UEFA Champions League ON ESPN Classic

HDSports · Aug 18, 2006

If you check the listings on www.espn.go.com for the first two match days (Sept 12-13, 26-27) you'll see the UCL listed at 2:30 pm on ESPN2 for the first three of those dates (no game is listed on ESPN2 for Sept 27), but on all four dates on ESPN Classic at 5:00 pm there is a slot for the Champions League. I am hoping that it is not the same game as on ESPN2, and that they might be showing the English-language feed of the game that they always advertise as being "coming up for our international audience only" on delay, or for that matter, any match that is not on ESPN2 or Setanta.

When I learn more, I will update.

Pints · Aug 18, 2006

HDSports said:

If you check the listings on www.espn.go.com for the first two match days (Sept 12-13, 26-27) you'll see the UCL listed at 2:30 pm on ESPN2 for the first three of those dates (no game is listed on ESPN2 for Sept 27), but on all four dates on ESPN Classic at 5:00 pm there is a slot for the Champions League. I am hoping that it is not the same game as on ESPN2, and that they might be showing the English-language feed of the game that they always advertise as being "coming up for our international audience only" on delay, or for that matter, any match that is not on ESPN2 or Setanta.

When I learn more, I will update.
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Great find.
Personally they could broadcast it in Chinese and I'd be happy. As long as they BROADCAST it.

Of course ESPN changes CL match broadcasts, like my wife changes clothes before going out. Often.

HDSports · Aug 18, 2006

Pints said:

Great find.
Personally they could broadcast it in Chinese and I'd be happy. As long as they BROADCAST it.

Of course ESPN changes CL match broadcasts, like my wife changes clothes before going out. Often.
Click to expand...

I just mentioned "English-language feed" because the game they promo'd as the second game internationally was usually the game that would be broadcast live in Spanish on ESPN Deportes. (Although this year Deportes will get third pick live versus second pick last year -Setanta has second pick now)

BSjanitor · Aug 19, 2006

I can't believe my eyes! ESPN2 has the one-hour "UEFA Champions League Highlights" show scheduled for 2 PM ET on fridays following CL matchdays. Great stuff! Also, the game from Sep. 27th will be shown delayed at midnight ET.

dustcowpoke · Aug 19, 2006

This is great news. Glad ESPN Classic is actually worth something now.

When ESPN Classic first came out I thought it was a good idea, but now it's just for die-hard FSU, Miami, OU, and Texas fans to watch old college football games.

HDSports · Aug 20, 2006

I called ESPN in Bristol, and the guy said that the ESPN Classic game might be a different game, such as the English-language feed of the game on Deportes or it might be the same as the ESPN2 game, depending on the "interest" in the match. Not a definitive answer, but its all I can go on until they actually select the matches to be shown.

BSjanitor, thanks for the additional listing information...

PsychedelicCeltic · Aug 20, 2006

dustcowpoke said:

This is great news. Glad ESPN Classic is actually worth something now.

When ESPN Classic first came out I thought it was a good idea, but now it's just for die-hard FSU, Miami, OU, and Texas fans to watch old college football games.
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They're bizarro aren't they? I don't think they've even lost the rights to old MLB and NBA games, possibly even NFL stuff. I just think they're too cheap to show games on it.

maturin · Aug 20, 2006

hallay-frickin-lujah if this is really a second game on each matchday. about time.

BigBarcelona · Aug 20, 2006

This news is so freakin' sweet!

I hope they continue this trend throughout the tournament and they show other teams that are not English. With the coverage of Setanta, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic, now I don't see the need of ESPN Deportes (except for the commentary, because the commentary is the same they used for their Latin American feed). Man, I feel that this edition of the WC had a lot to do with this decision. I guess they had a great edition of the WC and hopefully they realize that they have an audience for this sport.

Seriously, I can't wait for this tournament to begin.

danny08 · Aug 21, 2006

Will CL be on Setanta USA as well?

HDSports · Aug 21, 2006

danny08 said:

Will CL be on Setanta USA as well?
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Yes, they get 2nd pick of the live maches this year, ahead of Deportes.

(Last year, ESPN2 and Deportes go the first two picks, Setanta was third)

themaestro · Aug 21, 2006

So how many games from each matchday does Setanta show? Do they run at the same time as the ESPN match?

Like everyone else I can't wait for the group stages to start up now in the Champions League.

HDSports · Aug 21, 2006

themaestro said:

So how many games from each matchday does Setanta show? Do they run at the same time as the ESPN match?

Like everyone else I can't wait for the group stages to start up now in the Champions League.
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I know they have a match live at 2:30 pm and I believe they sometimes show a second match following the first on some days.

giacomo · Aug 26, 2006

Is there a possibility that the Champions League could be in HD this year on ESPN2?

OldFanatic · Aug 27, 2006

giacomo said:

Is there a possibility that the Champions League could be in HD this year on ESPN2?
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Maybe the final. Last season's final was already in HD.

Elisa Uranga · Aug 28, 2006

I see that ESPN360 will show the ESPN2, Classic, and Deportes games. Will this be free like the World Cup?

BocaFan · Aug 28, 2006

BigBarcelona said:

This news is so freakin' sweet!

