Reading FC on U.S. TV: check here for updates

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 21 Aug 2006 21:06

**UPDATED Tuesday 31 January 2012 @ 2:15 PM Eastern U.S.**

Confirming what I had surmised --correctly, as it turned out-- and already proceeded to update...

Burnley at home has been moved up a day to Friday 17 February, with KO set for 8:00 PM GMT/3:00 PM U.S. EST (and please note that it's 3:00 Eastern and not an hour earlier as I mistakenly put it at the first attempt; Eastern U.S. time is 5 hours behind)

Fox Soccer Plus --a premium subscription channel available on various and sundry cable and satellite platforms (e.g., DirecTV channel 621)-- will screen the match live and will show it again same-day from 9:00 PM Eastern

Additional repeat screenings may end up on the FS+ schedule, and I'll post an update herein as the day of the match approaches

In the meanwhile, those with a serious interest in the general subject are invited to read on for the skinny on RFC and major European football competition as we screen it over this side --I've done some digging and have provided as comprehensive an overview as I could manage...

General notes regarding U.S. TV arrangements for 2011/12:
Setanta US, which had held exclusive U.S. rights to Football League match telecasts before going belly-up, had its programming and contractual broadcasting affairs absorbed by Fox under the brand Fox Soccer Plus, which has taken on Setanta's past role of screening the Friday evening and Saturday tea time matches from the League Championship and other, more occasional fare from farther down the league

It should be borne in mind that FS+ a premium subscription channel (available on various and sundry cable and satellite platforms, and in particular on DirecTV channel 621) and costs $15 per month above and beyond other cable or satellite subscription fees; most sports bars have it as part of their menu of channels (but may not be open for business at kickoff time), and any establishment presuming to call itself a football pub does subscribe and is open for business at the appointed hour (but always --always-- phone first)

It also should be noted that the Fox Soccer properties have multiple contractual commitments (Premier League and UEFA Champions League above all, plus FA Cup, Serie A and MLS), and the Football League is near the bottom of the pecking order; for this reason, if there's any kind of schedule conflict --hypothetically speaking, not one but two Prem matches at tea-time, or a Prem match and another in Serie A-- then the Championship match would get bumped to a delayed first-time screening

Now, then --available for the Web-bound is the former FoxSoccer.tv streaming platform rebranded as FoxSoccer2Go.com --at a subscription rate of $20 per month (or $170 for a year's subscription; see page for terms and conditions)-- which streams the Saturday tea time matches live and archives them afterwards (and I assume that this is limited to North American IPs)

As for other action, both Fox Soccer Channel and FS+ will continue to screen live and delayed Prem and Serie A fare on matchdays and throughout the week, and FSC outbid ESPN for Champions League when the deal last came up for bidding, so that's where one will want to head on European matchdays for the next few seasons at least

With respect to Champions League, Fox screens group stage matches live across several of its U.S. channels, including of course FSC, FS+, the cable channel FX and regional Fox Sports Net affiliates (and DirecTV subscribers will have their choice of most if not all of them --check Channel 480 for the menu, and early kickoffs from Russia/Ukraine are shown live on one of the channels set aside for UEFA programming); they also fill hours upon hours of airtime with delayed and repeat screenings on the day and throughout the remainder of the week, so do check a guide for precise listings (and of course things become much less hectic with the arrival of the knockout stage)

Note also that the Champions League final has been moved to Saturday afternoon U.S. time, and it will screen live on free-to-air local Fox network affiliates for the foreseeable future --we're talking the same channel that shows The Simpsons, 24, American Idol, the NFL on Sundays in the fall and winter and baseball in the summer-- so to miss the Champions League final if you're an overseas visitor in the States on the day is an utter impossibility anymore; it'll be on the box in your hotel room

FSC, in addition to a regular daily hour's worth of Sky Sports News at both 2:00 AM and noon Eastern time and a nightly Fox Soccer Report out of Canada at 10:00 PM Eastern, also shows live World Cup and Euro qualifying fare, England friendlies and some full internationals, FA Cup matches and England international matches at the junior levels (and we got the Championship promotion play-off final live in 2011); for some of England's senior international matches, it's a matter of pay-per-view/pay-at-the-pub until the matches screen for free on FSC on a few days' delay

