Gol TV program guide on Dish

[Outback Maverick]

What's up with the program guide on Dish network for Gol TV?

soccertv.com lists the Liverpool UEFA match beginning at 11:00 am PST. Yet the guide has no mention at all of any UEFA match being shown today.

I live in the Pac NW and have the English version of Gol TV.

[SueB]

It's probably because they don't send accurate programming information to Dish on a timely basis or far enough ahead of time. I know this is a constant problem with RAI International as well.

[hammie]

Yep, Rai has a BIG problem with this also. Gol Tv usually has the right proggramming but I have seen mistakes. Trust Soccertv.com or Goltv.tv dont trust the Dish Network programming guide.

[constantino3]

Originally posted by Outback Maverick
What's up with the program guide on Dish network for Gol TV?

soccertv.com lists the Liverpool UEFA match beginning at 11:00 am PST. Yet the guide has no mention at all of any UEFA match being shown today.

I live in the Pac NW and have the English version of Gol TV.

There are a couple of reasons why you may not see GolTV's programming accurately in your Dish guide.

1- Due to the nature of many of the leagues GolTV broadcasts, there are several last minute changes, cancels or delays. This happens most in the South American leagues. Series A and La Liga are much more professional than the other ones, and usually have a list of the games available in the satellite with enough days in advance. Unfortunately, for the SA Leagues, GolTV can't confirm what games are available until mid-Thursday, or late-Wedensday at best.

2- Many times, after the electronic version of the programming is sent to the companies producing the guides, GolTV has new games available or new rights that are important enough to have the Programming changed. In this cases, a new grid is sent, but unfortunatly most of the times the companies producing the guides just stick to the first version sent. Moreover, I've seen a guide in DISH AT150 that is accurate and lists all the teams playing, and the same guide in Dish Latino just showing a generic list. (teams tba).

3- GolTV's website www.goltv.tv is a good reference to check the latest programming grid. Also, www.soccertv.com is an independent service that always reflects changes up to the minute.

disclaimer: I work in GolTV.

[Pichi]

Originally posted by constantino3

disclaimer: I work in GolTV.

I am curious since the two times I called and spoke in Spanish with folks from GolTV are all you guys Uruguayos? I know that Enzo Francescoli is number two in charge and that you are owned by Tenfield which is a Uruguayan company.

One bone to pick, why only the top 3 teams in Spain qualify for coverage in GolTV. You all missed a great Derby Sevillano last Sunday. We love futbol but hey not all of us follow the big boys or top 3 in Spain.

Saludos y viva er beti manque lopera!

Pichi

[Outback Maverick]

Originally posted by Pichi

One bone to pick, why only the top 3 teams in Spain qualify for coverage in GolTV. You all missed a great Derby Sevillano last Sunday. We love futbol but hey not all of us follow the big boys or top 3 in Spain.


Well, I for one enjoy seeing the top 3 in Spain every week, FSW's coverage of La Liga last year was painful.

[constantino3]

Originally posted by Pichi
I am curious since the two times I called and spoke in Spanish with folks from GolTV are all you guys Uruguayos? I know that Enzo Francescoli is number two in charge and that you are owned by Tenfield which is a Uruguayan company.

One bone to pick, why only the top 3 teams in Spain qualify for coverage in GolTV. You all missed a great Derby Sevillano last Sunday. We love futbol but hey not all of us follow the big boys or top 3 in Spain.

Saludos y viva er beti manque lopera!

Pichi

If you called our customer service department, they are physically located in Uruguay, phone calls are routed there. There are a bunch of Uruguayans here, me included (and of course including Enzo), although we are a minority compared to all of GolTV's personnel.

We had a tought call last Sunday regarding La Liga. Unfortunately we can't program all the games that we have. We thought that Valencia, being the leader and having some players of interest to the public that watch us, was a better alternative than Betis-Sevilla. We received several comments and we try to have a very close relationship with our audience.

For example, you'll see next week 4 more La Liga games (3 LIVE) during the week, since there's a mid-week round. You may see the Ecuadorian derby LIVE on Wed., the Colombian derby on Thursday, 3 Series A games during the weekend (2 LIVE), etc.

We pay close attention to all the feedback we receive. I personally receive all the info@goltv.tv emails in my Outlook folder.

Thanks.

[Davids26]

I have been impressed with GolTV's customer service. They always want comments on their programming and want to know what viewers want to see. Very impressive.

[markask]

I never go by the Dish EPG (Linekers Golden Boot Show) always seems to have a live game on, lol.

I know the guy who does the Real Madrid games in English isn't hired by you, but he needs to go. The mute button goes on, i'd rather see your in house guys do the game or me (i'm available!).

I'm psyched this week, Real, Barca, Valencia v Celta all live midweek is huge!

[Outback Maverick]

I agree, the english language commentary gets grating after a while.

Mainly, it's the overuse of the word "opportunity". Every time there is a half chance at goal, he gets all excited about an "opportunity!"

Please incorporate a few more english words into his vocab. "chance on goal, good run, shot, fires one over the crossbar"...please...anything but another "opportunity!"

Other than that, I think the guy does a decent job.

[denalimn]

Constantino3, great to have someone from GolTv on the thread. Is there any chance you will get on Direct TV anytime soon?

[constantino3]

Originally posted by denalimn
Constantino3, great to have someone from GolTv on the thread. Is there any chance you will get on Direct TV anytime soon?

Thank you so much.

