A match from LaLiga will be aired this weekend live for the first time ever on broadcast television in the United States. With ESPN’s family of networks taking over LaLiga coverage in the United States until 2028-29, this weekend will be the first gameweek of the historic ESPN/LaLiga partnership.
To celebrate the occasion, ESPN will be bringing an entire crew to FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou to cover the game on-site, live from Spain. It’s just part of what is an impressive lineup of coverage all weekend long.
Opening Weekend in LaLiga
Starting today through Sunday, ESPN+ will feature appearances from Camp Nou throughout their pre-match shows. Then, on Sunday, a 30-minute pregame show will air in its entirety from a remote set inside Camp Nou.
This season is LaLiga’s 91st. As well as the standard broadcasting of games and the four pre-match shows, ESPN is also producing studio segments, newsmaker interviews and more, according to the company. Also, with ESPN’s commitment to building an international audience, all games will be broadcast in both English and Spanish. All games will be available to stream through ESPN+ in both languages.
The FC Barcelona and Real Sociedad match will set a landmark moment for the sport in the United States. Previously, ESPN televised the Copa del Rey on national television, but there’s no denying that airing the league on broadcast television is a crowning achievement for LaLiga. Given the distribution problems that beIN SPORTS experienced over nine years of having the exclusive rights to the league, the new deal under ESPN must feel like such a relief for LaLiga.
While Barcelona-Real Sociedad will air on Sunday, August 15 across ABC, ESPN+ and ESPN Deportes (2PM ET kickoff), all the other nine games on the docket will require an ESPN+ subscription.
The talent making the trip
Of the talent that will be seen or heard from ESPN across the opening weekend of LaLiga coverage, they will include:
English play-by-play commentators highlighted by Ian Darke. The cult hero Darke is a notable voice in the commentary world. Throughout his career so far, he has covered European Championships, Champions Leagues and World Cups. Darke will be working with analyst Steve McManaman and reporter Alexis Nunes.
ESPN’s crew will work from a remote set inside of Camp Nou, with some familiar names on site. Dan Thomas, Alejandro Moreno and Luis Garcia all reprise their roles behind the ESPN FC desk. They are joined by former Manchester City player Pablo Zabaleta, who makes his debut for the channel.
On the Spanish side, Fernando Palomo headlines play-by-play duties. He will be working with analyst Mario Kempes. The duo will have Moises Llorens as their reporter during the FC Barcelona-Real Sociedad matchup.
With the popularity of the sport on ESPN Deportes, ESPN is also airing a number of their programs from Barcelona to air on the Spanish side.
Among these programs are SportsCenter, Fuera de Juego, Futbol center and Ahora o Nunca, to name a few.
The Season as a Whole
With the deal between ESPN and LaLiga, all 380 matches in the 2021-22 season will be able available through ESPN+ with a select number of games being broadcast nationally. The first of those is the Barcelona – Real Sociedad opener.
However, the groundbreaking game for streaming on ESPN+ and LaLiga goes to Getafe and Valencia, which will be the first LaLiga game that ESPN+ will broadcast (Friday at 3PM ET). ESPN is making sure to give the game its own pre-match show on ESPN+ to welcome the league.
READ MORE: Schedule of LaLiga games on US TV and streaming
As a statement of intent from the self-proclaimed Worldwide Leader In Sports, ESPN’s coverage of LaLiga taps into 33 seasoned professionals for its multilingual audience. Streaming, broadcasting and social interaction are at the forefront of what ESPN is building with LaLiga, and that starts with a busy weekend slate of games.
LaLiga’s biggest star, Leo Messi may be gone, but there is always reason to watch some of Europe’s biggest teams face off.
Learn more about ESPN+ and where to watch LaLiga on U.S. TV.
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dave
December 26, 2021 at 4:35 pm
@Darien, lots of good advice already. I want to comment on “my biggest objection to all of this is having to pay for both cable and streaming”. A great feature of the current landscape is adding and deleting services on a monthly basis:
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* Dark and cold winter and want something like cable during that? Sign up for a few months of fubo, Hulu Live, YTTV, etc.
