Al Jazeera is going to force Fox to really over bid on the EPL to keep the rights. GolTV will probably be out of business by the end of the year.
beIN SPORT Acquires US Rights to League Cup and Football League Championship By The Gaffer on August 1, 2012 (about 4 hours ago) 26comments Up until this week, the forthcoming launch of the new soccer channel beIN SPORT had little relevance to die-hard followers of English football in the United States. All that has changed this week with the news that beIN SPORT has acquired the TV and Internet rights to England’s League Cup tournament as well as Football League Championship. Beginning with the 2012-13 season, beIN SPORT 1 will broadcast matches from England’s League Cup tournament, now known as the Capital One Cup after the new sponsor replaced Carling. Plus, beIN SPORT 1 will show matches from the nPower Championship, the second division in English football and one of the most competitive and entertaining leagues in Europe. FOX Soccer previously held the rights to both the League Cup and Championship, but beIN SPORT beat the incumbent to the punch. beIN SPORT is scheduled to launch in the United States on August 15. Based in Miami, the new soccer network will have two channels — beIN SPORT 1 (for English-language broadcasts) and beIN SPORT 2 (for Spanish-language broadcasts). The challenge, however, will be for the network to sign deals with TV providers between now and the launch date to ensure that soccer fans can watch the TV network in the United States. Executive Antonio Briceno, an executive at Imagina US — the company that’s handling distribution for beIN SPORT, was asked this week when the beIN SPORT would be available via TV providers in the United States. ”Nothing is absolute until it is put to paper, but we continue to negotiate. We’re 99% sure there will be at least one distributor at launch, and two continues to be the goal. And we expect more over time.” Historically, sports networks in the United States have often sublicensed rights to different leagues, even to competitors. However, in the Multichannel News article, Briceno said the “marching orders” remained the same relative to beIn Sport’s plans “not to sublicense any of the rights to the three major league properties.” He said there might be some flexibility with the additional rights that have been acquired. While beIN SPORT has been busy negotiating with TV distributors, the soccer network recently hired two familiar soccer aficionados — commentators Phil Schoen and Ray Hudson. In addition to coverage of the League Cup and Championship, beIN SPORT has acquired the US rights to several major soccer leagues including La Liga, Serie A, Ligue Un, Copa del Rey, Copa Italia, Supercoppa Italia, Copa America, South American World Cup qualifiers, Spain’s second division, Barca TV and Real Madrid TV. In the article that was published by Multichannel News this week, the publication stated that “Although beIN Sports’ game plan still calls to stream channels to authenticated subscribers, the services will not be available at launch.” For fans of the Championship, the new season kicks off on Friday, August 17. Round 1 of the Capital One Cup, meanwhile, begins on August 11. However, Premier League clubs don’t participate until Round 2 of the cup competition (the draw for which is scheduled on August 15). The second round matches are typically played in late August. Speaking of the Premier League, beIN SPORT is expected to participate in the bidding for the US rights to the Premier League for the 2013-2016 seasons when bidding is finalized this autumn. With time running out before the upcoming new season begins, now is the time for soccer fans — like you — to demand that your TV distributor adds beIN SPORT to your channel guide. The only way to move the needle and get beIN SPORT added sooner is by encouraging your TV provider by phone or Twitter to add the network. Here are the contact details for the different TV providers, listed on the beIN SPORT USA website.
So this channel isn't going to be launched until Aug. 15th even though Ligue 1 starts on the 10th. Fucking Arabs ruining everything. If they don't get a deal done with directv I'm gonna be so pissed.