I hope they continue this trend throughout the tournament and they show other teams that are not English. With the coverage of Setanta, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic, now I don't see the need of ESPN Deportes (except for the commentary, because the commentary is the same they used for their Latin American feed).
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Yes, where would we be without the priceless commentary by Mr. Obvious at ESPN Deportes.

themaestro · Aug 29, 2006

Anyone have the schedule for ESPN2 and Setanta for the 1st matchday?

When is it announced if not? Thanks.

BigBarcelona · Aug 29, 2006

For the schedule of the first games of the CL in ESPN2, ESPN Classic and Setanta Sports this are the websites that you go to.

espn.go.com and click on soccer (telecast on this channel)
setanta.com/usa (telecast on this channel)
soccertv.com (don't go right now, but wait around the middle of next week)

Pints · Aug 29, 2006

I wonder if the game shown on ESPN Classic at 5-7 is actually just a replay of the game being shown on ESPN2 at 2:30 each day.

It doesn't say WHAT is being shown.
ESPN2 states UEFA Champions League while ESPNClassic says UEFA CHampions League Matchday 1.
On both days

stockmanjr · Aug 29, 2006

Pints said:

I wonder if the game shown on ESPN Classic at 5-7 is actually just a replay of the game being shown on ESPN2 at 2:30 each day.

It doesn't say WHAT is being shown.
ESPN2 states UEFA Champions League while ESPNClassic says UEFA CHampions League Matchday 1.
On both days
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It's listed almost the same way they list the second game on espn pac rim and deportes.I would assume it's the 2nd game of the doubleheader they used to show to everyone else but us!

BSjanitor · Aug 29, 2006

giacomo said:

Is there a possibility that the Champions League could be in HD this year on ESPN2?
Click to expand...

Not yet this year. Maybe in a few years... I don't think CL is even produced in SD widescreen, let alone HD. Except for the final and some games played in Germany.

GutBomb · Aug 29, 2006

actually this year i believe it is being produced in HD from the group stage onwards, because some sky sports adverts are mentioning HD coverage.

i know last year I watched barcelona v chelsea in 16:9 at a pub in england

joebloe888 · Aug 31, 2006

themaestro said:

Anyone have the schedule for ESPN2 and Setanta for the 1st matchday?

When is it announced if not? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Hot off the presses:

Match Day 1
-----------

PSV (Netherlands) vs Liverpool (England)
ESPN2 (US - English)
ESPN360.com
TSN (Canada - English)
Tu Sep 12 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
Tu Sep 12 4:45pm ET/1:45pm PT SDD

Chelsea (England) vs Werder Bremen (Germany)
Setanta Sports USA (US - English)
Tu Sep 12 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
Tu Sep 12 7pm ET/4pm PT SDD
Setanta Broadband
TBA

Barcelona (Spain) vs Levski Sofia (Bulgaria)
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
ESPN360.com
RDS (Canada - French)
Tu Sep 12 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE
Setanta Sports USA
TBA
Setanta Broadband
TBA

Galatasaray (Turkey) vs Bordeaux (France)
Setanta Broadband
Tu Sep 12 2:45pm ET/11:45am PT LIVE
Setanta Sports USA
TBA

Sporting (Portugal) vs Inter Milan (Italy)
TLN (Canada - Italian)
Tu Sep 12 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE

Olympiacos (Greece) vs Valencia (Spain)
Setanta Premium - CCTV
Tu Sep 12 2:45pm ET/11:45am PT LIVE
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
Tu Sep 12 11:59pm ET/9pm PT SDD

Roma (Italy) vs Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine)
TLN (Canada - Italian)
TBA

TBA
ESPN Classic (US - English)
Tu Sep 12 5pm ET/2pm PT SDD

--

Manchester United (England) vs Celtic (Scotland)
ESPN2 (US - English)
ESPN360.com
TSN (Canada - English)
We Sep 13 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
We Sep 13 4:45pm ET/1:45pm PT SDD

Hamburg (Germany) vs Arsenal (England)
Setanta Sports USA (US - English)
We Sep 13 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
We Sep 13 7pm ET/4pm PT SDD

Lyon (France) vs Real Madrid (Spain)
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
ESPN360.com
RDS (Canada - French)
We Sep 13 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE

Porto (Portugal) vs CSKA Moscow (Russia)
Setanta Broadband
We Sep 13 2:45pm ET/11:45am PT LIVE

AC Milan (Italy) vs AEK Athens (Greece)
TLN (Canada - Italian)
We Sep 13 2:30pm ET/11:30am PT LIVE
ESPN Deportes (US - Spanish)
We Sep 13 11:59pm ET/9pm PT SDD

Copenhagen (Denmark) vs Benfica (Portugal)
Setanta Premium - CCTV
We Sep 13 2:45pm ET/11:45am PT LIVE

TBA
ESPN Classic (US - English)
We Sep 13 5pm ET/2pm PT SDD

westsidepunk · Aug 31, 2006

If it is a repeat of the same game, it is nice to have a second time to catch it if you forgot to tape or whatever, but if we are getting a second game, that is really awesome.