Why No English Language Gold Cup TV Coverage??

Discussion in 'TV, Satellite & Radio' started by California Jack, Jun 28, 2005.

  1. Doesn't US Soccer WANT Americans to watch the USMNT compete for its confederation's championship? Why wasn't a deal worked out so that FSC or ESPN or someone could have covered the games in English? I don't mind watching in Spanish (assuming I can get Telefutura with DirecTV--someone help me out here), but this just doesn't make sense if the goal is to get more people watching the MNT in action.
     
  2. MasterShake29

    MasterShake29 Member+

    Oct 28, 2001
    Jersey City, NJ
    Club:
    New York Red Bulls
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    CONCACAF, which owns the TV rights since they run the tournament, sold the rights to Univision. Blame them.
     
  3. geordienation

    geordienation Moderator

    Apr 21, 2001
    Chicago
    Club:
    Newcastle United FC
    Two words: Jack Warner.

    The ConcaLaugh chairman controls the rights. He sold them to Univision/Telefutura.
     
  4. Consider them blamed.

    I would HOPE that the next time a tournament is hosted in the US, someone thinks to ensure that most Americans can actually watch the games on t.v.
     
  5. Elisa Uranga

    Elisa Uranga New Member

    Jun 14, 2005
    Sierra Madre, CA
    OK just checked my TIVO - Gold Cup is on Telefutura/Univision. Check in LA - channel 46 and channel 402, 404. I have the US and Mexico games Tivo'd. I may Tivo Costa Rica as well. Gotta have my footy! :p
     
  6. Cannon

    Cannon Member

    Arsenal
    United States
    Sep 2, 2001
    Washington, DC metro
    Club:
    Arsenal FC
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    You forgot Galavision. That is the one channel I'm missing so it looks like I'll be missing:
    Honduras vs Trinidad
    Costa Rica vs Canada
    Guatemala vs Jamaica
    Panama vs Trinidad
    Jamaica vs South Africa
    Honduras vs Panama
    Canada vs Cuba
    :mad:

    At least the US games and knockout rounds will be available here.

    It would be nice to watch the US team in english. Oh well.
     
  7. TarheelJTK

    TarheelJTK Member

    Dec 14, 2004
    Jersey City
    They definitely should've thought about selling the rights to all games not involving the US to Univision and any games with the US to FSC. I just hope that the picture quality will be better on Univision than it has been for the Confed Cup, it's been pretty lousy compared to what has been on FSC. I guess listening in Spanish is better than nothing.
     
  8. DAGSports

    DAGSports New Member

    Sep 19, 2003
    The contract is pretty old, I've read on other threads that it dates back to the 90s. Univision usually does not sublicense anything it carries because doing so just damages the potential exposure for Galavision and Telefutura. And let's be honest, this event has never had mass appeal to the non-Mexican audience, otherwise, somebody would have bought a sublicense. Saying that, the contract does expire either after this year's event or the next one, so if SUM really wants it, they can go get it.

    As for picture quality, Univision's picture is usually good, plus the event is in North America, so probably less issues with transmission than usual. :)
     
  9. geohiller

    geohiller Member

    Oct 1, 1999
  10. Thanks for the link.

    BTW, I do now have what I believe to be nearly the entire first round set to record on TiVo on various Spanish-language channels available on DirecTV.

    I don't lament the lack of English-language coverage because it makes it harder for ME to watch; I lament it because it makes it less likely that others will watch it. There is a perception among sports fans who are not yet sold on soccer that if ESPN is covering it, it's more worthwhile. (Notwithstanding the issues with ESPN's coverage, thoroughly addressed in this subforum.) Additionally, not everyone speaks Spanish, so watching a sport one is not very familiar with AND in another language presents a double barrier that prevents US Soccer from using what could be a huge event as a selling point.

    And don't get me started on the fact that MLS games will run in direct conflict with Gold Cup matches.
     
  11. Elisa Uranga

    Elisa Uranga New Member

    Jun 14, 2005
    Sierra Madre, CA
    I tell everyone I speak Spanish futbol or soccer. I keep getting better at understanding these guys - even tho my actual Spanish sucks or is non existent. Better something than nothing.

    Now if we can watch some of the interloto, early CL, etc. that would be great too. :p
     
  12. The coverage hasn't been horrible except for missing the last 5 minutes of every match (which in US/Cuba meant three goals), which I finally got around to preparing for, by setting the recorder to go 15 extra minutes (60 for the knockout rounds).

    My Spanish is so weak. Its amazing, when Chris Armas or Landon Donovan give an interview in Spanish, I'm like, "holy crap, I'm fluent in Spanish. I understand every word." But then the announcer takes over, and its like, "mira mira mira mira arquero mira mira mira mira," and I'm like, "okay, he said arquero so I think he's talking about the goalie."

    Supposedly, tonight's match has English CC. Does anyone know if DirecTV can accommodate this and if so, how it is done? Thanks in advance.
     
  13. skipshady

    skipshady New Member

    Apr 26, 2001
    Orchard St, NYC
    I had the same problem with my VCR since I expected the pregame to be shorter. Oops.
     
  14. anderson

    anderson Member+

    Feb 28, 2002
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    Not TV, or US, but anyway...

    Just FYI - and yeah, I know it's only radio and only one game that doesn't feature the US, but if anyone's interested, a Houston English-language sports talk radio station will carry the Mexico v Jamaica game to be played here Wednesday:

    The station streams on-line and you can click on the Listen Live button on their page.
     
  15. anderson

    anderson Member+

    Feb 28, 2002
    Club:
    Houston Dynamo
    Nat'l Team:
    United States
    One more English language radio broadcast

    Just FYI - it's still not TV, but Glenn Davis mentioned at the end of his broadcast last night that ESPN 790 in Houston (linked above) will also carry the Mexico v Colombia game on Sunday afternoon.
     

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