My television wish list, Richard Deitsch His 10 wishes for TV ... #5 had to do with our sport. The Fox Soccer Channel needs to copy the ESPN playbook: For those of us who live and die by the fortunes of Thierry Henry, Ronaldinho and Steven Gerrard, the Fox Soccer Channel is an oasis amid the soccer-empty cable universe. Call me an Anglophile but life is brilliant when I can watch the third round of the FA Cup between Burton Albion and Manchester United from the privacy of my flat. FSC is one of the few networks that offers a sporting perspective from abroad (Full marks to the U.K.-based Sky Sports News and the Fox Sports World Report, which is produced in Canada but focuses on world soccer). The coverage is generally so good on FSC that I'm even willing to tolerate announcer Max Bretos, whose overwrought play-by-play is at least accompanied by genuine passion. What I'd like to see now is for FSC to follow up its pledge to develop some interesting new programming outside of the engaging Fox Football Friday. Why not adopt the ESPN playbook and develop a 30-minute weekly Sports Reporters/PTI show featuring U.S. soccer journalists debating and dissecting issues on world and American soccer? No games fuels more passion then the beautiful game, and unlike the star sports columnists in this country, you could probably get soccer journos on the cheap. I really like the idea ... and this is something I'd actually watch. Plus it'd be nice to be able to actually hear some of these writers have to defend their articles at times. Thoughts?
Fox Football Friday does that to some extent, though these guys aren't journalists. Trick is that there's such a dearth of soccer journalism that most journalists are merely reporting factual coverage -- what's happening with whom and where. Not too much editorializing, which is where you get the good fights. But I agree in principle. Other problem is that, like this guy, there are few soccer fans that are a good mix of foreign and domestic fanatacism. Rather, they tend to be English or Italian or Mexican or US soccer fans. How do you really grill Graham Jones about MLS, which he almost obviously disregards? Btw, put me in the Bretos "love" camp. You either love him or hate him.
I think there are enough journalist. Guys like Bobby McMahon and the crew at Soccer America come to mind. Not to mention we are getting alot of retiring national teamers who are looking for analysis work like Balboa, Wynalda, et al. I'm a Bretos fan as well. He at least provides some enthusiasm and excitement to the broadcasts unlike some of the guys ESPN has had in the past. He also sees the calls clearly and makes sound interpretations of judgement decisions concering cards and handballs given out, unlike ESPN's Tommy Smith who couldn't see a proper offsides call if you replayed it back for him a 1000 times.
We have enough soccer coverage on TV, what we don't have is enough editorializing (as SCBozeman implies). And that's the big problem. I guess a good example that illustrates my point is, look at the difference b/w the show "Ole" from GolTV compared to "Revista de La Liga" from Sky Sports . Both programs are basically a summary of La Liga over the past week. But the difference is astounding. "Ole" will put even the most keen La liga fans to sleep while "Revista de La Liga" is very informative and top-notch quality.
This is actually a fantastic idea. Imagine having a roundtable host with 3-4 of the "usual suspects," guys like Ridge Mahoney, Grant Wahl, Frank Dell'Apa the guy from the Washington Post whose name escapes me, and even people like Jaime Trecker, who if nothing else would have to defend his "controversial" point of view. Hell, I bet a lot of BigSoccer regulars would watch only to see Trecker get beaten up! There are several segments they could break the show up into--MLS, US National Team, World Cup and other Intl. tournaments (Copa America, Euro XX, etc.) Foreign leagues (Roundups on Italy, England, Spain, etc. with perhaps a spotlight on a given "other" country every week), and Club championships like Champions League, Libertadores, UEFA Cup, etc. I would love to see something like this. Tom
Watch American Soccer on Gol TV. They have an hour show that covers MLS, USL, college when in season and the world game and USNT's when and wherever there playing
i'm beginning to think that what we really need is a US Soccer or MLS run channel. sort of like the nfl network. this way there would always be a place to air us soccer games (we wouldn't miss games like the upcoming friendly because espn wants to air women's college basketball)... the revenue from such a channel would be pretty extensive as well. i know many fans that already pay for the mls shootout package... we need to go the way of the nfl network and set up a network that targets our fanbase. we are a small percentage of the american sports public, but if someone does the right marketing, i think someone could make a killing and drum up greater support amongst american soccer fans...
For real. Can you imagine how entertaining a show could be if you pulled random people from here and just let them argue for an hour?
I would watch it. There is a goo d model for something similar to this on satanta usa(channel 615 on directv) call chelseatv and manu tv. quality interviews and insights. i think we are ready for this in the us. if fox football friday can make it, then there is plenty of room for others.
I think FSC should have more shows on German, Spanish, Italian and leagues other than England. Not saying to cut down on the EPL coverage (which is immense) but give us more of the other leagues. Yeah the highlights shows are good but a little more would be cool. And less paid *%$#@!^ programming.
The key is not to have more shows but different shows. Currently FSC has highlights shows from a ton of leagues, but these are basically 30 minutes adds for these leagues. Highlights and a couple of soft features showing players driving in their expensive cars and talking about how they love their club and want to bring trophies to it. What he was asking for is more commentaries and less of the facts. Round table shows that have american and forieghn experts discussing the issues of the day in the leagues. But these shows would be designed for american audiences. Imagine the topics this week, the National team camp and the friendlies, MLS super draft, the ongoing soap opera of MLS expansion/relocation. As well as discusions about Svens recent comments and a fascinating talk about the difference in sports journalism in the US versus britain. (Would "USA today" ever have one of their reporters fake to be a middle eastern sheik to get a high profile coach fired) Sounds interesting I know I'd watch.
*cough*FootballAsia*cough*MilanWeekly*cough* I really don't care who or how they do it, but find someone who has a good soccer mind and is articulate and give them the floor. Screw production value. We need content, including good editorial content...