Obviously, that's a horrible time for them to kick off locally, but they're doing it for TV in western Europe.
Matchday #1 (September 15/16) on ESPN2: Tuesday: PSG v Malmo Wednesday: Olympiakos v Bayern Munich SA www.soccertvblog.com
Fox just put up their listings for Matchday 1 on the Euro pregame show Tues Sept 15 PSV vs Man United FS1 Man City vs Juve FS2 Real Madrid vs Shakhtar Donetsk FS Networks Wed Sept 16 Roma vs Barça FS1 Dinamo Zagreb vs Arsenal FS2 Chelsea vs Maccabi Tel-Aviv FS Networks
If I'm seeing this correctly, we've got 8 live games per matchday on TV in the US (4 per day). Am I missing any channels that might be showing something unique (ESPN Deportes or Fox Deportes showing matches that are *not* on one of the English broadcast channels)? If I am reading this correctly then we have taken a major step backwards from previous seasons (at least those of us who have DirecTV). And we have given up clean screens (DTV) for tickers on ESPN that actually cut into the screen. Major bummer. DTV used to show 4 games per day (sometimes 5), so 8-10 per matchday. ESPN will also likely use their own announcers, which will not be a huge problem for the play-by-play guy but usually sucks for analysis (Taylor Twellman and Kasey Keller doing analysis of teams from leagues they likely never watch). When the story of US soccer TV coverage is written the headline is this: Consistently inconsistent: Two steps forward one step back. According to the join date next to my avatar, I've been a member of this forum since 2004. I know that many of you have been here as long and some longer. We have some amazing things happening here that we wouldn't even dream of happening 5-6 years ago. At the same time, every time we get close to the promise land, one or two networks has to f***k with things. Think about it: NBC is amazing for EPL. Every single game every single week on TV. Last season that was the same for CL if you were a DTV subscriber. Two seasons ago, that was nearly the same for Europa if you were a DTV subscriber. Now Fox has better Bundesliga coverage than at any point in US media coverage history (and last season Gol showed all 5 games--now Bundesliga seems to send out 6). BeIN on a good week shows all La Liga games and a lot of Ligue 1 and Serie A. But this year, BeIN is screwing around with that. Yet BeIN has increased CANQ (never before have we had that). So, two steps forward one step back because each gain (more Bundesliga) comes with a loss (less CL). Damn.
The spillover CL games will fall to ESPN's streaming service so it's probably more satisfactory to a wider range of people. And only really pissing off the DirecTV customers that aren't plugged into this new era of flinging streams to the TV. I do agree that ESPN can be annoying with some of their production things like the ticker, but it's better for 95+% of the football watching audience overall.
FWIW, no ticker on ESPN right now for their EURO qualifier between Eng/SUI. Looks so clean and hopefully they keep it this way for their CL coverage. They have been giving score updates.
Matchday #1 US TV info now up: http://soccertvblog.com/uefa-cl-tv/ The only info missing at this point is Fox Deportes programming which is not available at the moment. Will add as soon as its available. SA www.soccertvblog.com PS. Europa League up as well: http://soccertvblog.com/uefa-el-tv/
Your guess is as good as mine. Only thing I can think of is that they know people can watch those matches on WatchESPN, ESPN3.
I get that more people are watching on mobile devices and so DTV might have decided that whatever the cost that cost wasn't worth it. If the cost was minimal, though, then watching on TV would certainly be the option for folks (I've run ESPN3 from a laptop and from an app to my HDTV and the quality is not as good as what DTV was showing). It looks like every single game will re-air on FS+. I'm using this opportunity to send (yet another) email to DTV to urge them to add FS+ as a full-time HD channel. I will remind them that the CL is the premier soccer club competition in the world, that $15 per month for a premium channel (higher cost than any other single channel in DTV's lineup) doesn't seem like a good deal when 95% of the time the channel is SD, and that I am now seriously considering my satellite service in general given the availability of CL matches via ESPN3 (which I get via my Internet service provider). If you are a DTV subscriber, you might consider sending a similar message. If they get enough emails, maybe some kind of message will make its way to the programming folks. In theory they have the space for such additions with the new satellite launching last year: http://www.tvpredictions.com/directv030915.htm
I think we may have had this discussion before but the Champions League on an Ipad sent to a Chromecast looks great on my tv. Also My Xbox is solid. But I can see how having it on actual channels can be convenient for many.
