# Euro 2004 TV coverage in the US **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 9, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553 "2004-06-09T23:53:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bbart4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@bbart4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbart4)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/1 "2004-06-09T23:53:10Z")
Nothing on US network TVs, not even on ESPN. [http://www.soccertv.com/:](http://www.soccertv.com/:) > [@](#): > > Setanta Sport holds exclusive US TV distribution rights to Euro 2004 in all languages. All 31 matches will be available via residential pay-per-view (DirecTV, DISH Network, Globecast, iNDemand, TVN) and closed-circuit TV. Residential pay-per-view will cost $179 for all matches, or $19.95 for each 1st round match, and $24.95 for each quarterfinal, semifinal, or final match. Wanna see it at your favorite soccer pubs? $20/person. Yes, nobody cares about football here… ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2004, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/2 "2004-06-09T23:57:38Z")
Wow. I guess they’re just cashing in on high-earning ex-pats. Bastards. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/3 "2004-06-10T00:04:30Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > I guess they’re just cashing in on high-earning ex-pats. Not this one 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/4 "2004-06-10T00:08:49Z")
> [@bbart4](#): > > Yes, nobody cares about football here… Sure we do, but the season doesn’t start until [September](http://www.nfl.com/schedules). ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/5 "2004-06-10T00:09:17Z")
What, is it some kind of local soccer thing? Don’t y’all have the Globe Cup or whatever? \ Seriously, in the language of my people, that sucks dude. The main street in my neighborhood is lined with pubs for Irish ex-pats; next time I’m there I’ll see if they’re paying for the Euro Cup and advertising it on the blackboards they all put outside their doors. ---
**Author:** ![UselessGit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/74df32/32.png) [@UselessGit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UselessGit)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/6 "2004-06-10T00:21:28Z")
How on earth people can watch rugby (especially the American Rugby League) and not love football - the beautiful game - is utterly beyond me. OTOH, they also watch that beis-bal of theirs… 19.95 per game? In the first round?? That’s just a little less than my monthly subscription fee for the TV station that’s showing Euro2004 here! _shrugs_ To each his own, I guess, but there have to be some football fans in the US of A, and what are they gonna watch? MLS? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![bbart4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@bbart4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbart4)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/7 "2004-06-10T00:26:43Z")
IIRC, Euro 2000 was broadcast in the US by ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. I can’t believe that there’s no demand for it here in the US. I’m sure those pubs will still be full even with the $20 ticket. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/8 "2004-06-10T00:47:54Z")
> [@](#): > > FOX Sports World (US) and FOX Sports en Espanol will air 5 first-round matches live (Denmark vs Italy, Croatia vs France, Italy vs Sweden, Switzerland vs France, Denmark vs Sweden), all 4 quarterfinals and both semifinals via 5-day delay, and the final via 3-day delay. That doesn’t quite agree with the “exclusive” bit, but it’s from the same page as in the OP. 3-day delay sucks, but I think they did the same for the rugby event that was relatively recent. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/9 "2004-06-10T01:31:14Z")
Yikes! A friend invited us to his place to watch the matches. I knew he was paying for it, but I had no idea it cost so much! Guess I’d better bring really good beer and snacks…in large quantities. ---
**Author:** ![litost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@litost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/litost)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/10 "2004-06-10T01:53:59Z")
C’mon… Poker World Series and World’s Strongest Man are way more exciting (just kidding) ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/11 "2004-06-10T02:08:21Z")
As a fan of cycling, I know how it is brother. Half the time I finally get OLN and turn it on, it’s “Hunting With Hank.” And Hank’s the god-damned dog! ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2004, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/12 "2004-06-10T21:58:02Z")
If it helps, I can predict the results of Germany - Holland [Netherlands] 2-1 :mad: ---
**Author:** ![bbart4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@bbart4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbart4)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/13 "2004-06-11T00:15:19Z")
> [@gum](#): > > If it helps, I can predict the results of Germany - Holland [Netherlands] > > 2-1 > > :mad: What’s wrong with the Holland squad? Great to see them in an important tournament again… ---
