The bidding war for the US rights to the Premier League continues to take more twists and turns. Originally, the deadline for broadcasters to submit bids during the auction was Monday, November 8. A decision was expected to be reached on Thursday, November 11. But the Premier League has now decided that the bidding will go to a second round. The new deadline is Thursday, November 18. A final decision will be announced shortly thereafter.
While the final decision is not up to us, we offer a poll below to have you cast your vote. Who do you want to win the next rights deal? Whomever the Premier League selects will have the rights from the 2022/23 through 2027/28 seasons.
According to Sports Business Journal, the six US media companies involved in the bidding are (in no specific order):
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NBC Sports
A combined bid from CBS and ESPN
FOX Sports
WarnerMedia, and
Amazon
All of the above choices seem straightforward, except one. WarnerMedia’s inclusion could go down one of two paths. Firstly, HBO Max is looking to add sports programming. Recently, WarnerMedia signed a seven-year deal with the National Hockey League to broadcast live hockey games. So, soccer would be an ideal fit there, too.
Secondly, WarnerMedia is merging with Discovery. Expect the mega-merger to be ready by the middle of 2022. The plans are for the merged company, to be named Warner Bros. Discovery, to combine HBO Max and Discovery+ in a streaming service to compete head on with Disney+. Sports would be an ideal fit. But the timing may not work for the start of the 2022/23 Premier League season in August. But it could be ready for HBO MAX, for sure.
Additionally, don’t forget that WarnerMedia can use their Bleacher Report brand to promote its coverage of soccer too.
As we reported last week, NBC Sports Chairman is taking nothing for granted with his company’s bid for the rights. That was one day after ESPN announced they had made a disciplined bid.
Don’t be surprised if more twists and turns happen this coming week as broadcasters evaluate their options and consider how much they’ll bid.
*You can complete the poll anonymously without having to sign in to a Google account.
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Michael F
November 18, 2021 at 9:34 pm
@dave. Thanks. I share your skepticism.
dave
November 18, 2021 at 8:26 pm
@Michael F, WST posted results on Twitter a few days back. IIRC, there were ~1000 responses running 3:2 in favor of ESPN+CBS over NBC. A small number (perhaps 5% total) split among the other options.
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I suspect most sports fans have ESPN+ for several reasons and most European soccer fans have P+ for at least UCL/UEL. This may influence opinions as Peacock and USA are not necessarily must-have channels for many soccer/sports fans for reasons other than EPL. I am skeptical that all EPL games would have been made available at current prices on ESPN+ and P+, but we will never know.
Michael F
November 18, 2021 at 3:34 pm
@Christopher Harris: Now that we know that NBC won the EPL rights, will you be sharing the final results of this poll? I am quite curious to see this tally. thanks.
Sean Johansen
November 18, 2021 at 3:19 pm
According to Twitter NBC has won the English and Spanish rights for the next 6 years. 😍😍
Sean Johansen
November 18, 2021 at 2:36 pm
Any idea when we know who has won the rights?
Michael
November 15, 2021 at 10:30 pm
It is interesting to see who wins. No matter who wins Comcast or Disney/Viacom The amount of games on Linear TV will be going down. It is not about what is best for the customer. While that is important…that is not what the decision will be based on. The decision will be based on money. There is no getting around the fact that unless you are the NFL, in the US you are not making money on Linear TV. It is much easier to monetize their product with streaming. For instance Disney gets about $8.80 for each person of the 75 million that have cable, for all 16 channels in their bundle. This is for the major US sports that they are spending many many billions more than they are spending on the ESPN+ inventory. In addition, the ratings of the linear channels help determine the revenue. With ESPN+ they put all of their low revenue sports, and sports that have a dedicated fanbase, but are more niche in numbers. Their revenue is not based as much on rating, and in addition they can produce a much larger inventory without spending as much in production costs. Despite, the lower costs they are already making $7.99 per customer. While they only have 12.1 million subscribers, their numbers are going up while cable’s numbers are going down. The same thing is happening all over the industry. Even with NBC is more profitable to put more inventory on streaming. I personally think that Comcast will bid the most money…and therefore will win the bid, but I think the “every game should be on tv” people will be disappointed that even more games will be moved over to streaming not less. It doesn’t mater to me one way or the other. I don’t have cable, and I am not an EPL fan. The only time I will watch an EPL game is if Arsenal is on OTA NBC. I will watch 4-6 La Liga games and every once in a while I will watch Dortmund or RB Leipzig match before College Football’s main games come on with ESPN+….but if EPL were on ESPN+ I would undoubtedly watch more EPL than I do now…but I am not going out of my way or paying for Peacock to do it.