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* Enjoy March Madness or an EPL relegation battle and want a specific channel like TBS or USA for full access during the key stretch? A month or two of something like Sling Blue covers that
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* Warm, pleasant summer with little time for indoor viewing? Cancel it all for a few months, just use OTA antenna, bank savings for when you are more in the mood to binge
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With most services, subscribing and cancelling is a 60-second process. Nothing like the ordeal you may be used to with a cable company. It is increasingly easy to implement a bespoke solution. The resources on WST are outstanding for understanding your options
Ra
December 24, 2021 at 11:36 pm
@Darien Worldsoccertalk has also a weekly podcast with good state-of-the-business info and match recommendations. It is worth following. Check it out.. The community here is also quite helpful with any kind of questions and recommendations.
Hans
December 24, 2021 at 11:27 pm
@Darien
“If networks like ESPN really think that streaming is the way to go, they should abandon their cable channels and focus exclusively on streaming.”
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This seems to be the path forward but since this is a transition the cable companies are working on a solution where they will have the least amount of profit loss and this is a dilemma for them. They are late to the streaming game and are experiencing the truth of Gorbachev’s 1989 statement: ‘Life punishes those who come too late’
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“I will certainly consider cutting the cable and make the switch to streaming exclusively.”
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Leave the dark side of cable and embrace the light of streaming 😆 as many here have.
Darien Garcia
December 24, 2021 at 4:35 pm
I want to thank everyone that has provided feedback regarding my concerns about how much soccer has moved to almost exclusively streaming coverage. Turfit believe me. I had actually complained directly to NBC regarding what I consider their abuse towards EPL fans, myself included, since Peacock started a year and a half ago. I have refused to add Peacock for pretty much the reasons that you stated. I also hope that what you are saying about ESPN is actually true. If networks like ESPN really think that streaming is the way to go, they should abandon their cable channels and focus exclusively on streaming.
I also want to thank all the responders to my message. If indeed you can subscribe to services like ESPN + and Paramount + without having to have a corresponding cable subscription, I will certainly consider cutting the cable and make the switch to streaming exclusively. As I have indicated in my previous messages, my biggest objection to all of this is having to pay for both cable and streaming. I am willing to pay for one or the other, but not for both. I will keep your suggestions in mind, and if they work, I probably will be cutting the cord and joining the growing amount of people that are getting their TV through streaming services. Thanks again to everyone for all your feedback.
Christopher Harris
December 24, 2021 at 5:00 pm
Hi Darien, you’ll find lots of helpful readers and commenters on our site, as well as a ton of guides, too.
Here are some more in-depth guides that also include ESPN+ and Paramount+ details:
https://worldsoccertalk-wp.futbolsites.dev/how-to-stream-soccer/
Ra
December 24, 2021 at 10:03 am
@Darien you can save a lot of money by canceling cable and getting OTA through an antenna. You can even record using tablo or firetv recast. Google if you are interested. My setup is a tablo + tvs with built-in tuner (one is next-gen- they don’t broadcast anything in 4k here, but the reception is much more reliable in inclement weather).
I usually pay ESPN+ for 8-9 mo only (no need if the leagues are on a break) and I think I will do the same with Paramount next year (I am in annual currently).
You can cycle through services (Netflix, HBO, AppleTV+) and end up paying <$20 per month on average for movies+tv shows+sports.
I have everything I really want – I actually prefer not to have cable, even if it was free. The linear channels seem to have a gravitational pull towards crap, which is on 95% of channels at any time. I realized I am not only saving money, but time as well, which is by far more important to me.
Turfit
December 24, 2021 at 9:32 am
EPL is what Darien should be complaining about, you have to have cable (NBC and USA Network) and Peacock to watch all their matches. I choose not to have Peacock.