beIN SPORT Moving Closer to Launch on DirecTV and DISH, Says Report By The Gaffer on August 8, 2012 (about 18 hours ago) 19comments UPDATED: beIN SPORT 1, the new English-language soccer network in the United States, is moving closer to a launch on both DirecTV and DISH Network, according to multiple reports. The DBSTalk.com user community has discovered that DirecTV has added beIN SPORT 1 in HD as a test channel that currently isn’t viewable to subscribers. The practice of adding a test channel typically is done one week before launch to ensure that the channel is operating correctly. One week from today just so happens to be the day that beIN SPORT officially launches. Although it cannot be confirmed as of press time, it’s possible that beIN SPORT may launch on DirecTV on Wednesday, August 15. According to DirecTV, the satellite TV provider typically doesn’t comment on programming deals that may or may not be in the works. Similarly, EPL Talk contacted beIN SPORT who said they can’t comment at this time. Meanwhile, a test channel for beIN SPORT 1 has also been added to DISH Network, according to the Satellite Guys website, hinting at a potential launch for the network on that satellite provider as early as next week. While the anticipation is launching for the formal announcement of beIN SPORT being available to TV viewers, the new soccer network is currently broadcasting a free live Internet stream on its website. That free stream may end when a distributor (i.e. DirecTV or other providers) adds the new soccer network. beIN SPORT does plan on adding Internet streaming options to its website, but the decision hasn’t been announced when those will be available and whether they’ll be available as an a la carte option. In the meantime, the most important action for soccer fans in the United States to take is to contact your local TV provider to demand that beIN SPORT is added. The new network will launch beIN SPORT 1 (for English-language broadcasts) and beIN SPORT 2 (for Spanish-language broadcasts), but in order to help see them, you’ll need to let your TV provider know that you want beIN SPORT. beIN SPORT currently has the exclusive US media rights to La Liga, nPower Championship, League Cup, Serie A, Ligue Un, Copa del Rey and several other leagues/tournaments. Meanwhile, beIN SPORT has announced they they will be showing the friendlies between Valencia and Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow and, this Sunday, Cologne versus Arsenal, live on beIN SPORT’s streaming service. Check the Premier League TV and Internet schedule for full details. According to an executive at beIN SPORT, the new soccer network is actively working with distributors to bring the channel to soccer fans nationwide. A key element of how quickly the channel can be added, though, relies on you, to demand that the channel is added and to spread the word to your friends, family and soccer community.
Here's a good thread to follow on Big Soccer (minus some of the typical BS hyperbole and arguing) regarding BeIn http://www.bigsoccer.com/community/threads/bein-sports-cont.1971677/
beINSport1 @beINSport1USA beINSport launches on @DIRECTV! Thanks to YOUR support we’ve scored our 1st goal. Channel goes live 8/15 at 7.30pm EST
Such fucking bullshit that it's only on DirecTV. I have no option, but Comcast at this point. And there's no telling when they will get the channel. I'm expecting several months.
My directv guide says GolTV is moving from channel 620 to 627. I'm guessing that is where beINSport lands, sandwiched between FSC (619) and FSC+ (621).
Fuck this channel for not being on Comcast. I don't watch much of these leagues, but I do like to occasionally watch some good matchups and I want to get my fix for when the season starts.
Usually DirecTV and Dish pick these channels up before anybody else. The cable companies are always late to the party, so you're probably fucked, at least for a little while.
Thank you sweet baby jesus... I pay for FSC+ but another pure soccer channel would have been a tough sell.
So, GolTV did indeed get pimped by BeINSport (now Ch. 620). GolTV is now 627, where it will probably remain until it goes bankrupt (my prediction).
EPL Talk @epltalk beIN SPORT Launches On DISH Network: Free Preview Available http://bit.ly/PrVd6Z #epl
I mean, I'll bitch about it, but I'll still pay for it anyway. I'll avoid watching streams unless I absolutely have to. I watch 95% of the Arsenal matches live at a pub anyway.
I use my slingbox while not at home so i can watch games anywhere (including on 3g on my iphone). Plus finding streams are a pain in the ass.
How much do those things cost? I'm not being lazy....their site is blocked at work for me. Edit: N/M on the price (I found them on Amazon), but they had a lot of shitty reviews on Amazon. People were saying they failed right around the time the warranty expired and even when they failed within the warranty, Slingbox dicked them around and wouldn't replace the failed product. Curious about your experience with it and how long you've had yours....?
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=slingbox+solo&_sacat=0 http://www.slingbox.com/
Steven Goff @SoccerInsider It's official: BeIn Sport will provide not only #usmnt at Jamaica World Cup qualifier Sept. 7, but ALL USA away matches in this WCQ cycle
So far I am a fan of beIN. As long as they show Roma games and dontmake me watch too many games on my computer then I will have no complaints. The Messi commercial is pretty badass.
Welp, saw that BeIn is now the channel above FSC. Tuned in to find Ray Hudson calling a RM match, got the fuck out of there. I am actually fairly excited to have a Spain, France, Italy dedicated channel instead of the EPL with occasional Serie A on FSC.
Really hope CONCACAF changes the stupid rule about only the home team in WCQ can broker the tv rights. Smart move by BeIn to increase demand, although the US/Mexico WCQ @ Azteca is not part of this deal, that will probably be on ESPN or NBCSN.