dave
November 15, 2021 at 7:59 pm
Interesting topic and discussion. I look forward to learning who won
.
While it has its warts, NBC’s coverage works for me. I can get live access to any game (I agree with @Ra that live availability is far and away the top priority). There is a good studio show when I am in the mood for that. I enjoy the “big event” feel.
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Change might be positive, but there is downside risk. One concern is some games potentially going exclusively to higher-tier channels (CBSSN, ESPNU, LHN, etc.). That would be a disappointing reduction of access or increase in monthly expenditure. I am less optimistic than some that every EPL game would be available live on ESPN+/P+ at current prices
Michael F
November 15, 2021 at 7:19 pm
@Rick The NBCSN being demised has been so overblown. EPL match day coverage will just roll over to USA Network in January 2022 when NBCSN goes dark, and USA Network is in more households than NBCSN is.
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Plus, NBC OTA is available ALL through the EPL season to air matches on Saturdays, not at in conflict with CFB season.
Rick
November 15, 2021 at 7:11 pm
I keep hearing how NBC has supposedly been a great steward for growing the game here. I’m going to take the other position on this, in terms of what that would actually look like going forward.
There’s no reason to think that ABC won’t put games on Sundays (or even Saturdays after CFB is over). Plus, NBC no longer has a sports network to synergize with using highlights and promos. NBC used to show MOTD on a handful of evenings, but I haven’t seen that in a while. With NBCSN out of the picture, that’s definitely gone.
SteveK
November 15, 2021 at 6:36 pm
Here’s the Ziegler piece, the only bit of actual “news” is that according to his sources ESPN is in for the full 380 game package. Hadn’t seen that reported by anyone else yet…
“The battle to secure the US television rights for the Premier League appears to have become a two-horse race with a pair of principal bidders, NBC and ESPN, fighting it out for exclusive access to all 380 matches.
This week, Premier League chiefs will be trying to finalise a new six-year deal with a single broadcast partner, with the existing rights holder, NBC, the favourite – though competition from ESPN is understood to be significant. An announcement is expected to come on Thursday.
As previously reported by The Times, the intense competition for the 2022-28 rights should boost their value to around $2 billion (£1.5 billion) for six years, double that of 2016-22.
The first round of bidding closed last week with six major US broadcasters bidding for four packages of rights. The Premier League had been confident of securing $1.5 billion from that round but when they moved the auction to a second round they upped the stakes.
NBC and ESPN have now emerged as the main contenders and, significantly, both have made it clear they are more interested in securing exclusive rights to England’s top flight than sharing the packages. It has been suggested in the US that ESPN and CBS may submit a combined bid.
If a $2 billion sale is achieved, in terms of value it would make the US rights second only to the £2 billion 2022-28 deal struck with NENT for the Scandinavian rights. It would also mean the total income from overseas rights is close to overtaking the £5 billion from domestic rights from 2022-25.
Both NBC and ESPN have huge companies behind them – NBC is owned by Comcast while Disney owns ESPN.
Under its existing arrangement, NBC shows some Premier League matches on its main sports channels and the other matches on its Peacock subscription streaming service.
ESPN has already shelled out $1.4 billion for the rights to Spain’s La Liga over the next eight years, though some have pointed out the deal was done before Lionel Messi left Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain, so the broadcaster may feel it has lost its star attraction and so is more determined to secure the glamorous Premier League rights.
