We've been on four different networks now, and Comcast is still my favorite. But I did like Telefutura's broadcast above the other two.
I voted for ESPN only because I love watching MLS matches in HD. I like the comfortable feeling I get watching CSN, and I love the commentators on Telefutura the best. I guess my favorite network is whichever one is showing the DC United match.
CSN in Hi-def, with Dave Johnson, on DVR (after attending the match), is the bestest broadcast ever. The only downside is Rongen, who has a voice and style better for napping than analyzing.
I've caught 3 of the 5, but the ESPN2 broadcast was very irritating for two reasons: 1. Eric Wynalda... I'm sorry, big guy. I don't care how long you played or how many goals you score, you're not winning an on-air argument with Tommy Smythe. 2. Everytime they mentioned Heaps name, it was followed by "He played basketball at Duke" They even showed a horrid highlight of him missing a free throw. That's great and all, but please ESPN, do a soccer broadcast, stick to soccer.
I missed the Telefutura broadcast, but the CSN broadcast was pretty good. ESPN's wasn't bad either except for the constant closeups. One thing they are all doing is cutting away to the sideline reporter. Sometimes they make the sideline view the "large" window, and the game in the "small" window. What kind of sense is that? I'd rather they not even show the game in the small window as you can't see anything anyway and I get frustrated just "trying". I would much prefer they put a small "inset" window (like picture-in-picture) in the corner.
What, I don't get to vote for Tony Limarzi on the radio? I voted ESPN, since it's the only one I've been able to watch over here so far this season. Lots of room for improvement, but I love the fact they're obviously trying hard to promote the games and cover them better.
I don't recall watching the CSN broadcast this season. But much like a good referee, if I don't remember anything bad, if must have been good. In spite of "Tony Perkins," "Ca-Casal" and "Aka-Pene," the cutaways and replays went much smoother and did not interrupt the flow of the game on the Telefutura broadcast. Also, slightly off topic... both my parents are from Paraguay where they speak Spanish and Guarani. The Telefutura broadcasters kept mispronouncing Kpene's last name "Aka-Pene." "Aka" in Guarani means "head" - the noun version. "Pene" in Spanish "penis." Anyway, short story long, I now have a new nickname for Kpene. Why does toilet humor still make me laugh?
I had to reluctantly give my overall vote to ESPN. Best overall production, best announcing team, and generally best captured the experience of being at the stadium. Many shortcomings however, I wont' bother to list. CSN is good, helped by the occasional pre and post game shows. Announcing team is okay. LOVED it in HD. If they had a different set of people in the booth they would have probably won out. FSC is great only for the pre and post games. Production is okay but the announcing a LOT to be desired. NO high-def. Didn't get to see DCU on Telefutura, but I've seen other games and they do a fine job. - no rating.
I like Dave Johnson the best, he's knowledgable, smooth in delivery and has the best goal call from anyone north of the 2-0 line.
I assume the question is which channel has done the best with a DCU game and not which channel has done the best with a MLS game, right? Unfortunately, Spanish language channels are not available at my primary residence.
Since I usually watch the matches at a sport's bar, where audio isn't always a guarantee, I prefer CSN. Yesterday I went to my usual bar in Asheville to watch the match (the Biergarden) and of all 3 stations that carried the match (CSN, Tele, FSW) they had 0 of them. :-( SO I headed down the block to Wild Wings and was extremely well taken care of. They put the match on a TV right in front for me (CSN) and even turned it up a bit. The bartender happened to be a former-Marine as well, and hooked me up with 2 rounds of the Sierra Nevada Summerfest I was drinking. It'll be a tough decision between the two places now when it's time to go catch a match on tv.
You forgot the game on HD Net. I liked that one the most. I do not know who called it. I would have voted for them.
I don't even remember who was playing(NJ?) or the announcing crew, but it was a good presentation and of course it was HD. I haven't watched an entire game this season on HDNet, but most of the cameras have looked good and they don't leave the action. Some of the best announcers are like good refs to me, you don't notice them. I suppose they did a good job since I don't have anything to complain about.
Well, I was going to say 1. CSN Dave Johnson is da man! 2. ESPN but I too forgot about HDNet. Not sure where I would put them in there but they all would definitely be in the top 3. Which game did they broadcast for us?