Does anybody have Gol TV? I have Direct TV so I can't get it. What cable and satellite services offer Gol TV? And do they have Italian and Spanish league in English? Does anybody know if there is any chance that Direct TV will pick up Gol TV as programming?
Gol TV explainer I work at Gol TV, and just finished doing 2 Spanish league games today among our weekend line up. It's available in English and Spanish. After you listen to us call a game (likelier if you watch the Peruvian, Ecuadorian, Central American or Uruguayan leagues), let us know what you think. Usually, on the Serie A or Liga games we just host, for personnel reasons. However, the Real Madrid tv programming is all ours. Keyvan Antonio Heydari PS Get some sleep
Dish Network has the exclusive English DBS rights for at least a year. Therefore, DirecTV won't be seeing it for at least one year.
GolTV has an exclusive SPANISH and ENGLISH DBS contract with DISH until late 2004, therefore there is no chance of seeing GolTV in DirecTV before that date. Some cables are adding GolTV to their lineups, for example Cablevision in NY, and Comcast in 7 DMAs. Current plans to add more operators are going very well, you can check the current news at www.goltv.tv. (disclaimer: I work at GolTV). Constantino
I have Dish and watch the English version of GOLTV. I really enjoy it since they have both the La Liga and Serie A games. They also have some UEFA Cup games as well as some Internationals. I am a big EPL fan so I am still partial to FSW but GOLTV is a does a great job with the other leagues.
Keyvan, Do you do the English language translation on GOLTV broadcasts? I was wondering if you guys simply translated the original Spanish PbP "on the fly" or do you do your own broadcast while watching the feed from the GOLTV studio? It sometimes seems like the call is a few seconds behind the run of play. Overall, I love the GOLTV slate of games and its been great seeing high quality La Liga games on a regular basis. Certainly these few weeks during the Rugby WC with FSW abandoning mid-week soccer its nice to have an alternative. Even if I don't follow many of the smaller South and Central American leagues, its still fun to watch.
lost in translation YOU SAID: Keyvan, Do you do the English language translation on GOLTV broadcasts? I was wondering if you guys simply translated the original Spanish PbP "on the fly" or do you do your own broadcast while watching the feed from the GOLTV studio? It sometimes seems like the call is a few seconds behind the run of play. Overall, I love the GOLTV slate of games and its been great seeing high quality La Liga games on a regular basis" REPLY: It is not a translation (except in the case of SuperEstadio and some Real Madrid TV). While at times we may lag behind the action for technical reasons, we do our own play calling. If PHil Schoen and I are doing a game, for example, we make our own tactical observations, jokes and I'm sure you've heard opinions and other personal observations. That could never be a translation. And we want an American/world point of view. Obviously, let's say we're doing the Peruvian or Guatemalan league, and we can't tell exactly who has the ball or what happened, we will try to listen to the on-stadium audio to support our info. For logistical reasons, the Spanish and Serie A calls come from Europe. However, we hope to help develop your appreciation of the styles as we do broadcasts, and to add a little spice to the mix and stop thinking that the British point of view is gospel. We want to make a channel for you. PS What are you watching, and what are you skipping?
I mostly watch the Serie A and La Liga matches. If there is not much else on I'll watch almost anything. There are only so many leagues that I can keep up with, and while I appreciate well played futbol, I appreciate it more when I know the teams and the players and the history of the league. I'm also a fan of American football, basketball and baseball so there are only so many sports broadcasts that I can watch in a week before my wife comes at me with a knife. I have increasingly dedicated more of this time to soccer since getting the Dish 150 package, with most of it dedicated to European and US soccer. In order of priority it goes something like this....EPL, La Liga, MLS, Serie A, Bundesliga, all else. The addition of La Liga to GOL's programming has been wonderful.
Keyvan9: and what is so wrong with the so-called british point of view..???... which im assuming is what you consider the style of commentary... I would take the "british style" of commentary over any of your lackluster bland broadcasts of Peruvian football in english... the feeds from Europe are great... and are the "ONLY" reason I purchased Dish and GolTV.. you have had tons of UEFA cup games with the European feed.. so to "slam" the Euro style is like slapping your own face.... There is a huge expat fanbase that has purchased Dish just to watch UEFA games and Italian and La Liga I(a la Beckam)... -not just Anglo- Italian and Spanish.... so do not just discount this fanbase.. if anything.. this fanbase will probably keep you in business... so think again before discounting a huge demographic... You should promote commentary and perspetives from the home countries from which they originate to give an authenticity... and if british announcers are only available for serie a... so be it... it europe.. feel the flavor of the event...... Cantona----------
I have Comcast digital cable (including FSW) in the San Francisco Bay Area and would like to get Gol TV. It's not in my specific locality's lineup yet, but based on information from Comcast I expect it to be in the next 30 days. However, as I understand it, it will be the Spanish version only and it will be available only as part of the Hispanic tier (Selecto) for $15 per month above what I am paying now. This is more than what I am willing to pay just to receive Gol TV in Spanish-- I don't anticipate watching any of the other Selecto tier channels. So, anybody familiar with Gol TV or Comcast know if there will be any way for me to get Gol TV's English version at some point via Comcast, or the Spanish version for less than $15 per month? Any ideas on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help.