**Author:** ![Gotterfunken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/58956e/32.png) [@Gotterfunken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gotterfunken)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/14 "2004-06-11T00:53:56Z")
Tell me about it, **bbart4**. It’s a never-ending challenge to watch soccer here. Where I live, none of the bars have deals with Setanta, so I don’t have the pub as an option (even if I were willing to cough up $20 each match–though I’d be willing to pay that amount for beer). Besides, the broadcast rights to each tournament seem to be owned by different companies, so once you’ve found somebody who’s showing one match, you can’t expect to see other matches there. Case in point: I’ve been trying to watch Brazil’s matches in the World Cup qualifiers. I was able to see the Brazil - Argentina match on Dish Network as PPV, but I wasn’t able to see the Chile - Brazil match later that week–because a different company owns the broacast rights to matches in Chile (and that company was only showing it on a closed-circuit TV channel, which nobody in this area carried). Incidentally, ESPN seems to be backing away from any international soccer coverage, at least on basic cable (ESPN and ESPN2). For instance, they’ll only be showing the Champions League next season on ESPN Deportes (they had been showing at least one match each week, plus the final, on ESPN2). However, it seems that ESPN Deportes is only available within certain regions, and only if you have digital cable and if you’ve signed up for a Spanish-language package. The cable company in my area isn’t carrying ESPN Deportes, even in their digital service. I’m not surprised ESPN won’t be showing any of Euro 2004. It sounds like PPV on may be the best option–if you could get a group to chip in for the $179 for the whole tournament, it might be worth it. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/15 "2004-06-11T01:09:00Z")
I caved and shelled out the $179. No I am not über-rich (although I am not struggling). Y’all can come to my apartment to watch. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bbart4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/51bf81/32.png) [@bbart4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbart4)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/16 "2004-06-11T01:13:52Z")
My biggest problem is, Skopo, that the coverage has gotten _worse_ in recent years. Not too long ago, we used to get most of the matches of Euro 2000 on ESPN/ABC, for instance, and one or even two matches every two weeks of Champions League. My area Comcast does have Fox Sport en Espanyol so I should be able to watch a few first round matches live, but that’s it. Here in DC area we do have a few pubs but they’re usually pretty crowded and uncomfortable (if the recent African Cup tournament is any indication). You’re right, looks like the PPV is the only option. (You’d think soccer is getting more popular that there’d be more demands, but the powers that be probably don’t think so). ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/17 "2004-06-11T07:03:11Z")
> [@bbart4](#): > > IIRC, Euro 2000 was broadcast in the US by ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. > > I can’t believe that there’s no demand for it here in the US. I’m sure those pubs will still be full even with the $20 ticket. I’m pretty sure that was PPV too. We do get the World Cup for free. (Speaking of the WC, I wish we could get the Euro qualifiers here…even it it was PPV.) My dad is paying for it this year :). > [@Skopo](#): > > Tell me about it, **bbart4**. It’s a never-ending challenge to watch soccer here. It can be. But I remember the days when all we got was **Soocer Made In Germany** , and any live soccer was interrupted by commercials. Now we get Premiership games, South American games, Dutch games, MFL games, the MLS, the U.S. national teams and the World Cup live…all without commercial breaks. We’ve come a long way. ---
**Author:** ![gum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bbe5ce/32.png) [@gum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gum)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/18 "2004-06-11T09:54:50Z")
Originally posted by **bbart4** > [@](#): > > _What’s wrong with the Holland squad? Great to see them in an important tournament again…_ Yeah, it _is_ great to see them again. I’m afraid it won’t be for long, though. Their main problem is; they’re LAZY. I can’t really blame them, I’m lazy too, but millions of fans aren’t waiting anxiously to see _me_ play. [and I don’t make as much money as they do 😃] ---
**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/19 "2004-06-11T11:19:24Z")
I’d heard about this Euro 2004, but I didn’t even know it referred to a soccer tournament until a few minutes ago. A web site wanted me to place my “free bet on Euro 2004”, which I could only assume was some kind of currency futures thing. ---
**Author:** ![TwistofFate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@TwistofFate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TwistofFate)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2004, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553/20 "2004-06-11T11:23:10Z")
the real corruption is the pub that is gouging you $20 just to watch a match. Granted, they do pay more than a residential watcher for the match, but $20 a head? someone is making profit somewhere. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/euro-2004-tv-coverage-in-the-us/249553.md?page=2)