ESPN To Debut First Campaign Spot For 2014 FIFA World Cup During LIVE Telecast Of The 2014 Rose Bowl On New Years Day - http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-releases/2013/12/first-wc-2014-spot/
If I remember correctly, the networks have a contract with the affiliates. In that contract, they typically have the right to reserve other time slots as long as it is done either 3 or 6 months in advance. So, if ABC was telling it's affiliates that they will be taking these timeslots, regardless of how well local programs do, locals can do nothing but air the ABC programs. I know for sure I heard of something like this for FOX and NBC, I would assume ABC has something similar. BTW, does anybody know when they will actually release the tv schedule?
Based on last cycle is should be out by the end of the month. But who knows? They may switch thing up a bit.
During summertime, the locals don't have programing that will match what ABC/ESPN is expecting from the big games especially the 6:00 pm EST start for US games. We are talking about 15+million viewers and great Demo. I expect the USvPOR match will be the highest rated US men soccer match to date. We could see numbers in the range of 17+ million viewers-20 million viewers. It could very well be the highest rated Soccer match ever for the English feed. After the game, the local news could air, and followed by other local programing.
I was not arguing that. I was simply responding to the person who said some ABC locals may opt-out of the World Cup in favor of local programs. They may not have that choice. However I think you are over estimating ESPN/Disney's desire to put the WC on ABC "to maximize exposure". We will have to wait and see, but Disney's priority is to make money, which in this media climate does not always correlate with maximizing ratings. It can be more profitable to put major matches on ESPN. So outside of the weekend afternoon matches, I would not expect Disney to bend over backwards to get matches on ABC. I'm not saying it won't happen because it very likely could, but i'm just saying there are numerous reasons for them to air matches on ESPN over ABC.
ABC is scheduled to show 1o-11 games. ABC/Disney will benefit from showing marquee games for cross marketing their fall line-up. The USvGHA could end-up on ABC in the early primetime hours. Local news and other local programing will follow benefiting from great viewership. It is a win win for both parties. To suffice, I see USvPOR on ABC, and a good probability for the USvGHA as well.
The World Cup is a must-see TV content. I'm pretty much sure ABC affiliates will comply and stick with ABC request. We are talking about viewership in millions, with not much competition during summertime.
The end of the ESPN Brazil World Cup starts the clock running for the Fox Russia World Cup and official World Cup commentary by GuJo!!
Has he done Footie since last May? Can we hope Fox re-evaluated and realized the GuJo idea was DOA. Or do they figure he got enough experience stumblingly last season, and he'll only re-emerge for Russia World Cup?
Which buys us time until March. Im sure from that point on he"ll be poluting our CL match commentary when things start getting serious there.
Ian Darke replaces Martin Tyler as ESPN lead World Cup commentator http://www.startribune.com/sports/239285251.html
Darke's 2010 coverage of the US team was exciting and filled with vigor. Tyler was educational but a bit monotone and boring in comparison. I am happy it ended the way it did.
I expect the other P-b-P guys to be Adrian Healey and Fernando Palomo with Polomo broadcasting primarily the matches involving Latin American squads (and Spain) while Healy and Darke split the rest of the matches.
Does this mean that Tyler is no longer part of the broadcast team or does it mean he is part of the team, but NOT the lead commentator? Also, I'm not the world's biggest fan of Fernando Palomo. His delivery is jarring and awkward. Where is Christian Bozzo these days? He would be a possible option as a Latin American play by play announcer......in theory.
I think I read that as well. Tyler will not be a part of the ESPN WC is how I understood it but I also remember thinking it was poorly written.
ESPN and Martin Tyler Mutually Agree to End Relationship Ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-r...e-end-relationship-ahead-2014-fifa-world-cup/
Eh that sucks. Why not Tyler and Darke on different broadcasts? Theres at least 2 matches a day so why not? I really hope not Healy and Palomo as 2 and 3. Go out and get some real talent like Ian Darke calibre.
ESPN Names Ian Darke Lead Commentator For 2014 FIFA World Cup - Ian Darke will be the lead play-by-play commentator for ESPN during the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, it was announced today by Jed Drake, senior vice president and executive producer, ESPN Production. Darke, ESPN’s lead voice for international soccer since 2010, will call the Brazil vs. Croatia opening match on Thursday, June 12 in Sao Paulo, the final and other matches, including all United States Men’s National Team games in the quadrennial tournament (June 12 – July 13). http://espnmediazone.com/us/press-r...n-darke-lead-commentator-2014-fifa-world-cup/
I would personally rather have Healey than Darke do US games. Darke is so out of touch with US soccer and every item he says sounds like he is reading a factoid off of a paper (which he does) instead of living inside of the soccer culture and having be a part of his DNA (like it is for Healey in the US or it is for Darke for English Football).