Cristoforo, I also live in SF and am quite interested in Comcast offering GolTV in their expanded lineup. When I called Comcast to find out if GolTV was available as of Oct 15, which I've seen as initial starting date on Comcast. The Customer Service person looked through the lineup and simply said no it's not currently offered and couldn't provide any further info. I noticed you mentioned that based on information from Comcast it should be available in the next 30 days. Did they specifically state this or provide any further info? Appreciate any info.
Yes, as I understand it, Gol TV should be available in San Francisco on digital cable, in the Selecto Tier, which is $15 per month more than whatever you are paying already (unless you already get all the Spanish language digital stations). For the latest information, call Comcast and ask to speak to a Spanish language specialist about the Selecto or Hispanic tier. I talked to someone about 10 days ago and she didn't know a lot, other than it would NOT be available in English and should be available by end of October, early November on the Selecto tier.
an international style Dear Cantona: I have nothing against the British style per se - especially for English or Scottish leagues - but I do have a problem with the fact that in the US, in the past we have worshiped coaches and announcers just because they have an English accent. An accent as credential? For language reasons, in the US, our prism for evaluating world soccer is an Anglocentric point of view. Plus, for such a passionate sport, I think the coolness or reserve of most English announcers is inconsistent with the spirit of the sport. I have heard (and understand) Serie A in Italian, la Liga in Spanish, Libertadores in Portuguese and Spanish, World Cup in several languages and I think it's time for an American style of announcing, something with more flair. And although I enjoy Tommy Smyth's and other colleagues' style, I have heard many others in different languages whose charms are available only to speakers of their language. I am cool to the English style, because, after having heard and lived so many other countries styles in calling the sport, I want Americans to develop our own identity, in playing and televising. No to the TV insistence on the MPH of an errant shot, but yes to a delicate chip from Zidane, Preki or Beckham. And "yes" to the hard-working values of a player, but also "yes" to the style and touches which the immigrant community loves. I am advocating an American style, rather than being a British soccer colony. So in a sense, I feel that the English point of view is limited by history, language and is insular and tradition bound. The fact that opening the EPL to foreign influences and player led to a renaissance of their soccer is proof . To you: Europe=England, This is revealed by your linking European soccer with British commentary, as if they originate from the same source. culturally and geographically, Espana is not England. As if the origination of the commentary in the same continent legitimizes the announcers. We have English announcers, agreed, but this beautiful sport has taught me that there are many valid viewpoints all over the world. Of course, we the announcers are only the cooks of a recipe. If the ingredients are there - IE a great game that's interesting - we can do something with it. But there are some interesting games from all over. With soccer all the time, we have much to choose from. Thanks for your comentary. And let us know how to improve. Keyvan
Re: an international style You hit the head on the nail. But... (there's always a but). There are some great announcers who can make the broadcast interesting even when the game is a dog. My top three all time favorites are Vin Scully (Dodgers Baseball), Bill King (when he used to do Warriors basketball, not his current baseball work) and Jorge Ramos (Radio Unica, guest on Univision networks). What's so remarkable about Vin Scully is his incredible ability to weave the story of the current game with the century plus history of baseball into an ongoing talk that manages to create the illusion that he is just chatting at me and entertaining me. If the contest is exciting, he goes with it, if it isn't he effortlessly digs for some element that can be enhanced, or it reminds him of a story. And he manages to make his trivia seem interesting. And his flexibility to do a great job whether in a TV booth with several other voices, or calling the inning solo, is impressive. It seems he has had a profound influence on his cohorts, as a high percentage of current baseball announcers do their best to emulate his style, and a few do pretty well. Jorge and Bill, on the other hand, just through the sheer power of their enthusiasm, and detailed verbal picture painting pull you into every moment of the game, keeping you attention riveted where I know my mind would be drifting off during the relatively slow times. Conversely when the guy in the booth is clueless, it is far better to turn down the sound, otherwise I find I get annoyed, think about the execution of the broadcast rather than the essence of the match, and the mind wanders.
