I'll rarely cheer for ESPN when it comes to MLS, but this Saturday they are showing TWO MLS games in one day. CHI vs SEA at 3 on ESPN, and LA vs. KC at 9 on ESPN2. Perhaps I should thank Beckham for the 2nd game but I'll take it. Throw in FSC if you got the right cable company and you're good to go. I envision a day 10-15 years from now when I can sit on the couch all day and flip from ABC, ESPN, FOX - all playing MLS games. Frankie will be doing the color commentary and I will tell stories to my son about two-footed tackles and beer chugging.
Once the European stuff starts up, there's Champions League on FSN, FSC, and FSE. Throw in games on Gol TV and Setanta, and we already can watch 12 hours of live games a day...if it's the right time of year. ESPN is starting to "wake up" but it's a slow awakening. Over the past couple years, they've actually had fewer games joined in progress. I remember one game where the whole first half was pre-empted for some lower-tier tennis. With ESPN360, there's no need to miss a game on ESPN, although ESPN360 is still a uncommon.
Since FSC is doing Champs League, what's ESPN doing? I heard rumors about them airing La Liga games but I wasnt sure.
Umm, 15 years from now I'm expecting Frankie to be leading us to at minimum our 10th MLS Cup in 16 years and still chugging beer.
La Liga games will mainly be on Gol TV, although ESPN360 and ESPN Deportes will be alternating picks with Gol TV. ESPN2 will have a few games, but mostly on tape delay (especially during college football season.) What this means is that between the two "big teams", one should be on Gol TV, with the other on ESPN. The next week, those teams will flip spots. There's some news about the Bundesliga and ESPN: https://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1107541
ESPN just signed a two billion dollar contract with the SEC for football games on top of their current ties with the other major conferences. They keep saying they are going to expand their coverage of soccer but I just don't see it unless they start up another channel. Although I did enjoy their coverage of the CHI-SEA game today. One of their better broadcasts.
the big question is WHEN is FSC going to have an HD channel. to me, it seems Fox sports is pretty cheap.
FSC goes HD in January, 2010. However, just because it goes HD, doesn't necessarily mean *provider* will pick it up. All Champions League games will be in 720p HD (same as ESPN's.) FSN HD will have games starting with the first games, though. As for ESPN having more soccer, there WAS a rumor that ESPN Classic was to have an emphasis on soccer, but for now, i'm smelling that ESPN360 and ESPN Deportes will have the most soccer, along with ESPN2, and ESPNU during the summer months.
Would someone be willing to help me turn on my espn360 remote viewing? I've tried a couple of people I know but everyone seems to be on an ISP that can't get espn360. I just need someone to log on for me and activate remote viewing.
Really, ESPN needs to just buy FSC, dump all the crap advertising shows and show more classic games or more current games on delay. It could be ESPN-S and be all soccer, no scrolls with other sports info, and could be hi-def from day one. Problem solved. They would consolidate the contracts of both networks and almost be a one-stop-shop for games.
FSC has yet to switch to an HD TV truck for their MLS games, and the one they're using is, erm, affordable. What I want is to get FSC back on WOW, and to lose the dumb shows and have games in primetime again.
Seconded. Although, i found out last night that WOW does still have Telemundo (use to be channel 22 now it's 300 something). So I don't HAVE to go to El Vaquero or similar to watch the Mexico game.
I am still smarting over WOW's decision to drop FSC, but I just haven't found it worth it to switch cable companies yet. My dream is one where ONN will broadcast Crew games in HD instead of smudge-o-vision.
To respond to some of the previous posts, I don't think it is too far fetched to conclude we are, in fact, seeing the very early assembling of an ESPN Soccer Channel. They're broadcasting EPL, Scottish Premier, Liga Sagres, La Liga, and internationals this year.