SEATTLE, May 6 (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT,Trade) said on Thursday that it will begin offering sports news and content from Fox Sports on its MSN Internet portal this summer, replacing its longtime sports news partner ESPN. The world's largest software maker, whose MSN portal draws in 350 million visitors a month, will be able to offer more customized news and information, along with video clips by tying up with Fox Sports, part of News Corp. Ltd.'s ((NCP.AX))(NWS,Trade) Fox Entertainment Group Inc. (FOX,Trade) unit. ESPN, the Walt Disney Co. (DIS,Trade)-owned cable sports network, will continue to be featured on MSN's home page until MSN's news service with Fox Sports launches on July 1. All MSN users will be able to access content such as the 2004 MLB All Star Game, 2004 NFL season and 2005 Super Bowl and also user to personalize content, said Yusuf Mehdi, vice president in charge of information services at MSN. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
That article had nothing about Fox Sports World. How would it take a bite out of ESPN's programming? Last time I checked, Fox Sports shows loads and loads of Major League Baseball, College Football, NHL, Best Damn Sports Show, etc, and a lot less soccer than ESPN.
Out in Illinois, ESPN is a part of basic cable, and FOx Sports World costs an extra 5$ per month to order. FSW does show lots and lots of soccer, thoughwhen it is not it shows really lame infomercials!
FSW doesn't have the Champion's League package, so that pretty much does it for them as supplanting ESPN. Hell, GolTV is what's on the rise with the Serie A and La Liga packages in addition to there UEFA Cup packages (FSW also shows UEFA Cup). Unlike an inifinite amount of EPL replays, you're getting 3 to 6 La Liga matches each week-end as well as 3 to 4 Serie A matches and we're talking the bigs boys week-end and weekout, i.e. Real, Barca, AC, Inter, Juve, Roma. Not to mention the footy related shows they show such as Real Madrid TV (I'm not Real fan but this impressive), Euro 2004 specials, etc.. However, the best part is that GolTV shows a select number of Friendlies -- Germany earlier this year and on May 22 the FIFA Centennial match from Paris -- France-Bresil. A+, Fonsos
All this is about is Microsoft Network supplying hosting for Fox Sports . com rather than the network of site including ESPN, EXPN, the NBA, NHL, the WNBA, etc. Another hosting company will jump in, I'm sure. FSW doesn't have enough "other" programming to keep people's interest. Not a single motor race (just the highlights shows), no whole cricket matches for the overnight hours, no European basketball (which they used to have), no hockey (ice OR field), or any of the "Olympic" sports. Heck, they can't even replay the US-Mexico match. Perhaps they should ditch all pretenses: FoxSportsSoccer -- all footy, all the time.
FoxSportsWorld is a great channel. It has loads of games, although most are not live, and great highlight shows. I am not sure what else you are looking for, but they do a great job. ESPN has the Champions League and this is it. And for those of us who work, we do not get to see it and they never replay it anyways. I agree with an earlier post about GolTV. It is great. The combination of FSW and GolTV makes for a very lazy and enjoyable weekend of soccer at home.
I agree I watch all Soccer on FOX Sports world, ESPN treats Soccer like a 2nd class sport. I hear ESPN is totally different in Europe and they are very Pro Soccer there.
For those of you who complain ESPN doesn't show replays of CL matches, you can tape them and watch them later. I know, I've done it. ESPN is pro-soccer in other places because the population at-large is. Unlike the United States. ESPN does show at least one soccer match a week (at least until college football starts), and sometimes two or more if the U.S. men or women are playing (like this weekend) and/or there is a CL game.
ESPN 2 weeks ago continue to run a Womens tennis match as the MLS kicked off and didn't even move the Soccer game to one of their A channels for Soccer fans to watch the game. That would NEVER happen with the NFL or MLB. Soccer is 2nd class on ESPN. maybe 3rd class behind Womens Tennis.
I should be nice to newbies I suppose. Maybe I missed the sarcasm tag, but it is well known that ESPN practice is to show live events until their conclusion, even it runs over another live event. If ESPN had say a baseball game scheduled for 6:00 that day, and the MLS game ran long (say due to a thunderstorm), would you complain if they showed the MLS game to its conclusion? Even though baseball gets 1000x higher ratings than soccer (yes, it's an exaggeration).
For those on here who are still don't realize how this is non-news from a soccer fan perspective, visit this site: www.foxsports.com That's right, there is a difference between Fox Sports and Fox Sports World.
You may want to check your sources since it is a well know fact ESPN puts live events on their "A" channels when other events run over their times. Except the MLS. You've missed the point, I didn't say not to continue with the Live Tennis, just put the Live scheduled MLS games on the "A" channel like they do with Baseball and other sports.
Ergo, MLS is not an "A" event. The world according to ESPN: A events = we pay money to televise B events = we get paid money to televise C events = we have to fulfill a contractual obligation (i.e. Champions League). Sachin
That's easy just turn on ESPN on Monday Memorial Day May 31st, watch as games are scheduled to start and if the other games are still playing they will start the games on their "A" channel. Two weeks ago when the live Womens tennis match ran long the MLS game starting to play and ESPN did not broadcast almost the whole first half while their "A" channel sat dark. Same will happen for Baseball on July 4th also or any other time games are scheduled Back to back.