[westcoast929406]

In a major move the AFL has now signed with ESPN on its home turf in the US.
This will really spread the coverage around the two large in area countries.
The crew at AFANA have been working hard behind the scenes with the AFL to bring about this deal.
It appears that some of the networks that were with Setanta will continue to show the games.
Link for more info.
http://www.afana.com/drupal5/news/20...urns_espn-1555

Here is the official AFL Media Release with more details for the US and Canada.
Link--
http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsartic...9/default.aspx

[ChrisH]

Grand Final on ESPN2 That makes me a very happy footy fan.

[westcoast929406]

Originally Posted by ChrisH

Grand Final on ESPN2 That makes me a very happy footy fan.

Yes it is great news.

We went to the ESPN360 web site and the Aussie Rules is listed on the current page covering this Friday - Saturday- Sunday.
Actual live times are early morning starters on the US/Can east coast, but Replays are prominent -
This is a big boost for the game long term with a wide cover. Give it 2/3 years and more fans will get picked up once the newbies sort out the rules and gameplay.
We hope they have some explanatory notes or verbal guides available.
Link---
http://espn.go.com/broadband/espn360/schedule

A very strong word of caution - US Footy fans you and your friends will have to support this latest deal to the full. If not it is possible no cover after 2012.
Read this very perceptive piece on ESPN footy history.
Link--
http://www.afana.com/drupal5/weblogs...d_history-1579

[rabble-rabble]

With each passing month, I have fewer reasons to keep my Setanta subscription (as many of the EPL soccer matches are moving over to ESPN.)

Oh well, as least all the US footy fans who can't shell out $15 for Setanta each month can watch the big match at the end of September.

[aegibson]

The Grand Final is going to be on the Duece??? (Head explodes)

[tony1097]

If you had Setanta and you can't get ESPN360, this is bad news. You will go from 2-3 matches per week to not even 1 match per week. (AFANA says a 4 game minimum for the whole season next year for ESPN2). This year? I reckon you will have to wait for the Grand Final.

[GlennAA11]

exactly. I just got access to Setanta recently via FiOS and was getting ready to subscribe mainly for the AFL coverage besides all of the soccer. But now that they have dumped AFL there is less reason to sign up.

Watching games on my little computer screen on espn360 is not a real substitute to watching the matches on the big screen. Nice that the grand final will be on espn2, but what about the finals leading up to that? I see a couple of matches listed on espn360's schedule for this weekend.

At least I still get to see the games on MHz network even though it is a week behind. They recently confirmed they will still have their match of the week and highlights show for at least 2 more years.

[westcoast929406]

Aussie Rules is a very minor sport in the US. That is the reality and TV cover reflects that.
Read the last AFANA article in the original post. Rob knows what he is talking about.
The AFL would be thankful that ESPN has got involved from Setanta. Something is better than nothing gentlemen.

[GlennAA11]

I guess it is easy to be spoiled by watching sports on TV the right way. I am attempting to watch the replay of the Collingwood-Adelaide match on espn360 and it is a very frustrating experience. Their stupid little 15 second commercials that resize my full screen view and then don't change it back makes me not want to bother fooling with this thing again. This technology shouldn't be so primitive.

[Willber5008]

Originally Posted by GlennAA11

I guess it is easy to be spoiled by watching sports on TV the right way. I am attempting to watch the replay of the Collingwood-Adelaide match on espn360 and it is a very frustrating experience. Their stupid little 15 second commercials that resize my full screen view and then don't change it back makes me not want to bother fooling with this thing again. This technology shouldn't be so primitive.

I did the same thing yesterday. I hooked up my laptop to my TV via HDMI and than every time they scored a goal their damn commercial would come on and i would have to get up and resize it back to full screen. This is absurd!