soccer, rugby, cricket

[dmdeane]

Quick question for those of you in the USA who subscribe to some of the higher end digital sports networks (ie, Fox Soccer Channel).

I'm suffering from post World Cup letdown; most of the soccer I can currently get is the MLS and whatever is on the Spanish language stations. I'm thinking about subscribing to Fox Soccer Channel, mostly for the English Premier League, but before I call my provider (Comcast) I was hoping for a little "intel" about what is currently available on digital cable.

For instance, Fox Soccer Channel used to be Fox Sports World. Do they only show soccer on that channel now? I was hoping to catch some rugby and cricket, sports I know little about but would like to learn more about and watch, which are nowhere to be found on my current digital cable subscription package. So does FSC show rugby and cricket, or is that on other channels?

What other channels besides FSC should I ask Comcast about?

Thanks in advance.

[quango]

They do show some rugby on FSC, along with Aussie rules... not all that sure on cricket (but then again, I don't remember FSW showing much cricket either). But it's definitely more soccer-focused than FSW was.

[lambertman]

Actually, I've read the Rugby and Aussie Rules are gone from FSC as of this season. Aussie Rules is over on Setanta Sports now.

I don't believe they ever showed cricket with any regularity except for highlights on Sky Sports News.

[dmdeane]

They do show some rugby on FSC, along with Aussie rules... not all that sure on cricket (but then again, I don't remember FSW showing much cricket either). But it's definitely more soccer-focused than FSW was.Thanks. Soccer is mostly what I am interested in, but I'd like to see other things too. A highlights show or sports news show doesn't really help a newbie to sports like rugby and cricket. There is this show on the AZN network (I think that's what it is called; an "Asian" network on the digital tier I receive) that covers cricket, ICC Cricket World, which is an interesting half hour show on cricket but that's not enough to really understand what is going on. I can remember way back in the prehistoric era when ESPN would show Rugby Union, Rugby League, and Aussie Rules, but I guess they are more interested in the World Series of Darts and Poker and the other networks figure they can get us to pay extra for the more "exotic" sports on the digital channels.

[dmdeane]

Actually, I've read the Rugby and Aussie Rules are gone from FSC as of this season. Aussie Rules is over on Setanta Sports now.
Never heard of Setanta Sports. I wonder if Comcast carries it....

.....ugh, looking on the Setanta website it looks like they are pretty much exclusive to DirecTV in the USA, and I am definitely not willing to get any kind of satellite TV....

Setanta Sports has a fabulous lineup of Rugby Union, Rugby League, Aussie Rules, various European football leagues and the EPL, and even the GAA(!) for the Gaelic football and hurling. Very impressive. I'd be willing to pay Comcast extra if they would carry Setanta; maybe they will soon....

Also it looks like FSC has some kind of deal with Setanta so they will both be showing EPL:
http://www.soccertv.com/

2006-2007 English Premier League (EPL)

Updated August 4, 2005

FOX Sports International (FSI) has sublicensed US and Canadian TV rights to an average of approximately 4 2006-2007 English Premier League (EPL) matches each week to Setanta Sports North America.

In the United States, FOX Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports USA will divide the 2006-2007 EPL season as follows:


Saturdays at 7:30am ET: Setanta Sports USA
Saturdays at 10am ET: Setanta Sports USA has the 1st and 3rd picks, FOX Soccer Channel has the 2nd and 4th picks
Saturdays at 12noon ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Sundays at 8:30am ET: Setanta Sports USA
Sundays at 11am ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Mondays at 3pm ET: FOX Soccer Channel
Tuesdays-Fridays: Setanta Sports USA has the 1st pick, FOX Soccer Channel has the 2nd pick
The EPL will no longer air via pay-per-view in the US.


I don't believe they ever showed cricket with any regularity except for highlights on Sky Sports News.Thanks. As to cricket; I do know a lot of ex-pat Indians and Pakistanis and others have been watching cricket here in the USA on cable and satellite, but I suppose those are probably pay per view or specialty "foreign" channels that I either won't be able to get or won't be willing to pay for.

Looking on the soccertv site linked above I see there is something called GolTV which Comcast does carry....

[Mr. Burns mode] Excellent [/Mr. Burns mode] ....

[rugby]

I thought somebody was talking about me....

[dmdeane]

I thought somebody was talking about me....Only if your middle name was Union or League, and your last name was Football... :)