Over the next two weeks, Fox Sports platforms will have exclusive coverage of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Fox Soccer Channel will air one semifinal leg while FX joins in to cover the other. The two channels will alternate matchups. Coverage begins April 26 and continues the following week. It marks the first time that FX will air the Champions League. And Fox brings in Curt Menefee to host the semifinals for the UEFA Champions League pregame show. You may remember he hosted the Champions League Final when it aired on Fox last year.
This marks FX’s return to sports since it aired MLB and NASCAR in the early to mid-aughts.
EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMIFINALS ON FX and FOX SOCCER APRIL 26-27; MAY 4-5 – Three of the world’s most prestigious clubs and a tournament Cinderella clash in the Champions League semifinals, televised exclusively on FX and FOX Soccer Channel. For the first time ever FX, Fox Network Group’s popular basic cable network delivered to 99 million US homes, carries one game from each semifinal with the other two games appearing on FOX Soccer.
Date Teams Channel First Leg: Tuesday, April 26 FC Schalke 04 vs. Manchester United Live at 2:30 ET on FOX Soccer First Leg: Wednesday, April 27 Real Madrid vs.FC Barcelona Live at 2:30 ET on FX Second Leg: Tuesday, May 3 Barcelona vs.Real Madrid Live at 2:30 ET on FOX Soccer Second Leg: Wednesday, May 4 Manchester United vs. FC Schalke 04 Live at 2:30 ET on FX FOX NFL SUNDAY host Curt Menefee and FOX Soccer’s Eric Wynalda, Warren Barton and Christopher Sullivan preview and analyze Champions League semifinal action on UEFA Champions League Pregame, live at 2:00 PM ET each matchday from FOX Soccer’s brand-new, state-of-the-art studio set at the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles. FOX Sports, for the second straight year, broadcasts the UEFA Champions League Final, Saturday, May 28 with pre-match coverage beginning at 2:00 PM ET, live from London.
And one other note from Fox Soccer Channel, it will air two MLS games this weekend:
TWICE THE ACTION ON FOX SOCCER THIS WEEKEND – FOX Soccer doubles its Major League Soccer coverage this weekend with games on Friday and Saturday nights. Friday’s game (9:00 PM ET/6:00 PM PT) features the defending MLS Cup champion Colorado Rapids hosting the Seattle Sounders. The Rapids’ captain, former U.S. International Pablo Mastroeni, is expected to return from a calf injury that sidelined him for the last two games. Seattle, unbeaten in its last four games, is gaining confidence with Fredy Montero up top and Steve Zakuani in the midfield marshaling the attack. J.P. Dellacamera has the play-by-play, with former MLS standout Kyle Martino handling analysis and Brian Dunseth contributing sideline reports. On Saturday, April 23 (10:30 PM ET/7:30 PM PT) the action moves to the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA where the Galaxy makes its 2011 MLS debut on FOX Soccer by welcoming the expansion Portland Timbers. Galaxy, currently in a first-place tie with Real Salt Lake atop the Western Conference, get midfielders David Beckham and Juninho, back from suspension and U.S. captain Landon Donovan back from injury. Mark Rogondino provides the play-by-play, with Kyle Martino bringing the analysis and Allen Hopkins handling sideline reports. Former U.S. National Team and MLS players Eric Wynalda and Christopher Sullivan team up for the pre-game, halftime and post-game coverage. For the latest MLS news, information and FOX Soccer’s 2011 telecast schedule, visit: http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/mls.
That’s all for your soccer notes today.
UPDATE, 10:10 a.m.: Fox Soccer has sent some more information on its UEFA Champions League coverage. Fox is branding the coverage on FX as “Fox Soccer on FX” continuing the traditions of “ESPN on ABC” and “Golf Channel on NBC”. And Fox will unveil a new set for the studio coverage. Take a look.
“FOX Soccer on FX”and FOX Soccer Broadcasts, Hosted by Curt Menefee, Debut New Champions League Studio Set at FOX Network Center
Los Angeles (April 21, 2011)–As UEFA Champions League, the preeminent competition in world club soccer, nears its thrilling climax, FOX Soccer ramps up its coverage with exclusive live high-definition telecasts of the semifinals beginning next week. For the first time ever FX, Fox Network Group’s popular basic cable network delivered to 99 million US homes, brings viewers “FOX Soccer on FX,”for one game in each semifinal with the other two games appearing on FOX Soccer.
FOX NFL SUNDAY host Curt Menefee and FOX Soccer’s Eric Wynalda, Warren Barton and Christopher Sullivan preview and analyze Champions League semifinal action on UEFA Champions League Pregame, presented by Geico, live at 2 p.m. ET each matchday from FOX Soccer’s brand-new, state-of-the-art studio set at the FOX Network Center in Los Angeles.
There you have it.