So the extra Champions League matches will be on Fox Soccer 2Go, rather than ESPN3. So not only are they not on the DirecTV overflow channels, nor on ESPN3 (which DirecTV subscribers can finally access,) they're only on an online pay service. You'd think Fox/DirecTV would at least give those of us who pay for Fox Soccer+ free access to Fox Soccer 2Go. DirectTV — increasing price, increasingly less value.
Last year, I (a non-DirecTV person) was able to watch several games per matchday via ESPN3 that I couldn't get on any TV channel.
So was I. And according to most listings ESPN 3 is still doing that this year. Do Direct tv customers get blocked on ESPN3 or something?
- All CL matches available on FoxSoccer2Go.com. - (Most) Matches not being shown on FS-1, FS-2, Fox Regionals are available live on espn3. Keep in mind, espn3 access is determined by your internet provider. WatchESPN access is determined by your TV provider. (And the always present disclaimer because many providers - like Roku as well as espn's site itself - display espn3 within the WatchESPN page/apps. Still, espn3 access depends on your internet provider while WatchESPN - meaning only streaming of ESPN TV properties on other devices - is dependent on your TV provider). I did not include FoxSoccer2Go on my schedule but here is the complete US TV info for Matchday #1: http://soccertvblog.com/uefa-cl-tv/ SA www.soccertvblog.com
Also worth noting, Fox's equivalent to "Watch" - FoxSportsGo will have the the FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes & Fox Regional matches available online and through various apps. Like WatchESPN, access is dependent on your TV provider (DirecTV subscribers HAVE access, for example). I really bring this up because the FS-1 match - PSV v Man United - will have 3 additional feeds (Fox calls them ISO feeds) available via FoxSportsGo. Link: http://www.foxsports.com/foxsportsgo/ SA www.soccertvblog.com
Europe’s most prestigious club competitions, the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, featuring world renowned sides including Manchester United, Barcelona and Liverpool, begin group stage play next week, with over 40 games available on FS1, FS2, FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Sports’ digital platforms. FOX Sports’ coverage also includes the return of MULTIMATCH 90, the live whip-around show bringing viewers every goal and big play in near-real time; and MATCH 360, a new exclusive digital offering that provides a unique second-screen experience, offering extended pregame access as well as multiple match angles, highlights and isolated in-game camera feeds. The UEFA Champions League takes center stage with its highly-anticipated first Match Day on Tuesday, Sept. 15 as English giant Manchester United and Dutch champion PSV Eindhoven clash on FS1. Simultaneously, crosstown English rivals Manchester City face last year’s tournament finalist Juventus on FS2. A day later, the FS1 match on Wednesday, Sept. 16 features reigning champion Barcelona battling Roma, while Croatia’s Dinamo Zagreb takes on Arsenal on FS2. Pregame coverage begins at 2:00 PM ET on FS1 and FS2 both days. Real Madrid and Chelsea are among Europe's elite also in action across both days, live on FOX Sports Regional Networks (FSRN) and FOX Soccer 2Go. MULTIMATCH 90 returns during the UEFA Champions League group stage round, bringing viewers every goal and big play in near-real time from up to eight matches being contested simultaneously. The fan-favorite program, hosted by Ross Dyer, returns for a second season Tuesday, Sept. 15 (2:30 PM ET) and is back at the same time the following day on FOX Soccer Plus and FOX Soccer 2Go. Additionally, the CONCACAF Champions League rolls on with Match Day 4 of its group stage as MLS teams D.C. United and Sporting Kansas City take the field on the same day on FS2. UEFA Europa League group stage action starts with a Match Day 1 doubleheader on Thursday, Sept. 17 on FS1, FS2 and FOX Soccer Plus. Bordeaux faces Liverpool on FS1 at 12:30 PM ET, followed by Tottenham Hotspur vs. Qarabag FK at 3:00 PM ET. Borussia Dortmund, Schalke and Athletic Bilbao highlight the other games across FS2 and FOX Soccer Plus in a packed day of