NBC, however, will go a long way to hang on to a competition that has proved a big success story for it, with growing viewer numbers and a place in the schedule which does not clash with the major American sports due to time differences.
NBC is also said to have prioritised retaining its Premier League rights even over ice hockey’s NHL and has been saving its money to hold on to the English top-flight coverage.”
Johnny
November 15, 2021 at 5:41 pm
Yeah Nvm
Yespage
November 15, 2021 at 3:55 pm
Could Disney really shelf it all on ESPN+?
Is Comcast planning on shelfing most of it on Peacock?
What I find most interesting is the reference to a two-horse race, as if there is more racing.
greg
November 15, 2021 at 3:15 pm
From the article Ziegler was hyping in the tweet:
http://www.thetimes [dot] co.uk/article/two-way-bidding-war-between-nbc-and-espn-for-us-rights-to-premier-league-pushes-value-to-1-5bn-dcgh8k9l8
(it’s behind a paywall but you can see the 1st few grafs)
“This week, Premier League chiefs will be trying to finalise a new six-year deal with a single broadcast partner, with the existing rights holder, NBC, the favourite – though competition from ESPN is understood to be significant. An announcement is expected to come on Thursday.”
The tweet in question:
twitter.com/martynziegler/status/1460300502563012622
Anthony
November 15, 2021 at 2:37 pm
If it is really just NBC and ESPN alone competing for exclusive rights, you have to think NBC is the heavy favorite unless ESPN contractually guarantees access to ABC. ESPN has no where to buy games on its cable networks.
If i were EPL I would try to get ESPN/NBC to work together somehow, that is clearly the best combination for exposure for the league
locofooty
November 15, 2021 at 2:19 pm
martynziegler’s twitter
“Premier League auction for US TV rights is now effectively a two-horse race between NBC and ESPN for exclusive rights (as reported last week, PL clubs hopeful of a $2billion, six-year deal) . Outcome expected Thursday”
disco george
November 15, 2021 at 1:44 pm
ABF (anyone but Fox)
If we could go back in time to the old FSW/FSC days, I wouldn’t be so pressed. I just don’t trust Fox anymore, unfortunately.
The rest all have their pros and cons as far as I’m concerned.
Yespage
November 15, 2021 at 1:09 pm
NBC is convenient for me. Would require no additional costs. Amazon, I can’t imagine that just being added to Prime for nothing additional, but I’d live with that.
It really does have a feel for a split in rights. That’ll suck for the viewer as usually splitting up rights means cheaper fees, but I think everyone is paying a premium for a smaller slice of the pie… and with a la carte getting predictably out of hand, we’ll need to pay multiple times to see the same content now.
NBC – Winners (hybrid subs) / Losers (“cord cutters”)
Amazon – Winners (Everyone? Who doesn’t have Prime?) Baseball and European Football are the best bang for the buck sports when it comes to duration of subscription, and would make sense for an Amazon.
Paramount – Winners (“cord cutters” and desperate Star Trek fans) / Losers (hybrid subs)
Disney – Winners (“cord cutters” and Marvel fans) / Losers (people subscribing to ESPN channel)
Fox – Winners (TBD) / Losers (TBD)
Fubo – Winners (Fubo subs) / Losers (everyone else)
Mercator
November 15, 2021 at 1:04 pm
@Michael F – I never said NBC never covered low level clubs, I said their analysis isn’t any more in depth than other broadcasters like Sky, and it’s much worse than the in-depth commentary free on YouTube. I can only speak to Norwich as I do follow them quite closely, but the commentary is the same on NBC and ESPN FC (basically mocking them and talking about Sargent as if he is the only guy on the team). Actually ESPN covers Norwich much more than NBC, but this is really a function of having a one hour talk show every day. I just don’t know where this mistaken idea came from that NBC covers lower level teams so great – it’s literally the same as sky in terms of segments and topics. If I want real views on a team beyond the same 90 second sound bit every pundit has, I watch on YouTube. This is what I do for the Arsenal. Sad state of affairs if in 2021, with the world at your fingertips, you are relaying on the same 4 people at NBC to break down these clubs in depth for you in a 2 minute window before a McDonald’s advertisement. I think these sort of people are the ones who truly do not really care about the commentary.
