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Champions League final to air on Channel 5 on May 22

Yes, you read that one correctly. The Champions League is now scheduled to go over-the-air, instead of cable channel FX. Since we're one of the cities with an O&O, most likely it means this is airing AND in HD. It's going to be interesting to see how soccer would work on Channel 5 but I think, with the immigrant, transient and foreign population, combined with now being over the air, that it may draw big numbers in the city, at least. That's not mentioning Boston, Philly, Washington, Chicago and even Montreal, with their proximity to the Vermont Fox station. If I'm right, Toronto would be able to see it through the Buffalo Fox station.

This is a potentially huge (emphasis on "potential") development for soccer on American TV.

Link is here: http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/02/1...s-uefa-champions-league-final-on-may-22/41618
 
Anyone remember how the World Cup did back in 1994 when it aired on ABC? That was around the time everyone was going ga-ga over that "GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL" guy.
 
Well, I watched Univision during that time. So, yes, I watched Andres Cantor do his thing there. FYI, he left Univision years later, along with his on-air partner, Norberto Longo, to Telemundo. Not long after that, Longo died of a heart attack, which left Andres very sad for a while. Now Andres does play-by-play of Mexican leagues matches for Telemundo on Saturdays.

I don't think I watched on ABC during that time but according to this site, the 1994 Final had a 9.5 in ratings. Also read these: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P2-8287616.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m4021/is_2002_June_1/ai_88679072/

FIFA released these TV viewing figures: http://www.fifa.com/mm/document/fifafacts/ffprojects/ip-401_05a_tvstats_9299.pdf

I can imagine some folks will tune in thinking that there'll be a baseball game on and finding a big surprise. ;D
 
Whether you care for it or not, the match-up is set for the big finale:

Inter Milan vs Bayern Munich
Time: 2:30 PM ET FOX on-air time
2:45 PM ET match kick-off
Venue: Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Link: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/...ague-final-to-be-broadcast-live-on-FOX-021010

Not the match-up I would like to see but it is what it is. I expect Bayern to win. Inter's defense will hold but Bayern has too many weapons up front. Ribery's (potential) absence would hurt but not enough.

Looking for any promos that may air on Channel 5 in the next few weeks. I hope they would do live shots from Times Square in front of the big screen (I think it would be shown there as well). Get one of the local station personalities to do on-the-street interviews, just in case anyone has any idea of what this "saahh-kkrrrr" thing is all about. ;D
 
The link says Curt Menefee will be doing the pregame show. He'll seem about as out-of-place in a soccer telecast as Al Roker does on The Weather Channel.
 
Probably along the same brain-wave dysfunction as CBS Sports sending Greg Gumbel to anchor the Daytona 500 pre-race show.

You can hear the sounds of palms slapping foreheads at Fox Soccer Channel. I would think with ESPN now airing Premier League games and the World Cup, ol' Rupert would have had one of his crews...maybe from Sky Sports, as they've aired a game or two....or how about FSC being all over this match in an attempt to garner at least a few more viewers for "the beautiful game."
 
http://www.epltalk.com/fox-scores-a-1-1-overnight-rating-for-champions-league-final/19975

The 2010 Champions League Final featuring Inter Milan against Bayern Munich drew a 1.1 overnight rating on the Fox Network.

How does that compare to last year’s final on ESPN? The 2009 Final, which was shown on a Wednesday afternoon, drew a 1.0 rating. So, in comparison, Fox’s rating is a disappointment. That said, you have to consider which teams played last year — Barcelona and Manchester United, two of the biggest clubs in the world. Inter Milan and Bayern Munich are big too, but they’re not in the same league as the Red Devils and Barca.

On Saturday afternoon, Fox had competition from other sports in terms of attracting viewers. The match was shown at the same time as Game four of the Flyers against Canadiens NHL Eastern Conference Final, which drew 1.6 on NBC. The third round of the PGA Tour Byron Nelsen Championship on CBS, meanwhile, drew 1.1

A bit disappointing but I can't be surprised. Soccer still hasn't yet advanced so much that games involving two relatively unknown teams would draw superb ratings. That is not to mention that there was no effective advertising for this game. There was no "pre-game education" on the Champions League Final and why it is a big deal for the sport.

But it was on network TV, so it's still a big step ahead.
 
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