Fox Soccer Expands Broadband Subscription Offerings Enhanced Foxsoccer.tv Will Stream 700 Live Futbol, Rugby Matches During 2010-11 Campaign Mike Reynolds -- Multichannel News, 8/24/2010 9:21:59 AM Fox Soccer has upped the online ante with a significantly expanded broadband futbol package. Foxsoccer.tv, the online video flanker to Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus, has launched its redesigned premium broadband video service and is offering 700 live soccer and rugby matches during the 2010-11 season. This represents an increase of over 450 more live events than were streamed via Foxsoccer.tv in 2009-10. The fare, which also encompasses on-demand viewing, is available through two packages: $159.99 per year, or $14.99 per month. Fans can check out the service via a free trial through Friday, Aug. 27. The site features action from prestigious soccer competitions, including England's Barclays Premier League, the UEFA Champions League and Italy's Serie A, as well as such top-flight rugby as the Tri-Nation series, South Africa's Currie Cup and England's Aviva Premiership. This season Fox has partnered with Perform, which currently fules over 230 Web and mobile properties and streams over 15,000 live events annually. Users will find numerous enhancements throughout the 2010-11 season. Foxsoccer.tv features HD quality video, Flash smoothstream player, a pop-out media player, full DVR capabilities as well as upcoming picture-in-picture viewing of simultaneous games and Facebook and Twitter integration. Offerings across iPhone and iPad, to be released in the coming months, will live streaming via a premium subscription service, as well as services free to users including league tables and statistics, in-game highlights, and editorial coverage from Foxsoccer.com. "Foxsoccer.tv was redesigned to provide the ultimate online soccer and rugby viewing experience in the U.S.," said Bhavesh Patel, vice president of interactive media for Fox Sports International, in a statement. "The breadth of content, unparalleled features available at one's fingertips and incredible value to users makes Foxsoccer.tv a one-stop online shop for the best international sporting events." A total of 39 live and on-demand matches are available to Foxsoccer.tv subscribers this week, 17 of those during the current free trial period. Midweek action is highlighted by 10 UEFA Champions League playoff round matches, including Sampdoria vs. Werder Bremen live on Aug. 24 live at 2:45 p.m.( ET), as well as England's Carling Cup and rugby from New Zealand's ITM Cup. This weekend, the Barclays Premier League takes center stage with live coverage of Chelsea vs. Stoke City on Saturday at 9:55 a.m. plus eight other matches, while Italy's Serie A kicks off Saturday at noon with Udinese vs. Genoa. A complete list of available matches can be seen at Foxsoccer.tv.
Or where the "significantly expanded" part comes in. More Champions League and rugby? They eliminated the Saturday 10am Championship match that they gave us last season (not complaining, just observing). I like the service and picture quality (and potential iPhone features) - but the archive and amount of offerings is not as comprehensive as Setanta Broadband was. When you could watch the network streamed live, all matches in full archived, highlight programs and even Setanta Sports News network.