Yes, we have dedicated a little bit of webspace here to ESPN jumping in feet first to both the EPL and La Liga this season. So far, we have been cautiously optimistic about what we have seen. Sure there have been flubs, but they get those early in the season of every sport they cover (see last night’s Boise State-Oregon game where the halftime stats had TEAM LOGO where the, uh, team logos should have been). What it comes down to, I guess, is that we don’t expect the world from ESPN, but we do expect some basic support.
looking…looking…looking…
Which is what made last night’s schedule search on ESPN.com a little frustrating. While one can highlight any number of individual sports on the page–like Fitness, Martial Arts or (heh heh) Water Sports–one cannot do the same for soccer.
So, come on WWL, get with the program. Kindly take out one of the categories in the picture above for a sport that you have not shown in years (Cycling comes to mind) and place soccer in there as a searchable sport. And no, MLS doesn’t count. While you are at it, quit showing Burnley games. Three out of your first five EPL games is a bit of overkill for the club.
Agreed. They’re clearly still playing catch-up to the last-minute deal that was made for all these TV rights. Still, you’d think they’d be on this stuff by now…
On the Burnley games, that’s not really ESPN’s fault, is it? They just bought the package to the early Saturday game, and the EPL has scheduled Burnley there.
While we’re at it, could someone explain the importance of the TV time slots? I get in the NFL that the late Sunday afternoon and Sunday night games are generally the most popular (hence, the Dallas Cowboys, NYG, etc. getting those games a lot).
Does anyone know how it works in the EPL?
sunday afternoon game and the saturday night game (11 AM and noon est) are usually the prime ones. Although a lot of the good derbies kick much earlier so as not to let everyone stand around and drink all day.
Ian’s spot-on. You’ll almost always see Man U/LFC and Man U/Arsenal playing at 7.30am to avoid the opportunity for fans to stand and drink and pubs for hours before the game.
And yes, those Sunday PM games and Saturday late games are going to give you the good stuff. Sometimes, they’ll save a barn-burner for a Monday night, though they seem to be phasing those out as so many of the top teams now have CL obligations on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Interesting about scheduling to avoid people sitting around drinking all day. We sure don’t worry about that in the US.
I went to my first European league game in May (BMG-Leverkusen) and was absolutely stunned they didn’t sell beer in the stadium. Of course, everyone was already plastered as they got on the tram to the stadium.
The f**k’s a Burnley?
/Refuses to acknowledge Carling Cup defeat
Well, on weekends such as the upcoming one, assuming ESPN has the same deal Setanta used to, when there is not a 12.30 (:45? I forget)Saturday game, ESPN has first choice of the 3 o’clock games. Next week that’s . . . Liverpool-Burnley.
is “entertainment” a sport?
I think the choices for September were made by Setanta, I don’t think ESPN actually get to pick a 3 o clock game for a little while yet.
No wonder Setanta went up the s**tter! They picked Burnley games to televise every week!
I noticed that as well a couple weeks ago. Seriously espn, wtf?