soccer. Rob Stone hosts pregame, halftime and postgame UEFA Champions League Match Day 1 coverage from Los Angeles with analysts Alexi Lalas, Warren Barton, Brad Friedel (Tuesday) and Eric Wynalda (Wednesday). UEFA Europa League Match Day 1 coverage on Thursday features host Ian Joy alongside Barton, Lalas and Mario Melchiot. FOX Sports’ digital platforms offer comprehensive coverage of the UEFA Champions League group stage rounds. All matches and MULTIMATCH 90 are available for live and on-demand streaming on FOX Soccer 2Go, while all matches on FS1 and FS2 are available via FOX Sports GO and online at FOXSportsGO.com. FOX Sports GO also live streams bonus feeds, including MATCH 360, which offers exclusive live pre-match coverage 60 minutes prior to kickoff, including team arrivals, dressing rooms, stadium sights before, during and after the game, plus multiple angles of every goal and highlight. In addition to MATCH 360, UEFA Champions League matches on FS1 and FS2 provide three isolated camera feeds in the FOX Sports GO app and on FOXSportsGO.com. These exclusive bonus feeds allow viewers to watch the action from unique perspectives, such as a reverse angle "Tactical View" or tight angle close-ups. Match Day 2 of the UEFA Champions League begins on Tuesday, Sept. 29 with Barcelona headlining FS1’s coverage again, as the Spanish heavyweights host Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen. Wolfsburg, another strong German side, appears on FS1, facing off against Manchester United on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
Since I don't pay for FS+ or FoxSoccer2Go, I'll probably try to grab a stream of this: UEFA Champions League Goals Show BT Sport ESPN (UK) 15 Sep 2015 2:30pm Duration: 2hrs 30mins All the goals from the prestigious European club competition. Very solid panel: Don't know which CL game to watch?Watch them all, as the goals go in, with @acjimbo, @LaurensJulien, @JamesHorncastle & me on @btsport ESPN— Raphael Honigstein💙 (@honigstein) September 15, 2015
Is the bold part entirely accurate? I thought you had to have the same TV/internet provider. For example, if I have U-Verse TV, but need faster internet, I could get Time Warner internet. In this case, I don't believe I'd get WatchESPN, even though both U-Verse and Time Warner provide access to WatchESPN. I'd need TW or U-Verse TV *and* internet...but I think most people here are smart enough to figure that out.
Your U-Verse TV subscription will give you access to WatchESPN even if you switch internet providers. In other words, you do NOT have to have the same internet and TV provider to have access to WatchESPN. As I stated originally, your internet provider determines your access to espn3, while the TV provider determines access to WatchESPN. I have Comcast as my internet provider and DirecTV as my TV provider. Up until mid-2014 when DirecTV subscribers were given access to WatchESPN, I could see the app (on Roku, for example) and click on espn3 and watch it since Comcast gave me that access. Clicking on ESPN2 or any of the other channels did not allow me to watch those channels since DTV was not authorized at that time. The biggest confusion here is the term "WatchESPN". As I reference it above, I am strictly speaking about access to ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, ESPN-U on a streaming device (via computer, Roku, AppleTv, Amazon Fire, etc.). The confusion sets in because the Apps that display the channels - including espn3 - are also called WatchESPN. Bottom line: if your TV provider is listed HERE you can watch ESPN channels on other devices. If your internet provider is on this list HERE, you can watch espn3 on any device. Over the past year or so, as ESPN has renegotiated contract renewals with different providers, many TV and internet providers have been added to the list. Its to a point where most (if not all) big providers that offer both TV and internet service (Comcast, UVerse, TimeWarner) are on both lists. But I assure you, you are not stuck with UVerse as your internet provider because they are your TV provider. You can switch over to TW if you need fatser internet service and not lose any access to ESPN products. SA www.soccertvblog.com