Absolutely indispensable to the U.S.-based enthusiast is ESPN with their ESPN3 streaming platform, with Primera Division, Serie A and 1.Bundesliga galore, plus a smattering of Dutch Eredivisie and Portuguese Primeira Liga on there --the football junky's paradise, well and truly (direct link here)

They archive whatever they stream live (with the exceptions, it seems, of matches that involve any of United, Liverpool and Chelsea --no doubt contractual issues with the respective clubs' in-house media properties; be there come the appointed hour for those), so those who can't be there as it happens may seek to remain ignorant of a given result and stream the match from archive at their leisure. I believe that registration is no longer required to access the stream, but access does seem to be restricted to North American IPs

ESPN Deportes is a cable/satellite property that shows plenty of games from Spain that also stream on ESPN3

Also, GolTV continues to bring a steady diet of live and delayed Primera Division and 1.Bundesliga fare to screens across North America, plus featured Europa League matches thru the end of 2011/12 (after which Fox Soccer will take the wheel)

As with the Champions League, DirecTV channel 480 has a menu of up to eight live Europa League matches on matchdays from which subscribers may select, or they can watch all that are on offer simultaneously and channel-surf amongst them

Here are useful links for the football fan, whether the overseas visitor or the homeslice:

LiveSoccerTV.com listings and channel information
Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus quick-view schedules (use tab at upper right to select channel)
FSC and FS+ printable schedules in .pdf format
ESPN networks schedule (U.S. channels are ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNDeportes; others are ESPN's international platforms)
ESPN3 live and archived streaming platform w/guide
GolTV (mostly Primera Division, Bundesliga, Europa League)

Finally, and for the record:

RFC U.S. match exposure scorecard for 2007/8 Premier League season (first-time screenings by category; League matches only)
Fox Soccer Channel/LIVE: 10 of 38*
Fox Soccer Channel/Same-day delay: 9 of 38
Setanta Sports Channel-Setanta Xtra/LIVE: 11 of 38**
Setanta Sports Channel/Same-day delay: 3 of 38
No U.S. TV: 5 of 38

RFC U.S. match exposure scorecard for 2006/7 Premier League season (first-time screenings by category; League matches only)
Fox Soccer Channel/LIVE: 13 of 38*
Fox Soccer Channel/Same-day delay: 7 of 38
Setanta Sports Channel-Setanta Xtra/LIVE: 9 of 38**
Setanta Sports Channel/Same-day delay: 2 of 38
No U.S. TV: 7 of 38

*Among these were all 5:15 Saturday, 4:00 Sunday and stand-alone Monday matches --thanks be to Sky for moving the fixtures to odd times, which left U.S. platforms with no real choice in the matter, as they show whatever game happens to be played at those times

**Among these were all stand-alone 12:45 Saturday and 1:45 Sunday matches, for reasons as stated above

Buzzard Royal · by **Buzzard Royal** » 21 Aug 2006 21:11

Excellent, thanks. My son lives in St Cloud, Florida, and was getting confused by FSC's website, which listed the Boro game as showing live, only to be switched for the Newcastle game? Bad choice FSC. I will let him have this info. Keep up the good work!

Sharpy · by **Sharpy** » 21 Aug 2006 21:12

Any american nobbers in new york, manhattan for 12th Nov, and Spurs game. Get your bums to McCormicks early in morning, i take it pubs will b open for 8.30am?

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 21 Aug 2006 21:19

Sharpy Any american nobbers in new york, manhattan for 12th Nov, and Spurs game. Get your bums to McCormicks early in morning, i take it pubs will b open for 8.30am?

Should be, Sharps --but don't be a dingaling: phone first!