VOOM & HD Worldsport I wonder if the Gol TV people out there have any comments about the new satellite service which is supposed to show La Liga and Serie A games (with English commentary). Whether they will be live, taped or both, I don't know. The service is called VOOM and it is being marketed exclusively through Sears until 12/31/03. Some Sears stores have it displayed on high definition tv's if anyone wants to check it out. VOOM is being marketed as a "high definition" satellite service but will compete with DirectTV and Dish. One of VOOM's exclusive channel's is "HD Worldsport" which shows sports in high definition, including European soccer in high definition. La Liga and Serie A games are supposed to be included. I have not gone to a Sears store yet to check it out, but the picture quality is supposed to be vastly improved over standard channels such as you would find on DirectTV, Dish or cable. Of course, to get the benefit of the high definition picture quality, you would need a high definition capable television. Again, just curious if the Gol TV people out there have any comments on this new VOOM service and specifically its HD Worldsport channel which is (supposed to be) showing La Liga and Serie A games. BTW, VOOM's website is www.voom.com -- you can see a description of the HD Worldsport channel there. The earliest VOOM is doing installations of its product is November 4th. Also, please note that VOOM does not have local channels. It allows you to get local channels off the air (via included antenna) but you won't get them via satellite. So if your geography prevents you from getting locals by antenna, you won't get them from VOOM. Also, VOOM is brand new and they are still working out a lot of bugs and don't have quite a few of the standard (non- high definition) channels signed up (ESPN, for example). It's a $750 start-up cost, but if you have some money to blow and you already have a high defintion TV, the HD Worldsport channel would certainly be a cool addition to your viewing options. I will also start a separate thread about this, since I admit my post is mostly off topic.
$750!!!! Im good with GolTV broadcasting the same games the VOOM might broadcast. Also Keyvan or and GolTV employees, do you guys know if GolTV will be broadcasting any of the Euro 2004 PlayOff games or any of the Friendlies that are going to be played on those days?
We don't have any secured rights for the Euro 2004 playoffs; of course we would love to have some but there is nothing secured yet. We are permanently looking to incorporate more programming. Friendlies: We have a Germany x France, on Nov. 15th. Time TBA.
Wow! Thats a interesting channel I know this is far away but will you be showing (or Planning to show) World Cup Qualifying from Europe or N. America ( I know you guys show S. American). Thanks for the info!
It is being reported that this VOOM channel will have 74 Real Madrid matches broadcast LIVE in HIGH definition, with English commentary. Here is a link to read about it: http://www.wired.com/news/business/0,1367,60963,00.html?tw=wn_story_top5 I am surprised they could get that many matches in live. Anyone else know anything? Constantino? Keyvan?
I've seen a few posts regarding this issue, and I'm very sorry I can't add any further information. I'll get back to you as soon as it is possible for us to post some public information. Thank you for your patience.
Q: OK, so last weekend I finally got DISH sattelite and I signed up for the DISH Latino Max package even though I don't speak more than a lick of Spanish. Is there some way to get the English audio feed that I'm missing? I've tried the SAP button on my TV and the DISH menu options, no luck. Is there a different GolTV feed on the America 150 package that does have the English audio feed? Thing is, I got the Latino Max package cause it had the maximum spanish channels, which I equated with maximum soccer, with just enough of the american channels i need (CNN, ESPN, ESPN2, etc.) but then I was disappointed to learn that I wasn't gonna get FSW, and I'm a big EPL fan. Plus, I wasn't "allowed" to order that channel UNLESS I switched to a different package altogether, thus nullifying the "$10-off-for-15-months" deal and... well, at any rate, it was either stay with the less-EPL Fox En Espanol or change the deal (and pay $20 more a month) and get FSW. I think I made the right choice to just stay with this package. A) It's cheaper than America Top 150, which has about 75 of the most useless channels ever B) Sure I can't follow the commentary, but they are pretty impassioned and that counts for stuff and C) Free with any Latino Package is Playboy En Espanol! "y la chica se mueve sexy!" Anyway, just want to say that GolTV RULES in English or Spanish. I stayed home most of this week from work due to the San Diego fires, it was nice to just happen to tune to GolTV and see LIVE La Liga matches. Now getting ESPN Deportes on DISH next year is a MUST.
On the Top 150 you get GOLTVE, which is the English language feed of GOLTV. As I have learned from this thread, it is not a translation but an alternate game broadcast with English speaking announcers.
Hopefully, someone with Dish will confirm this but I think GolTV in English is only available on Top 150 or the Everything package. If memory serves me right it is on Channel 407 (maybe 406 or 408, somewhere between 401 and 410 anyway). I hope to be getting Dish soon to replace my cable.
Yes, GOLTVE is only available on AT150 and above and is indeed on channel 407, just after the Golf Channel