Fox Soccer Channel is back in the live soccer business in a big way this month thanks to this past weekend’s start of the English Premier League season and again on Tuesday as the new UEFA Champions League season starts. It’s really great to see the best teams from all over Europe’s soccer leagues vie for the CL trophy. Matches begin Tuesday and Fox Soccer Channel with the use of Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Sports Net and DirecTV will have every match covered.
COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF 2010/11 UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BEGINS AUGUST 17 ON FOX-AFFILIATED NETWORKSPlayoff Round Match Telecasts and Studio Show Hosts AnnouncedLos Angeles (August 13, 2010) – The 2010/11 UEFA Champions League season kicks off Tuesday, Aug. 17 as Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Sports Net (FSN), Fox Soccer Plus and Fox Sports en Español – along with partner DIRECTV – team to provide coverage of the world’s most prestigious club soccer competition.Between Fox-affiliated networks and DIRECTV, viewers will have access to all 145 matches through the Final in May, available in high-definition. The UEFA Champions League debuts with the Playoff Round, where 20 teams will battle over two legs to qualify for the 32-team Group Stage.Setting the table at 2 p.m. ET each matchday is UEFA Champions League Pregame, a live 30-minute studio program. Simulcast on FSN, Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus on Tuesdays, the show airs on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Soccer Plus on Wednesday matchdays.UEFA Champions League Pregame is hosted by Eric Wynalda, with analysis from Warren Barton and Christopher Sullivan. Wynalda, who joined Fox Soccer Channel in 2009, is a National Soccer Hall of Fame member and the second-leading goal scorer in U.S. National Team history. Barton played in the 1997/98 UEFA Champions League as a defender with Newcastle United and currently serves as an analyst on Fox Soccer Match Day and Super Sunday +. Sullivan is a former U.S. National Team midfielder who also serves as Fox Soccer Channel’s lead match color commentator.All live matches kick off at 2:45 p.m. ET on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during the course of the season, with the exception of select contests originating in the Eastern European Time Zone which begin at 12:30 p.m. ET. European-based announcing teams provide commentary for all UEFA Champions League matches on Fox Soccer Channel, Fox Soccer Plus and FSN.For a complete telecast schedule visit championsonfox.com, where links to live online video streaming of all UEFA Champions League contests are also accessible.Meanwhile, UEFA Champions League Highlights will follow each match day at midnight (12 a.m. ET) on Fox Soccer Channel to recap all the day’s action. Fans seeking even more coverage of Europe’s biggest annual tournament can tune in to UEFA Champions League Magazine, premiering every Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Channel as well as on select FSN affiliates; check local listings.2010/11 UEFA Champions League Playoff Round Live Telecast ScheduleTues., Aug. 17 – BSC Young Boys (SUI) vs. Tottenham Hotspur (ENG), FSNTues., Aug. 17 – FC Dynamo Kyiv (UKR) vs. AFC Ajax (NED), Fox Soccer ChannelTues., Aug. 17 – Rosenborg BK (NOR) vs. FC København (DEN), Fox Soccer PlusWed., Aug. 18 – SV Werder Bremen (GER) vs. UC Sampdoria (ITA), Fox Soccer ChannelWed., Aug. 18 – FK Partizan (SRB) vs. RSC Anderlecht (BEL), Fox Soccer PlusTues., Aug. 24 – UC Sampdoria (ITA) vs. SV Werder Bremen (GER), FSNTues., Aug. 24 – RSC Anderlecht (BEL) vs. FK Partizan (SRB), Fox Soccer ChannelTues., Aug. 24 – Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC (ISR) vs. FC Salzburg (AUT), Fox Soccer PlusWed., Aug. 25 – Tottenham Hotspur FC (ENG) vs. BSC Young Boys (SUI) Fox Soccer ChannelWed., Aug. 25 – AJ Auxerre (FRA) vs. FC Zenit St. Petersburg (RUS), Fox Soccer PlusKick-off time for all matches is 2:45 p.m. ET; home teams listed firstFor a complete telecast schedule, including live matches on Fox Sports en Español and DIRECTV, visit championsonfox.com
Can’t wait to have soccer matches throughout the week. Looking forward to it.