Jose Hilario
November 15, 2021 at 12:00 pm
I voted for Amazon as they’re already doing it in the UK, and from that I’ve heard they’re doing well. I’d be fine with NBC if they could fix Peacock and improve the PQ to at least 720p 60fps. As it is now, it looks like sh**.
SteveK
November 15, 2021 at 11:39 am
Stephen “Can anyone here vouch for the Amazon UK studio/commentary coverage?”
They hired some big names and overall some really good people, you’re probably familiar with all of them: Gabby Logan, Alex Scott, Peter Drury, Jon Champion, Guy Mowbray, Clive Tyldesley, Clinton Morrison, Ally McCoist, Peter Crouch, Alan Shearer, Harry Redknapp, Matt Holland, Roberto Martinez, I think Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux each did games. I remember reading the Guardian and Telegraph at the time and there were complaints about how Amazon handled the volume of streaming but not the on-air talent.
Like you and Michael F I’m a big Comcast/NBC fan for what they’ve done with the PL but I actually hoped for Amazon to win so everything would be in the same place, the same app. I would trust them to hire top talent including the best NBC people. No chance of that happening, though, the PL owners are just driving the price up a bit for Comcast and I’m convinced we have another 6 years of NBC and Peacock.
Stephen
November 15, 2021 at 10:28 am
The only reason I paid for Sling (recently switched to Hulu Live) was for access to NBCSN. It was worth it for me. I want every Arsenal match. For Sling that was >400 a year. As a lifetime fan I will begrudgingly pay whatever – I’m a captive.
However, I know they’ll lose casual fans because many were paying for cable/streaming already and by default had NBCSN access. A PL package that you’re paying money ONLY for the PL won’t strike many casual/new fans as good value.
The PL took off here BECAUSE of NBC and their big push. It will slow down if their heirs don’t provide a similar package.
GD
November 15, 2021 at 10:23 am
I voted NBC since they usually dedicate TV time me to EPL and they could push Peacock more )even though I don’t care for the interface) I already pay for Peacock for WWE stuff. I’d say ESPN would be my second choice since their app is the cleanest looking (although choosing another feed usually messes up the audio). P+ has a terrible interface and I don’t really like the way it looks.
Michael F
November 15, 2021 at 9:46 am
@Stephen Thank you for your feedback on this. Anyone that multicasts several soccer matches and college football simultaneously on their big tv screen has no credibility at all to speak of studio commentary and match analysis coverage. It’s obviously not important to them, so they shouldn’t comment on it like they are some credible source.
Stephen
November 15, 2021 at 9:34 am
News flash guys – None of these will pay much attention to lower league clubs in their studio commentary.
So much talk of which channel/app the game will be on is moot. All of them will charge you or put it behind a paywalled product. They’re paying $2bn for it. It’s the quality of the production before/after the game that sets NBC apart from all the others.
As an Irish expat growing up with UK TV, NBC is by far the best for coverage. Fox’s attempt when I first came here were cringe worthy. You need UK commentary (or foreign players who’ve played in the League) for a product from the UK. Not Alexi Lalas and an unknown US host. It’s like they’re speaking a foreign language when talking about the game – it rings hollow.
CBS coverage of Champions League is mediocre. ESPN would control this product probably and they’re not going to manage it as a premium asset like NBC does. It will clash with College Football times so we will get a headline game (eg Utd Liverpool) that will cut to Notre Dame / Navy right at the final whistle. It will be brutal.
Amazon is probably the only one capable of pulling off what NBC does. Can anyone here vouch for the Amazon UK studio/commentary coverage?