Buzzard, it's a labor of love, believe me --and yes, FSC can be painfully inaccurate on first pressings (I think they should be showing England's qualifier with Andorra live and again on delay on Saturday the 2nd, but it's not on the new schedule posted this morning for that weekend --guh!). In any case, I'll be watching them very carefully and checking their work...

Arch · by **Arch** » 21 Aug 2006 23:09

Beep beep. Just swinging by to say howdy and get this into "view your posts" in case it disappears off page one.

Cheers, RC

Yank Soccer · by **Yank Soccer** » 22 Aug 2006 04:48

Chi Town,

Many Thanks... you are a life saver... I recorded RFC vs. Boro on my DVR and I have watched it about 10 times already.

What a year this is going to be!!!

YS

theroyals_eh · by **theroyals_eh** » 22 Aug 2006 06:41

Most strange after being in Toronto now for 4 years......Finally Reading FC on Canadian TV!

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 25 Aug 2006 03:25

Reminder: The Wigan game will air on same-day delay from 2:15 PM Eastern on Saturday and again overnite from 2:00 AM ET Sunday (that's better news for the West Coast, with an 11:00 PM start time Saturday nite), all on FSC.

EPL [sic] Review Show from 9:00 PM Sunday and again from 5:00 AM ET Monday on FSC.

As of now, the Wigan game is scheduled to re-air on Saturday week, 2nd September, from 2:00 PM Eastern; the opener with Boro is scheduled to re-air overnite the following day/nite from 2:00 AM ET Monday. However, it's my understanding that FSC airs all England friendlies and qualifiers live (as well as other Euro qualifiers both live and on delay), and there's a Euro qualifier with Andorra scheduled for noon Eastern on Saturday the 2nd --but, as of now, FSC isn't scheduled to air England's qualifier or any others.

"Slow on the uptake" would be par for the course with FSC; for the benefit of those interested, I'll monitor and update as necessary.

Repeating dates/times of future airings for those planning ahead:
ManCity (H), Monday 11th September: Airs LIVE on FSC from 3:00 PM Eastern and again from 8:00 PM Eastern
Sheff Utd (A), Saturday 16th September: TBA; should learn more on or about Monday 4th September
Man Utd (H), Saturday 23rd September: Airs LIVE on FSC from 12:15 PM Eastern
West Ham (A) Sunday 1st October: TBA; should learn more on or about Monday 18th September
Chelsea (H) Saturday 14th October: Airs LIVE on FSC from 12:15 PM Eastern
Arsenal (H) Sunday 22nd October: Airs LIVE on FSC from 11:00 AM Eastern
Portsmouth (A) Saturday 28th October: TBA; should learn more on or about Monday 16th October
Liverpool (A): Saturday 4th November: TBA; should learn more on or about Monday 23rd October
Tottenham (H) Sunday 12th November: Airs LIVE on Setanta Sports Channel from 8:30 AM Eastern; those who are not DirecTV subscribers will be off to the pub for a proper English breakfast

Dennis the Butler · by **Dennis the Butler** » 25 Aug 2006 06:05

Can any of the games be picked up via the net ?

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 25 Aug 2006 14:03

Dennis the Butler Can any of the games be picked up via the net ?

Not via the aforementioned portals, I'm afraid --FSC doesn't put full match video on its site, and, while Setanta does have a broadband "channel," it's a pay site. I don't know if they're contractually permitted to air Premier League matches in the first place, whether live or on delay, in part or in full, but setanta.com should provide a few answers in that regard.

I suspect in any case that your query would be more thoroughly addressed in this thread.

Royal Yank · by **Royal Yank** » 27 Aug 2006 13:42

Not sure if you noticed RCFC, but maybe our mini-email campaign to FSC may have worked - they didn't scroll any scores across the bottom of the screen yesterday.

I watched it as a 'live game' again - tough to go that few hours without checking any results for fear of accidentally catching the final score.

