Fox Soccer Plus arrives in eleven days, and we find ourselves no closer to answers as to whether we’ll actually be able to see the channel. DirecTV’s official “answer” is “DIRECTV is in discussions to come to an agreement to offer most of the same programming on Fox Soccer Plus that you received with Setanta Sports. We will continue to update this question as more information becomes available.” Translation? Shut up, we don’t know yet. Noted.
At least there is that non-answer answer on DTV’s website. Dish Network, who so helpfully added the HD option for Fox Soccer Channel on 12 February, has NO information on their website whatsoever regarding Fox Soccer Plus. The same can be said for the largest cable carrier in America, Comcast, which has no information on their dot net website regarding the channel. FIOS is just as murky, but do provide forums for their subscribers to make their feelings known. As always, check your provider’s website for any and all information. If you want my best guess on this, I would say that we should really prepare to not be pleased come the morning of March 1, 2010.
Our favourite ex-FSC announcer has moved to ESPN and has been working a fair bit on the ESPN News channel. I haven’t noticed him much anywhere but there, so if anyone sees him on a non-News ESPN channel, let’s hear about it. It really appears that ESPN is gathering forces for an all-out blitz on World Cup coverage (and one could surmise that this event, having been called their “Olympics” by honchos at the channel, will be probably over-exposed a bit), but it remains to be seen if Mr. Bretos will be part of it. It’s been no secret that the channel is interested in bidding on the actual Olympics, so a dress rehersal in South Africa may be just the ticket to see if they are truly ready to broadcast from different sites at all hours of the day.
Today is the largest game day of the Round of 32 in the Europa League and Mags has already covered in full detail the situation with the viewing of this particular tournament. I’m excited because there are some really quality matchups in this round including a very tasty Ajax-Juventus tie.
ESPN probably has their match of the season thus far on Saturday morning, as the early game (in stunning HD, of course) is Everton hosting Manchester United at Goodison. United is of course just one point off the lead and hot on Chelsea’s heels, while Everton has overcome a rocky start to vault to 9th place in the table, and can at least think about a European spot if their form holds.
If anyone gets any television related tips, make sure to send them to our email address, avoidingthedrop at the gmails. Enjoy the Europa League matches if you have DirecTV today, and if not, good luck in finding the alternate ways of viewing said matches.