So much talk
Michael F
November 15, 2021 at 8:59 am
@Mercator fair enough. But i disagree with you that NBC doesn’t cover these lower EPL table clubs. They DO cover them, especially in length during transfer windows. Does ESPN FC ever even mention Norwich or talk about them? Only mention them as an opponent against the traditional ‘top 4’ EPL clubs. If ESPN got this EPL contract, the lower EPL table clubs will get no coverage at all. That’s a fact based on how they cover the Euro leagues they currently carry (i.e. Bundesliga and LaLiga).
Mercator
November 15, 2021 at 8:53 am
@Michael F – Actually all the NBC punditry is on YouTube, for free. Same with all the Sky punditry. Every PL club has their own fan TV as well, hours of commentary from fans and pundits alike before and after each match, also on YouTube for free. A quick google will give you a dozen links to NBCSN streaming live. Nevertheless, I do have cable through YouTube TV.
All of this is beside the point though. NBC doesn’t do a particularly good job of covering low level teams, it’s quality doesn’t hold a candle to the free stuff on YouTube and frankly isn’t any better than Sky either. I think it’s time we put rest to this fallacy that NBC is doing something outstanding for lower level clubs – it’s a few minutes here and there, nothing groundbreaking and if I wanted an actual insight into these lower clubs I would check YouTube.
Michael F
November 15, 2021 at 7:37 am
@Mercator. How do you know that NBC only dedicates all of 45 seconds to discussing how poor Norwich is… you don’t have cable!! Haha
Ra
November 15, 2021 at 7:19 am
@Mercator Completely agree. I don’t understand the fixation on hearing a ‘pundit’ on a game you watched. I would rather have a second stream with aerial/stadium view to see players positioning off the ball. To me, my importance rating is 80% is live availability of all games with commentary that doesn’t irritate me, 15% is compact matches or highlights (for the ones I’m missing) and 5% pundit analysis. I would rather hear about it on podcasts.
Mercator
November 14, 2021 at 10:29 pm
@Karl – You must not get it, we are supposed to be delighted to pay for cable and a subpar streaming service because NBC dedicates all of 45 seconds to discussing how poor Norwich is. If this were the only 60 seconds of punditry on Norwich City then I could see their point – but in a world of youtube and 24/7 PL Channel, this is basically worthless. Does the average fan no good for one of the Robbies point out Sargent missed another sitter – we know, I can get that commentary free on youtube. Just put the games on ESPN+ so I can multicast with La Liga, Bundesliga and College Football.
Karl
November 14, 2021 at 8:23 pm
What are people talking about with regards to NBC covering the bottom of the table clubs? Is there a different NBC I’m unaware of?
MIB Fan
November 14, 2021 at 3:34 pm
Ah, Mercator chimes in. Wonder when Hans joins the anti-NBC argument.
What did ESPN do to grow the EPL when they had the contract? They had the chance to use their all sports platform to make EPL popular, but didn’t.
Lou
November 14, 2021 at 3:30 pm
NBC of course because you can’t argue with their success and the growing popularity of the EPL under their tutelige. They have a good mixture of linear TV and streaming and the absolute best pre and post match show in the business. ESPN did a decent job with the Euros and WC qualifiers, however their La Liga coverage has been a let down after the big build up to be honest. Why would I believe they’ll do any better with EPL? Same with CBS, nice job with UEFA Champions League, contrast with a ho hum launch of Serie A and Scottish Premire League.
Jesus
November 14, 2021 at 2:16 pm
For anyone that likes to watch multiple European leagues, having ESPN+ or Paramount+ get the rights to the EPL makes most sense as it would mean less money on streaming subscriptions. I don’t watch any of the pre- or post-match analysis so I only care about access to the matches. ESPN+ has La Liga and the Bundesliga which I like to watch so ESPN+ is my choice.
Johnny
November 14, 2021 at 12:12 pm
I voted CBS and ESPN because they have good highlights.
