGooner]

oh yeah, let ESPN know how you feel:

http://espn.go.com/sitetools/s/contact/espntv.html

[TheSlipperyOne]

What a load of horse shit.

Now I've had a miraculous recovery from the sickness that was going to keep me from going to work that day.

[Coach_McGuirk]

Here was my particularly venemous letter to the rocket scientists that program ESPN:

"Once again, ESPN has failed me. The Arsenal - Inter CL game on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that was originally scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2 has now been taken off the air for a preview of the WWC and some fishing shows. Boy, that's programming that the soccer fan wants to see.

I know soccer doesn't get big ratings, but you OWN the rights to the CL in the US. Doesn't it stand to reason that you would actually SHOW CL games? And if this is the level of coverage we can expect from ESPN in the future, is there any chance you won't buy the rights again? Please? At least FOX has the decency to show actual SOCCER games.

ESPN should do every soccer fan in the US a favor and NOT BID FOR THE CL IN THE FUTURE!!!! I can't stress that enough! Soccer fans are a minority in the US, but a very vocal minority. Rest assured we will do whatever is in our power to convince UEFA to STOP SELLING ESPN THE RIGHTS TO THE CL!

Right now the only programming I watch on your stations are the Hot Rod shown you have late at night that I tape, but I'm thinking now that I should avoid ESPN like the plague.

Thanks for screwing the American soccer fan yet again."

What do you guys think about starting a website to create a petition so that our voice can be heard by both ESPN and UEFA? I'll be glad to put the site together if it's something we can all get behind.

[Martin Daoust]

Originally posted by Coach_McGuirk
Here was my particularly venemous letter to the rocket scientists that program ESPN:

"Once again, ESPN has failed me. The Arsenal - Inter CL game on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that was originally scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2 has now been taken off the air for a preview of the WWC and some fishing shows. Boy, that's programming that the soccer fan wants to see.

I know soccer doesn't get big ratings, but you OWN the rights to the CL in the US. Doesn't it stand to reason that you would actually SHOW CL games? And if this is the level of coverage we can expect from ESPN in the future, is there any chance you won't buy the rights again? Please? At least FOX has the decency to show actual SOCCER games.

ESPN should do every soccer fan in the US a favor and NOT BID FOR THE CL IN THE FUTURE!!!! I can't stress that enough! Soccer fans are a minority in the US, but a very vocal minority. Rest assured we will do whatever is in our power to convince UEFA to STOP SELLING ESPN THE RIGHTS TO THE CL!

Right now the only programming I watch on your stations are the Hot Rod shown you have late at night that I tape, but I'm thinking now that I should avoid ESPN like the plague.

Thanks for screwing the American soccer fan yet again."

What do you guys think about starting a website to create a petition so that our voice can be heard by both ESPN and UEFA? I'll be glad to put the site together if it's something we can all get behind.
Right there with you, Coach. BTW- BRILLIANT piece at ArsenalAmerica on "Arsenal-ness". Our chance to prove ours, I suppose. I tried to ESPN but I'm not sure my message went through. Hope so...

[fifacup]

I do really feel bad about breaking this to everybody but i'd figured i would tell you a week ahead instead of people finding out a day or two before....Hopefully some fans can find another way to view the match. Instead of arsenal next tuesday...
I'm just stuck watching womens world cup preview and fishing now.(shrug)

[fifacup]

I meant wednesday....

[ArsenalTexan3]

Originally posted by Coach_McGuirk
Here was my particularly venemous letter to the rocket scientists that program ESPN:

"Once again, ESPN has failed me. The Arsenal - Inter CL game on Wednesday, Sept. 17, that was originally scheduled for broadcast on ESPN2 has now been taken off the air for a preview of the WWC and some fishing shows. Boy, that's programming that the soccer fan wants to see.

I know soccer doesn't get big ratings, but you OWN the rights to the CL in the US. Doesn't it stand to reason that you would actually SHOW CL games? And if this is the level of coverage we can expect from ESPN in the future, is there any chance you won't buy the rights again? Please? At least FOX has the decency to show actual SOCCER games.

ESPN should do every soccer fan in the US a favor and NOT BID FOR THE CL IN THE FUTURE!!!! I can't stress that enough! Soccer fans are a minority in the US, but a very vocal minority. Rest assured we will do whatever is in our power to convince UEFA to STOP SELLING ESPN THE RIGHTS TO THE CL!

Right now the only programming I watch on your stations are the Hot Rod shown you have late at night that I tape, but I'm thinking now that I should avoid ESPN like the plague.

Thanks for screwing the American soccer fan yet again."

What do you guys think about starting a website to create a petition so that our voice can be heard by both ESPN and UEFA? I'll be glad to put the site together if it's something we can all get behind.

That is too nice. Here is mine.

Satellite/Cable Provider:The local sports bar that has sentena now!

"To whom it concerns:

Once again, ESPN is failing to provide TRUE sports coverage. Instead of showing what you promised, that being the Arsenal-Inter UEFA Champions League game(Wed game), you decided to throw in your own "sport" for whatever reason. I can understand that you want to swim around in that green stuff we call money as you instead show the Real Madrid-Marseille game on Tuesday while you can then please those who watch "Fly Fishing witrh Earl", Tough Man XXXXXXXXXXXVVVVVVVVII, or some other meaningless show that has absolutely nothing to do with sports.