GolTV has an exclusive agreement with Echostar for DBS broadcast until yearend of 2004, so there is no chance of seeing GolTV in DirecTV until that date.

By the way, I noticed in your profile you like Sporting Lisboa. We'll broadcast (most probably live), the Genclerbirligi x Sporting Lisboa UEFA game next Nov. 6. Hope you can watch it.

[cristoforo7]

Constantino,

What do you know about this new VOOM Worldsport channel which is supposed to broadcast La Liga and/or Serie A in English?

I know that it requires a High Defintion capable TV, but not much more.

Are they the same games shown on Gol TV?

[constantino3]

Originally posted by Outback Maverick
What's up with the program guide on Dish network for Gol TV?


I've been working on this issue this week, and just checked DISH's Electronic Program Guide. It accurately reflects all weekend's programming.

I've checked it in a Dish Latino Package. I would appreciate very much if somebody can check it in an AT150 package.

[cristoforo7]

Originally posted by cristoforo7
Constantino,

What do you know about this new VOOM Worldsport channel which is supposed to broadcast La Liga and/or Serie A in English?

I know that it requires a High Defintion capable TV, but not much more.

Are they the same games shown on Gol TV?

FYI, I have checked the zap2it.com listings for this channel, and all of the games are La Liga and they are all taped.

It appears they even could be taped from last season, as one of the games is Barcelona v. Alaves, but I am still confirming this.

All of the games have either Real Madrid or Barcelona as a participant.

The video comes from the Japanese (NHK) high definition feed, I think. The picture quality is therefore outstanding.

But if games are all from last season, what's the point, especially for all that $$$?

[Ian McCracken]

How is the game audio on the English language GOL Tv broadcasts? I don't mean the announcers, I mean the field/crowd noise? I know that Sometimes when games are dubbed in another language, you lose the background noise and simply hear announcers with a tv picture.

[cristoforo7]

Constantino,

Gol TV appeared today on my Comcast system (Petaluma, California-- about 40 miles north of San Francisco), channel 618.

I looked at the on screen guide and saw some specific games listed, others were to be announced (equipos por confirmar).

But I can't watch it. I have digital cable "everything" but Gol TV is only on the Hispanic tier and would cost me $15 extra per month. I would like to watch it, but $15 per month is a little too expensive for one channel, even if it is all soccer (well, I should say two channels since I would also get Fox Sports World Espanol also).

Hablo espanol, mas o menos, pero no tengo tiempo o interesa mirar los otros canales en el "Hispanic tier."

Anyway, it is progress and I hope it shows up on a sports tier or any other digital tier except Hispanic, so I can get it, like Dish. I wouldn't care if it was in English or Spanish, as long as I don't have to pay $15 extra per month for it.

Cristoforo

[giggs88]

i just got dish network, and they will send someone over to fix it up on monday. i wanted to know if i will get any soccer related channels on it. thanks.

[constantino3]

Originally posted by cristoforo7
Constantino,

Gol TV appeared today on my Comcast system (Petaluma, California-- about 40 miles north of San Francisco), channel 618.

I looked at the on screen guide and saw some specific games listed, others were to be announced (equipos por confirmar).



Since Comcast is in the process of launching GolTV in several markets, I haven't go yet through all the regional Comcasts to iron-out the on-screen-guide and some other issues.

My last post in this thread was to let people know (and many complained about it) that we've fixed the problem we had with DISH's electronic guide. Now the information is sent through the appropriate process. I've checked today and all the games are correctly listed. (I could only check a DISH Latino Package, not the AT150).

I'll work next week to correct the screen guide issue with all Comcast. Hope you can have accurate info soon.

Constantino
GolTV, Inc.

[constantino3]

Originally posted by cristoforo7
Constantino,

I have digital cable "everything" but Gol TV is only on the Hispanic tier and would cost me $15 extra per month. I would like to watch it, but $15 per month is a little too expensive for one channel, even if it is all soccer (well, I should say two channels since I would also get Fox Sports World Espanol also).

Hablo espanol, mas o menos, pero no tengo tiempo o interesa mirar los otros canales en el "Hispanic tier."

Anyway, it is progress and I hope it shows up on a sports tier or any other digital tier except Hispanic, so I can get it, like Dish. I wouldn't care if it was in English or Spanish, as long as I don't have to pay $15 extra per month for it.

Cristoforo

As you correctly say, "it is progress". Of course we would love to be in all the "digital basic" packages that we can. In fact, we are close to finish some digital basic deals in some areas and with some providers; I'll post news as they are available.

We added a lot of European content, and plan to add more english-speakers' targeted content in the near future. And we also have 2 audios, Spanish and English (the latter we're working hard to improve).

However, in spite of this, we are sometimes in a catch-22 situation, because our content is so strong for hispanic audiences that Cable operators see GolTV as a great oportunity to drive growth to their Hispanic and Latino packages. You won't believe how many emails I receive from people that are dropping their DirecTV's and getting DISH.

Because there is a tendency in the industry to better exploit hispanic markets (hispanic have more growth potential, they watch more TV on average, etc., etc.) sometimes operators see GolTV as the ideal vehicle to achieve their goals.

Moreover, there's is a lack of understanding in the industry about soccer and how important soccer is in US. There are millions of fans, and again, growth potential is huge. If operators knew how many US citizens and english-speaking US residents are interested in soccer, I'm sure we would find our way (GolTV) to be available in basic packages.

Considering that we started airing our signal in late February, we are doing pretty well.

Constantino
GolTV, Inc.