FSW on DISH?

[Kestas]

I'm thinking of switching to the Dish network (from DirecTV), but I want to keep FSW (and NBATV, but that's a separate topic) and possibly get other soccer-oriented channels that I don't have with DirecTV. After browsing Dish's site for a while, I still don't know what package I need to have to get FSW. They don't seem to list it with any package, including the multi-sport package, but it is listed in the programming guide. Can anyone give me some advice on what the best packages are to maximize the soccer exposure while keeping the monthly payment reasonable?
Thanks!

[da_cfo]

Originally posted by Kestas
I'm thinking of switching to the Dish network (from DirecTV), but I want to keep FSW (and NBATV, but that's a separate topic) and possibly get other soccer-oriented channels that I don't have with DirecTV. After browsing Dish's site for a while, I still don't know what package I need to have to get FSW. They don't seem to list it with any package, including the multi-sport package, but it is listed in the programming guide. Can anyone give me some advice on what the best packages are to maximize the soccer exposure while keeping the monthly payment reasonable?
Thanks!

FOX Sports World is in the DISH "Top 150" package ONLY.

[texgator]

Along with FSW you will also get GolTV on the America's Top 150 package. GOL has the US broadcast rights to Serie A and La Liga as well as several Central and South American leagues. They also broadcast UEFA Cup games. With both channels you will get your fill of European soccer....believe me. I consider myself lucky to have had to choose between the late EPL game on FSW and Barca v Real Madrid on Saturday. :)

[Coach_McGuirk]

GolTV also does their programming with an English SAP (which you can set as your default). In addition to La Liga and Serie A, you also get leagues from Columbia, Ecuador, and a whole slew of other nations, plus the "Just Goals" program which is 2 hours of nothing but goals from around the world.

You also get a free DISH PVR (Tivo) if you sign up and commit to a year, so that in itself is a bonus. I've had DISH since last spring (Comcast dropped FSW in Dallas) and I couldn't be happier.

Oh, you also get NBA TV as well.

[texgator]

Coach,
I got DISH and they stopped showing NBATV after last season, I think it is only available now with the NBA Season Pass or whatever they call their season pay per view package.

[Coach_McGuirk]

That's right. It's actually available if you get the extended sports package with all the regional Fox Sports networks. I remember it being blocked one day (not that I watched more than 2 minutes altogether), and when I signed up for the extended sports it was unlocked.

Now if DISH could get their act together and offer a programming tier from England, I'd be set. Actually, now that Rupert Murdoch has bought DirecTV, I expect to see some kind of Sky package available from them as soon as he gets up and going.

That might make me switch to DTV.

[kstuart]

Now if DISH could get their act together and offer a programming tier from England, I'd be set. People keep asking for this - but it is not possible.

English language programming from other countries is almost always already sold. For example, the BBC channels shown in the UK cannot be shown in the USA, because the programming has already been sold to BBC America, PBS, and A&E.

Similarly, the rights to USA broadcast of virtually all sports programming originating in England is already owned by someone or another - if that owner is Sky, then usually it ends up on Fox Sports World. If that owner is ESPN International, then ESPN doesn't show it because they can make more money selling commercials to yet another "NFL Films" episode. :(

So, if you want to see programming shown in the UK, that is not currently shown here, it ain't gonna happen - so you'd better get a Region 2 PAL-format DVD player and get it on DVD at amazon.co.uk ...

[texgator]

Originally posted by kstuart
People keep asking for this - but it is not possible.

English language programming from other countries is almost always already sold. For example, the BBC channels shown in the UK cannot be shown in the USA, because the programming has already been sold to BBC America, PBS, and A&E.

Similarly, the rights to USA broadcast of virtually all sports programming originating in England is already owned by someone or another - if that owner is Sky, then usually it ends up on Fox Sports World. If that owner is ESPN International, then ESPN doesn't show it because they can make more money selling commercials to yet another "NFL Films" episode. :(

So, if you want to see programming shown in the UK, that is not currently shown here, it ain't gonna happen - so you'd better get a Region 2 PAL-format DVD player and get it on DVD at amazon.co.uk ...

For the most part, that sounds correct. Except, if Murdoch owns Direct TV and Sky and FSW, do you really think he will sue himself if he offers a Sky option on Direct TV? I guess he would have to pre-empt any programming that appears on Sky that other companies hold the US rights to. If the Sky offer on Direct TV proves to be lucrative (doubt it, but just for a hypothetical) he can seek to buy back those rights, like Setanta's EPL PPV rights.

[kstuart]

You seem to have glossed over the part (mentioned many times in this Forum by Oliver) where I stated that the matches owned by ESPN are not shown because they can get more viewers for the 205th rerun of NFL magazine shows.

Translation: almost no one watches soccer in English language in the USA. Murdoch does nothing nothing nothing that is not designed to make money.

FSW already shows every British sports program that Sky owns that more than 3 people will watch.

So, the biggest factor is viewership. Murdoch owning both Sky and DirecTV won't affect that.
Note that he already owns both Sky and Fox Sports World - so the condition you are waiting for already exists.