Yes I'm sure you don't want to upset the viweing audience that you can count on your hand during the middle of the day. Heck, here is an idea. Why not give a TRUE sports network the Champions League rights since you don't intend to use them. Give them to FOX so they can put it on Fox Sports World. Sure they might have commercials over half the day, but unlike some people, they aren't afraid to give their audience what THEY WANT! Yes I'm talking about rugby and the European fotboll leagues. Oh wait, let me translate that for you. Fotboll=soccer=a real sport.

Maybe asking my satellite/cable provider to drop you from my package will do the trick. Maybe not. I'm just glad that I can always count on finding other ways to meet my sports needs and not some monopoly dictatorship going out and ruining my fun. Hope you enjoy the green stuff. "


I really hate espn now and hope FSW takes them out.

[Andy]

As I said before ... vote with your remote and stop paying attention to thier crappy programming. Hopefully, FSW will soon get the CL and ESPN will be left holding themselves for thier football programming stateside(I don't count World Cup because I watch that on univision which has FAR better coverage, even with my poor understanding of spanish, and MLS games are broadcast local and on FSW).

[jwaldman11]

If you want to start a petition, go to www.petitiononline.com and you can create one that everyone can sign around the world. I might do one, but I won't be able to do it until this weekend at the earliest.

[442]

I too am disappointed the game will not be shown. But did I understand your original statement that Real will not get the ratings in the US that Arsenal-Inter would get?

thud..
bump...
kerthump..

Sorry, fell off my chair.

Real will garner twice the ratings Arsenal would. Where are all these mythical Arsenal fans? They aren't here. They aren't at ArsenalAmerica? I think sometimes we have an inflated notion of our strength. I'd love to hear peoples estimates for actual Arsenal fans in this country. My guess? Maybe 20,000 or so.

[Martin Daoust]

Originally posted by 442
I too am disappointed the game will not be shown. But did I understand your original statement that Real will not get the ratings in the US that Arsenal-Inter would get?

thud..
bump...
kerthump..

Sorry, fell off my chair.

Real will garner twice the ratings Arsenal would. Where are all these mythical Arsenal fans? They aren't here. They aren't at ArsenalAmerica? I think sometimes we have an inflated notion of our strength. I'd love to hear peoples estimates for actual Arsenal fans in this country. My guess? Maybe 20,000 or so.

I don't see that many Real supporters out and about either, though. I believe I said that between Arsenal and Inter there are(I believe)twice as many VIEWERS, not just supporters. I have gone to real Madrid message boards(including here)and not seen any real excitement about the ESPN announcement which would seem to back that. There MAY be 20,000 of us-I've never tried to count, or thought about that before. I just believe there would be a FAR bigger audience for Arsenal-Inter in AMERICA which would lead one logically to conclude there are FAR more Arsenal and Inter supporters than Real supporters. That's all...

[asfoolasiam]

Originally posted by 442
Real will garner twice the ratings Arsenal would. Where are all these mythical Arsenal fans? They aren't here. They aren't at ArsenalAmerica? I think sometimes we have an inflated notion of our strength. I'd love to hear peoples estimates for actual Arsenal fans in this country. My guess? Maybe 20,000 or so. Yeah, but I think the criticism isn't one of ratings, but one of integrity.

One match features two of the top teams in Europe facing off, the other is notable mainly for the celebrity it has prancing around the pitch. You are a network renowned (despite the "E" in your acronym) for being the country's most commited sports station. Which match do you choose to broadcast?

Undoubtably, if Real Madrid managed to sign Britney Spears (who could arguably improve their defense), the match would garner even greater ratings. As a network whose reputation is based on its integrity to sport, however, I still believe you show Arsenal-Inter.

[Martin Daoust]

I think 442, that it could be argued that Hispanic males will watch ANY match involving Spanish clubs, just as English(British)males will watch ANY match involving English clubs here in America-that theory is certainly not so absolute in England-Supporters want to watch THEIR club and their club ONLY save for the run-in. On that basis the numbers may change. Except then ESPN would only show Real and Barcelona's(Totally off topic but all of the sudden I am hearing Diane Keaton in "Love and Death" pretending to be Spanish and explaining the differences between the "Madridniks and the Barcelonians"...SORRY, has always killed me...sorry)matches, and they haven't. This is purely about Beckham and his popularity especially in the Far East where ESPN is also broadcasting this match now. If ratings here mattered, they would definitely go with the Arsenal-Inter match. I don't think either match would get a high overall rating or that our match would get a MUCH larger rating really, such are the ratings for a Wednesday afternoon for almost any event. But the Far Eastern ratings for Real Beckham would more than overcome any ratings shortfall here and that is where they made their decision and why almost every match ESPN shows figures to involve Real now...

[Martin Daoust]

Just want to make it clear to you 442, this is no argument...have had too many of those on the English boards-usually wind-up merchants or trolls, but not a lot of fun anyway. Just wanted to let you know that...