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 05 Sep 2006 16:13

No need for such gymnastics next time around, RY, for...
Man City (H) airs LIVE from 3:00 PM Eastern on Monday 11th September on FSC, which will show it again same-day from 8:00 PM Eastern and yet again from 2:00 AM Eastern Tuesday morning (11:00 PM Monday on the West Coast). A worldwide audience --doesn't get much better'n that-- but a word of caution to those who may be tuned in to a radio broadcast or hanging out in the chatroom during the telecast: FSC is usually a couple minutes behind reality, at least for the first half (doing all of the who's-who, what-you'll-be-watching preliminaries from very the top of the hour delays things a little bit on the TV end of things; they usually have things pretty well synched up in time for the second half kickoff).

The early word about Sheffield United (A) on Saturday 16th September is not nearly so good. FSC is still sorting its schedule for that weekend, but it does not appear that it will be airing either live or on delay on FSC; however, two same-day delayed telecasts are on Setanta's docket: from 4 PM Eastern and again from 11 PM Eastern on the 16th. For most of us, that means that we'd have to head downapub to see it at all, and only on delay at that.

I'll keep an eye on FSC's schedule for an update and report anything here, but as I say it doesn't look good; perhaps they'll air it the following week, but I won't know anything about that till next Monday earliest. In any event, EPL Review show for that weekend airs from 11:30 PM Eastern on Sunday the 17th on FSC. It gets better from there...

Reviewing: dates/times of future airings for those planning ahead:
Man Utd (H), Saturday 23rd September: Airs LIVE on FSC from 12:15 PM Eastern
West Ham (A) Sunday 1st October: TBA; should learn more on or about Monday 18th September
Chelsea (H) Saturday 14th October: Airs LIVE on FSC from 12:15 PM Eastern
Arsenal (H) Sunday 22nd October: Airs LIVE on FSC from 11:00 AM Eastern
Portsmouth (A) Saturday 28th October: TBA; should learn more on or about Monday 16th October
Liverpool (A): Saturday 4th November: TBA; should learn more on or about Monday 23rd October
Tottenham (H) Sunday 12th November: Airs LIVE on Setanta Sports Channel from 8:30 AM Eastern; those who are not DirecTV subscribers will be off to the pub for a proper English breakfast

Tilehurst Exile II · by **Tilehurst Exile II** » 05 Sep 2006 16:39

RoyalChicago, thanks for the info, I thought that I'd be missing the Spurs game, as I booked my holiday to Vegas before the fixture list came out. I'm sure that one of the major hotels will show it, especially as it will be on in the early hours of the morning.

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 05 Sep 2006 17:14

Tilehurst Exile II I'm sure that one of the major hotels will show it, especially as it will be on in the early hours of the morning.

Not sure about that, TE2 --Setanta is a premium cable channel available in the U.S. only to DirecTV subscribers --so the odds are that you won't be able just to flip on your teevee at 5:30 and have the kickoff sitting there waiting for you or that the sportsbook would be showing it.

Click here for a list of the Setanta-subscribed pubs in and around Vegas that I found thru Setanta North America's site. The Crown and Anchor looks like a good bet, as their (outdated) TV listings show them airing games from 4:30 AM --but they also tack on a $10 cover charge, which seems excessive to me as we don't get Prem games on a pay-per-view basis here anymore, and they're just being weasels.

In any case, maybe have a look at that list (with links to maps), and have a friendly chat with the concierge after you get checked in --they'll be only too happy to help. It's looking like a cab ride is in store for you (Yank Soccer's local out there and may be able to provide some insight, so watch this space) but in any event the game'll be over with by 7:30, after which the brunch buffet at Bellagio comes with my highest recommendation.

unclewal · by **unclewal** » 05 Sep 2006 18:08

The early word about Sheffield United (A) on Saturday 16th September is not nearly so good. FSC is still sorting its schedule for that weekend, but it does not appear that it will be airing either live or on delay on FSC; however, two same-day delayed telecasts are on Setanta's docket: from 4 PM Eastern and again from 11 PM Eastern on the 16th. For most of us, that means that we'd have to head downapub to see it at all, and only on delay at that.