[kstuart]

GolTV also does their programming with an English SAP (which you can set as your default). In addition to La Liga and Serie A, you also get leagues from Columbia, Ecuador, and a whole slew of other nations, plus the "Just Goals" program which is 2 hours of nothing but goals from around the world.

The Top150 package GolTV channel (# 407) defaults to English and the Spanish package channel (# 853) defaults to Spanish, so the English speaking footie fan won't have to set anything and neither will the Spanish speaking subscriber.

For example, right now they are showing Serie A on Channel 407 and the announcer has a British accent, which probably means that it is a EuroSport audio feed.

[texgator]

It wasn't a condition I was waiting for, I am well aware that he owns both and will own all three very shortly. MY point, which you have seemed to miss, is that currently there is some SKY (not ESPN, not BBC) programming that is broadcasted on other networks or venues. Some of Sky's EPL games are sold off to various PPV outlets rather then shown on FSW, for example. I am aware that TODAY there is little financial reasoning for changing this arrangement, hence why i put in ()'s that "doubt it, but for hypothetical".

[rangers00]

Originally posted by texgator
It wasn't a condition I was waiting for, I am well aware that he owns both and will own all three very shortly. MY point, which you have seemed to miss, is that currently there is some SKY (not ESPN, not BBC) programming that is broadcasted on other networks or venues. Some of Sky's EPL games are sold off to various PPV outlets rather then shown on FSW, for example. I am aware that TODAY there is little financial reasoning for changing this arrangement, hence why i put in ()'s that "doubt it, but for hypothetical".

Do you really think "some SKY programming that is broadcasted on other networks or venues"? Do you really think that "Some of Sky's EPL games are sold off to various PPV outlets rather then shown on FSW, for example?"

FSW is NOT the only Murdoch owned soccer property in the U.S. There is another one that is much more profitable. Yep, you guess it, the EPL PPV outlet. Instead of putting an attractive EPL game on FSW to let you watch for (relatively) free, they put that game on PPV to charge you $20. How do you like it?

Case in point, every Saturday PPV game and the FSW game are decided only 2-3 days in advance. You'll notice that PPV usually gets the Man U game, becaues Man U sells, while FSW usually gets the Arsenal or Chelsea game.

Notice, Setanta doesn't even distribute the EPL PPV to pubs anymore. It's now distributed by DirecTV. The money chain is:

fans => pubs => DirecTV => Fox Sports Intl. => TWI => EPL

while for a residential customer having Dish Network/digital cable, the chain is:

fans => Dish Network => Fox Sports Intl. => TWI => EPL

There are lots of Sky football properties. As starter, Nationwide league. Murdoch can't show these games in the U.S. because Fox Sports hadn't purchased the American rights of them. Nationwide will sue his pants off for showing something outside of the market in the contract. Sky also has the British rights of all the CL games, but Fox Sports wouldn't dare to put them on Fox Sports World or Fox Sports Detroit or Fox Sports Arizona, because ESPN, owning the American rights, would sue his pants off.

Now, why wouldn't Murdoch purchase the American rights of the Nationwide league and put them on FSW? Would any real ***NEUTRAL*** football fan prefer Ajax x PSV Eindhoven, or Nantes x PSG, or Coventry x Derby?

[rangers00]

Originally posted by kstuart
The Top150 package GolTV channel (# 407) defaults to English and the Spanish package channel (# 853) defaults to Spanish, so the English speaking footie fan won't have to set anything and neither will the Spanish speaking subscriber.

For example, right now they are showing Serie A on Channel 407 and the announcer has a British accent, which probably means that it is a EuroSport audio feed.

There is a British feed Serie A beaming to the Americas for at least a year. TLN in Canada has been using that British feed. The commentators are all Brits.

GolTV is simply using the same feed for its English broadcast.

[MasterShake29]

Originally posted by rangers00
Now, why wouldn't Murdoch purchase the American rights of the Nationwide league and put them on FSW? Would any real ***NEUTRAL*** football fan prefer Ajax x PSV Eindhoven, or Nantes x PSG, or Coventry x Derby?

I am a neutral fan, and I would prefer all of them. I'd like FSW to get the Nationwide rights primarily because there are so many weekday games. So they could continue to show the Dutch and French on weekends, and the Nationwide live on weekdays.

But there probably isn't enough of people like me who would watch.

[rangers00]

Originally posted by MattBurlew
I am a neutral fan, and I would prefer all of them. I'd like FSW to get the Nationwide rights primarily because there are so many weekday games. So they could continue to show the Dutch and French on weekends, and the Nationwide live on weekdays.


FSW does not have to purchase the Nationwide rights, and I can see that no English football fan DARE to unsubscribe to Fox Sports World.

One reason alone: EPL.

Since no one DARE to unsubscribe to FSW because there is no Nationwide, then why should they waste one additional penny to purchase the Nationwide rights?

If you are a Dutch native, there is still a possibility that you subscribe to FSW for the EreDivisie alone. But if you are an Englishman living in the U.S., feeding you the EPL is all they need to get $$$ from you.