Mercator
November 14, 2021 at 11:38 am
ESPN/CBS hopefully. NBC has done an awful job with Peacock and frankly I don’t want to pay for cable just to watch the EPL. ESPN+ is the best streaming platform in the business and CBS has done great with every soccer property they have gotten. NBC has not done a great job in my view – several matches were ruined because of Peacock shenanigans, you have to pay for cable to watch half the matches, and its never clear where the game is on. Sure their studio stuff is good, but really there is so much EPL content out there this is the least of my concerns and is easily replicated by any broadcaster who makes an effort.
Davido
November 14, 2021 at 10:02 am
ESPN/CBS is my preferred. Paramount all ready has Scottish Premiere, Europa League, and Champions League and ESPN has Championship, FA cup, and League Cup meaning EPL would increase both services value to me. The NBC/Peacock content split has not been well handled and I have zero interest in Peacock for anything other than EPL. Ideally, Rebecca Lowe et.al would move to one or the other.
Sean Johansen
November 14, 2021 at 8:53 am
NBC. Think they have done a stellar job and I love games on Linear tv with odd games on streaming.
Christopher Ernest WATSON
November 14, 2021 at 8:48 am
I would vote for whomever puts the great majority of matches on regular tv so I can record and watch when KO times clash. Since Spanish and German football has gone to ESPN , I have barely be able to watch a match live as they clash with PL matches. I think to this point of the season they has been a total of 5/6 matches from both those leagues shown on regular tv. The result is that I have gone from watching 2-3 matches live each weekend from either league to zero. I can’t believe that those leagues think this is the best way to market their product but they agreed to the deal so I have to assume they do.
Jasinho
November 14, 2021 at 8:30 am
I think the CBS/ESPN joint bid would be palatable if CBS and Paramount+ would get the matches played on Saturday and ESPN has the Sunday and weekday matches so each would have a balance of matches over the course of the Premier League season while enabling ESPN to pursue their other commitments, notably college sports on early Saturday afternoon.
The main factors in the joint bid is the fact that only CBS would deliver the Saturday 12:30 EST kickoff other than NBC. On the other hand ESPN2 and CBS Sports network would satisfy the Premier League’s need to be on a sports network, which I saw the writing on the wall when NBC decided to sunset NBCSN effective 12/31.
With the savings made by splitting the Premier League, ESPN+ could maintain the FA Cup, League Cup and the EFL while CBS could feature the club TV channels on Paramount+
Anya
November 14, 2021 at 7:12 am
NBC all the way but please dump the Peacock end of it. Keep Rebecca Lowe as she does a great job of keeping the conversation going and makes it all entertaining.
Chris Guardiano
November 14, 2021 at 5:39 am
I voted for WarnerMedia because they would likely end the trend of putting most of the matches per weekend on a streaming service that NBC has been doing the past few seasons with Peacock. Even though WarnerMedia does have HBO Max and would likely put a few matches on there, most of the matches would be on either TBS or TNT much like what they have done with the NBA for decades and recently the NHL. Both TBS & TNT don’t have a lot of programming on weekend mornings when all they show is movies or reruns of old shows. Plus the Premier League would not have to compete with the NFL & College Football for air time like they would with ESPN, CBS or Fox with TBS or TNT. The only thing that could hurt their bid is how their tenure with the Champions League ended and that could be enough to discourage them from putting in a good bid.
Nosferatu
November 13, 2021 at 10:53 pm
@greg, regarding talent going to whatever network gets the coverage, I can see that for everyone but ESPN and Fox. Those two just keep trotting out mostly the same old retreads no matter what competitions they have. Sure they’d have to hire some new folks to simply fill the holes, but mostly it would be what you already have–which I wouldn’t be very happy about.
jstrummer
November 13, 2021 at 9:55 pm
Rooting for NBC but think ESPN/CBS gets it done as they rarely get beat when they really want something.
Leo
November 13, 2021 at 9:48 pm
Not ESPN+. I prefer NBC, from what I read here people is happy to pay $470/year for EPL (12*$35(Sling)+$50(Peacock)). If that will help stop increasing the price of other services like ESPN+, I am all for it.
