from soccerTV.com "Anschutz has purchased time on ABC to air the FINAL, to be played on Saturday October 11, 2003 at 4:30am Eastern/1:30am Pacific (4:30pm in Shanghai). Note that ABC affiliates have the option to pre-empt the live telecast for other programming, including paid programming (infomercials), if the final does NOT involve the US Women's National Team." For some reason i think this is midly exaggerated, like no time for a re air...but honestly...would someone pre empt live soccer for an infomercial :insert laugh track here: wouldnt suprise me if any re airs during the actual day hinged on the US however...that id definatly believe.
so if theres no us...theres no abc airing the final????? thats a little messed up....but i think we can take it for granted that we will c the us there.
Why are you spouting crap from Ollie's site? I've never trusted anything from him or his site until a real news source has verified it. And I suggest y'all do the same.
ABC affiliates have elected to preempt soccer events many, MANY times - World Cup finals and all. I think the affiliates could preempt the final even if the US is in it. I remember ABC in Sioux City had an infomercial on instead of the US-Denmark WWC 99 opener when I was living there. This is why ESPN is better = no preempting options for local markets.