I have read some articles that state that ESPN is looking at selling their cable channels and focus on streaming. They see the future being streaming which is supposedly why their contract with La Liga has every match on ESPN+. I find it hard to believe ESPN be willing to sell their cable channels, but there is several reports out there stating it.
locofooty
December 23, 2021 at 9:02 pm
ESPN+ is a stand alone service. ALL La Liga matches are on ESPN+ regardless of whether or not they are being shown on one of their linear networks at the same time. You don’t need any type of cable subscription to watch ESPN+ content. Same applies to Paramount+, all matches are on Paramount+ even if they are shown on their linear networks. You don’t need any type of cable subscription to watch Paramount+ content. Darien, you have been lied to.
JP
December 23, 2021 at 6:37 pm
@Darien, you do not need cable to access ESPN+, Paramount+, or Peacock.
Don’t know what other sports you watch, but if mainly soccer then you can easily ditch the cable. Spend about $170 a YEAR and get just about all the soccer you can ask for.
Darien Garcia
December 23, 2021 at 6:10 pm
Ra. Trust me, I am very much aware what I have to pay for cable. I definitely know that cable is not free. But that’s precisely why I think that paying an extra seven dollars a month for ESPN + is a ripoff. You still need a cable subscription of some sort in order to access ESPN +, even though none of their content will ever be available on cable. In other words, you still have to pay your 70 dollars plus and your 7 dollars for ESPN + in order to access ESPN +. That’s why I think that the whole concept is a ripoff and why I am not willing to go along with it. It also seems like ESPN, NBC, and CBS want soccer fans to support this ripoff, which I just find disgusting quite frankly.
Ra
December 23, 2021 at 4:18 pm
@Darien Yet you pay at least $70 for cable and seem to think it is free, but it is a huge rip-off to pay $7…go figure.
Darien Garcia
December 23, 2021 at 3:43 pm
I am a big La Liga fan, but I have not watched a single match this season. I think that ESPN placing all of La Liga matches on ESPN + is a huge ripoff that I have no intentions of being a part of. I fully understand why ESPN wants to steal people’s money by putting the entire league on their useless streaming platform. Why La Liga is willing to go along is harder for me to understand. If La Liga switched from BeIn to ESPN hoping to get more viewers, by ESPN placing the matches on the streaming platform, they achieved the exact opposite. Since I don’t expect ESPN to show the La Liga games in broadcast television, I hope that one day La Liga does to ESPN what it did to BeIn and switch to a provider that is willing to put LaLiga where it belongs, on real TV. I missed La Liga a lot, and I wish I could watch it, but I am not willing to pay ESPN one cent for this ripoff. I am doing the same thing with NBC/Peacock and CBS/Paramount as far as the Premier and Serie A coverage is concerned. I am tired that this companies seem to want to soccer fans to pay for their silly streaming services, and I refuse to go along with that.
Ra
September 13, 2021 at 2:10 pm
@greg @JP Thanks for the suggestions. Yes, the atmosphere is part of the reason I am not very excited. But the main reason is still political.
Real and Barca are too arrogant. Real in particular seems to always find a judge in Madrid willing to execute on their will, be it the Superliga or something else. But it is not only politics at the club level, but also Madrid’s policy in general. They still have a colonialist mindset.
That being said, I got fed up with ESPN’s constant promotion of LaLiga. I understand that they spent a lot of money, but now with the key stars gone, it seems that they are doubling down on their promotional efforts.
I don’t like being manipulated or brain-washed, so I pretty much withdrew from the league altogether. I had some fun last year seeing Atletico beat both on BeIn, but I am watching more EPL this year instead.
Also, it is even less appealing without Ray Hudson and his hyperboles.
JP
September 13, 2021 at 10:11 am
@Ra, I suspect part of your distaste for La Liga comes from the game atmosphere. Compared to Bundesliga, which probably has the best, it can seem dull. However, the matches themselves are always great. Didn’t help the best match this weekend of Sevilla/Barca was cancelled.
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I have been watching less La Liga than years past so far this season, but mostly due to circumstances with scheduling. Later start times to begin the year to combat the heat, then going up against the US Open finals (and opening of NFL) this weekend.
Next week has a few standout La Liga fixtures in Atleti/Athletic, Real Sociedad/Sevilla, and Real Madrid/Valencia. Looks like only the Madird/Valencia match will have competition for my viewing with Juve/Milan, but might ultimately choose La Liga.