SteveK
November 13, 2021 at 9:04 pm
Who I’d like to win…Amazon
Who should win….NBC
Who will win…NBC
Kate
November 13, 2021 at 8:45 pm
When I first began avidly watching soccer, it was basically only NBC networks. I could watch games on NBCSN, USA, CNBC, and NBC with games on Wednesday, Saturday, Sunday, and occasionally on Mondays for over a dozen games per week- all linear. Other networks covered both the German and Italian leagues. It was wonderful. Now it’s a nightmare following which game is on which network, which streaming service, and how often which one of them will change where the game will be aired at the last moment. My fear is all of this will lessen the hard won interest in soccer in the US. at a time when the World Cup Qualifiers could very well see the US Men’s team make it in.
Tony
November 13, 2021 at 8:04 pm
NBC All the way
MIB Fan
November 13, 2021 at 7:54 pm
Hans and Mercator silent? Wow!
Simon Toffell
November 13, 2021 at 7:50 pm
NBC is my 1st chose they have done a great job since getting the rights and have the channel space and is not tied down to big NCAA sports. ESPN is my 2nd chose they have the right people and i think they would maybe try and bring in more great talent problem lies and why they are not my 1st chose is space Fall and winter they are tied down with NCAA sports and i think many games would be on ESPN+.
all that being side ESPN+ is still a great streaming site in fact i sometimes forget i am streaming the game often its so good its like watching the game on TV.
JP
November 13, 2021 at 6:25 pm
Voted for NBC, mainly because I don’t want it on ESPN or CBS. EPL low on my list for viewing and don’t want it cluttering ESPN+ or Paramount+ and relegating their other properties as second class citizens in terms of coverage.
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However, Fox winning would be great for the entertainment factor from the vitriol it would create from most here
greg
November 13, 2021 at 6:24 pm
Oh, and as others have noted, the talent goes where the content is. CBS or ESPN could very easily hire any of the NBC EPL studio talent, because outside of maybe Lowe, what else do they do? She at least gets an Olympics slot, and the others have some Olympic soccer, but they can do that freelance for NBC or another broadcaster.
greg
November 13, 2021 at 6:22 pm
When during NFL & college football season does either company find time to put matches on linear – ESPN/2/ABC or CBS/CBSSN? And while Serie A is a minor player relative to EPL, how will they feel to not even get the every other week if luck CBSSN match?
It would not be “a lot” on linear, it would quite literally be none, at least from August-December., at least on ESPN/ABC. Maybe a few on CBSSN, but not CBS proper. And CBS during March? No effin way, thanks to the NCAA basketball tournaments. Maybe ESPN/etc puts some matches on linear. But they also spent big on La Liga, so need to find time for that as well.
I know people like the idea of a split ESPN/CBS thing, especially people wedded to streaming who don’t have cable or a Sling/FUBO type package. But if you think matches will be on any linear in that package, my guess is you’ll be disappointed.
Michael F
November 13, 2021 at 6:19 pm
I voted NBC, as I like their in depth coverage of the league and they have given it priority all along. Plus their relationship with Sky Sports is a nice add-on to get more in depth coverage.
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I also am not in favor of a split/combined ESPN/CBS deal, as I think the lower tier EPL clubs will not get the attention it always has been getting on NBC. Plus ESPN and CBS already have major soccer contracts and EPL would water those down or take away from in-depth EPL coverage. There are only so many resources that a provider has. After all, wasn’t some fans of Bundesliga complaining early on this season that ESPN+ wasn’t airing all the Bundesliga games when LaLiga came on board? I don’t see how it’s a win overall for anyone to see a combined ESPN/CBS deal, but I will live with it if it happens.
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A second choice I have, is Amazon. That would be very intriguing. Plus like NBC, they would give it priority as it would be the only major soccer league they carry.
Anthony
November 13, 2021 at 5:55 pm
I like NBC’s talent, but a combined CBS/ESPN deal would be compelling and would combine the major club soccer properties under the two roofs. There would be a lot of premier league on linear CBS and occasionally ABC. The others aren’t credible. My heart is with NBC (and voted for them), but my head is with ESPN/CBS