I figured to start the thread so we can figure out on which networks to watch the beautiful game for the upcoming season. Ones I'm definitively sure on: English Premier League: NBC Sports/NBC Sports online Liga MX (Mexico): Fox Sports Bundesliga (Germany): Fox Sports Italy's Serie A: ESPN Networks/ESPN + English Championship/Community Shield: ESPN+ Spain's La Liga: BeIN Sports France's Ligue 1: BeIN Sports UEFA Champions League/Europa League: Turner Sports/Bleacher Report Scottish Premier League: Turner Sports/Bleacher Report Belgian Pro League: Turner Sports/Bleacher Report These are all confirmed.
It just got re-awarded to Sky 3 weeks ago, so you would think this would put Fox in a good position, but a MAJOR increase in the amount of games shown (70% of games) could be good filler for ESPN +, or its past home at BeIN Sports https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/06/1...eu973m-deal-serie-broadcast-rights-until-2021
One would think DAZN are major contenders with their US launch coming. The CEO (? or some higher up) did say in an interview that international soccer was going to be a big part of the US launch, and what is available besides Serie A and FA Cup? EDIT: found the interview: https://www.sporttechie.com/dazn-james-rushton-sports-streaming-ott-boxing/ "Well, in a couple of years, yeah. You never know. So, where my head’s at is, we’ve got to be famous at stuff. We can be famous in boxing and fight sports. We need to get big on the international sports that are in the market at the moment, so soccer, cricket, rugby. We own WTA tennis [rights] globally, through Perform Group. That right is not [available] here currently, but we may be able to look at that over the medium term. And, broader, a set of rights around—and I hate to use the word because it sounds like it’s not important—more niche properties but niche with a mass audience."
ESPN has not updated their ESPN+ schedules for early August with any Football League coverage (season begins Fri Aug 3). I'd be really surprised if they drop the League and Cup contract because it's cheap content for +. Guess we'll know more in coming weeks.
I don't think Turner/Bleacher Report are airing them until at least the third round of qualifying (before the playoff round)
So Bleacher Report online is starting earlier than Fox did, with two games this week. Celtic is one of the most famous clubs in the qualifying rounds, and even if APOEL Nicosia doesn't have many fans they were in the Quarterfinals most recently of the clubs in Qualifying Round 1. @socceraction Wikipedia says Videoton changed sponsors and names. UEFA calls them Vidi and Wikipedia calls them MOL Vidi.
With Ronaldo's potential move to Juventus, serie A rights might cost little more. Hopefuly, it gets resolved soon, so I know if I need to pay for another streaming service.
Actually got the "Videoton" from UEFA when draw was made. Looks like they changed names effective July 1st (after draw). I have updated. Thanks! SA www.soccertvblog.com
Unless something changed this year, CL rights (as we generally understand them) start in the playoff round. Anything in the qualifying rounds before that are for the home side to sell. If Bleacher report (or anyone else -- LAOLA1.tv has shown many, many games in past years) shows qualifying round games before the playoff round, it's because they've purchased the rights directly from the club. LAOLA1.tv generally shows many Europa League qualifiers as well.
Out of 16 CL first legs, socceraction says live.bleacherreport.com and LAOLA1.tv have 2 each. Out of 47 EL first legs, live.bleacherreport.com has 4 and LAOLA1.tv has 11.
After another great experience on LAOLA watching Flora-Hapoel Be’er Sheva, I switched to bleacher report to watch the Celtic game. With just weeks to go until actual CL playoff round games, still no iPad app (you have to use the iPhone app in compatibility mode), no connected TV apps, airplay didn’t work from my iPhone to my appletv, and the app and website are still a disaster to navigate. They have a lot of work to do in little time. Re Serie A rights, the price may have just gone up.
I don't know if the actual price for Serie A rights will go up but the package (with FA Cup rights attached) probably got a bit more sellable.
The number of Europa League matches on LAOLA1.tv has increased to 18!! http://soccertvblog.com/uefa-el-tv/ SA
I wonder if Univision will take advantage of Turner's woes and mishaps and broadcast some of the playoffs on UDN and their digital platforms? @socceraction?
The lack of information coming from Turner is mildly concerning at this point. I’m also not a fan of how their current app is constructed. Leaning towards Univision at this point.
The only issues that I have not seen resolved by Univision yet are: 1) Chromecast and other stream to TV capabilities are limited to nonexistent. 2) Lack of OnDemand replays like Telemundo has and ESPN Deportes/ Watch ESPN had last season. If they do not resolve these issues then some cord cutters will still be best served with B/R and their service. If Univision is smart and they want to steal viewers away from Turner they should focus on these two key issues.
We'll see but Univision probably gets more eyeballs repeating Liga MX matches than they would with early rounds of the CL. I could see Spanish teams making the cut but under the new model, all 4 Spanish teams go straight into the Group Stage... SA www.soccertvblog.com