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Yesterday afternoon was almost too much! Roma/Sassuolo was great, Real Madrid/Celta PiP, then later switched US Open to PiP and also flipping back and forth to my local NFL game at 4:30
greg
September 12, 2021 at 10:05 pm
@Ra, they paid $1billion + for La Liga…you don’t think they’re going to hype it? There’s more to watch than Barca & Real. Athleti are good & win. Celta Vigo is fun to watch even if they lose. Bilbao, Sociodad, Villareal, Sevilla & Valencia are also good squads that on most days will be entertaining. You’re missing some good football out of spite.
That said, they do need to do better with the Bundesliga. But remember, they only started last season. Couldn’t do anything on-site during the pandemic, no pitch-side, no network announcers in the grounds. And they did do a match on ABC and supposedly will do more this season. There is a weekly highlights show, and Derek Rae gets lots of screen time on ESPN FC & other shows.
Ilya
September 12, 2021 at 8:30 pm
Jaime A Quintero
Ray Hudson is in fact on espn+ in fact yesterday I was listening to him. He does inter Miami games. I quite enjoyed his commentary.
locofooty
September 12, 2021 at 7:05 pm
Ray Hudson is very peculiar. Not everyone likes that style. It was cool to hear Palomo call Bilbao’s match in English yesterday.
Ra
September 12, 2021 at 6:19 pm
I think that ESPN is dropping the ball with Bundesliga. Bundesliga production is very good, but ESPN needs to do at least a proper half-time show.
I have the feeling that LaLiga is being force fed to us. It is being overpromoted and is not that great in my opinion.
Barca and Real, being two main backers of the Superliga, I dislike LaLiga even more. If it wasn’t for Bundesliga, I would be very glad to cancel ESPN.
Jaime A Quintero
September 12, 2021 at 4:35 pm
I miss the comments by BEIN Sports color commentator Ray Hudson. Get him over to ESPN+.
greg
August 15, 2021 at 10:29 pm
Full credit to ABC/ESPN for a good job on this. How great was it to have Darke & Macca doing a match together? Gives you confidence that they’ll do a good job on the big matches like El Classico & Real Sociodad v Athletic Bilbao, Sevilla v Betis & others. Only thing that would help would be a bit more context to subplots like this being a match between Catalan & Basque clubs and what that means. And Barca looked alright with the main starting XI on.
Ivan
August 15, 2021 at 7:30 pm
I am pretty sure I saw an add for a Bundesliga game on ABC next Saturday. Keep it up.
Liverpool on NBC yesterday, Barcelona on ABC today.
Games on OTA-I will watch.
Mercator
August 15, 2021 at 4:17 pm
ESPN is doing a fantastic job so far, even Moreno is making good points. The set is great and there is a lot of extra content on ESPN+. The La Liga world feed is great as well, the picture quality is amazing and I prefer the graphics, the on field holograms and greying out the area behind last defender for VAR offside reviews are a nice touch. Also fantastic to see metric measurements on ABC – NBC was doing absurd conversions for the Olympics. Impressed with ESPN so far but with La Liga even more, they have done a good job with the world feed and content they provide ESPN+. It’s going to be a real show once full capacity is allowed and when Madrid finishes the Bernabeu construction at the end of the year. Great one Kyle, go Gators!
Edward
August 15, 2021 at 2:05 pm
picture ESPN putting Taylor Twellman on today’s Barca match
Don Freeman
August 15, 2021 at 10:33 am
Who’s on the ESPN call for Barca Real Soc?
Christopher Harris
August 15, 2021 at 1:08 pm
Ian Darke and Steve McManaman.
Michelangelo
August 13, 2021 at 12:04 pm
Even without Messi Barcelona is still a superclub. La Liga is going to be very interesting to see how Barcelona, Real Madrid, Valencia, Sevilla, Atletico Madrid, and Villareal complete in this years competition. ESPN should’ve got Ligue Un but we will see how this season plays out. I wish Paramount Plus would do the same just like how ESPN is doing. Forza Napoli!!!