Greetings RCFC (and fellow Midwest Royals)-
SoccerTV says:
Sat Sep 16 07:00AM Pacific
Sat Sep 16 08:00AM Mountain
Sat Sep 16 09:00AM Central
Sat Sep 16 10:00AM Eastern
Length: 2 hr LIVE
Setanta Xtra (DirecTV Channel 670)
English Premier League
Sheffield United vs Reading

I am guessing that eg Ginger's will have Setanta Xtra though I don't know for sure.
Also, just got back from the UK. Managed to get 3 tix for the Boro game and took my 91 year old dad and my 9 year old daughter. A-f'ing amazing day. And the Man U game is on my birthday- see you at the Globe or Ginger's?

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 05 Sep 2006 18:36

unclewal Sheffield United (A) on Saturday 16th September

SoccerTV says:
10:00AM Eastern
Length: 2 hr LIVE
Setanta Xtra (DirecTV Channel 670)

I am guessing that eg Ginger's will have Setanta Xtra though I don't know for sure.

Hey unc...hmmmm, that's the only place that has it listed as of now --I've checked Setanta, the Globe and Ginger's schedules, and none of them have a listing for it beyond the same-day delay on Setanta. I'll keep and eye on it and update, and cheers for the headsup.

I'll be out of town for United, but I'm in for breakfast at The Globe for Tottenham on Sunday 12th November and anybody who shows up.

mzungu_royal · by **mzungu_royal** » 05 Sep 2006 21:03

i'm sprry but are any of US tv stations available to english people. it;s no use to us if we can't get it in the uk and only you can in the usa. so please tell me what you need to get these stations back here in the UK. Thanks

firstdivision · by **firstdivision** » 05 Sep 2006 21:42

Is there a website that shows what pubs/bars in the Orlando FL show FSC? Am there for work for Arsenal at home, so dont want to miss the live mach.

Is it likely to ba avaialable in hotels, or sprts bars only?

Cheers in advance

RoyalChicagoFC · by **RoyalChicagoFC** » 05 Sep 2006 22:05

i'm sprry but are any of US tv stations available to english people. it;s no use to us if we can't get it in the uk and only you can in the usa. so please tell me what you need to get these stations back here in the UK.

I really wouldn't know anything about feeding back U.S. broadcasts to their country of origin; this is just a thread that I created and continue to maintain for my own information as well as for that of persons living and/or visiting here and with an eye toward rendering needless an additional "Where can I catch the [insert club name here] game on [this date] when I'll be in the States?" thread every time somebody who lives here may be away from home on a matchday or someone else might be visiting from outside of the U.S. --call it one-stop shopping for the States-bound RFC-needy, if you will (and accessible to those who aren't logged in or even registered). For example:

firstdivision Is there a website that shows what pubs/bars in the Orlando FL show FSC? Am there for work for Arsenal at home, so dont want to miss the live match.

Is it likely to be available in hotels, or sports bars only?

It's a crapshoot in the sense that it depends upon whether or not the cable service at your hotel has FSC on the menu, which of course neither you nor I would know (but you could always ask them before you head over --even if you could get just the name of the cable provider, I could do a quick lookup and find out if FSC is included as part of the package).

If all else fails, here's a list of venues in the Orlando area that are subscribed to Setanta, which would tend to mark them as football pubs. Even sports bars that aren't football-themed are likely to have FSC, but of course it always pays to phone first --and we've got Floridians around here who may be able to provide some guidance as well. Disney owns ESPN, and there's an ESPN Club in Orlando with your choice of all your basic sports channels right inside your booth, so you'll be golden one way or another; no worries.

So with that, and just to remind the class: the Man City game is scheduled to air live on FSC this coming Monday from 3:00 PM Eastern, with same-day delayed airtimes of 8 PM Eastern and 2 AM overnite as well. URZ!

Royal Yank · by **Royal Yank** » 08 Sep 2006 01:16

Our game is also being broadcast live on FSE (Fox Soccer Espanol - I think).

Just a thought, but I wonder if this will be Reading's first game broadcast with Spanish Commentary.

I'm recording it anyway.

GOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

Reading FC on U.S. TV: check here for updates

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