Photo by ISIphotos.com
The USA-Mexico World Cup qualifier on Aug. 12 in Mexico City is going to be broadcast in English. You're just going to have to work a bit harder to see it.
Telemundo announced on Monday that it will broadcast the match the match in Spanish on Telemundo and on English on mun2, an English-language channel geared toward young Latinos in the United States. The announcement comes after it was revealed last week that Telemundo had rejected reasonable offers for the English-language rights to the match.
So what happened to ESPN's bid for the match? According to sources, the bid was killed by Telemundo's exorbitant price tag, which one source put at between three and four times what ESPN was willing to pay and what is usually paid for those type of matches.
"They set a price they knew nobody would pay," said one source. "It's safe to say they had no intention of selling."
So where do you get mun2 exactly?
If you have DirecTV, mun2 can be found in channel 410 and can be seen as part of the DirecTV Latin Programming package. Don't get that package? If you're dead set on watching the match in English, you may want to consider ordering the Latin Programming package for the month of August and cancelling after the match. There is no word yet on who will be calling the game for mun2.
If that doesn't work, then you may be forced to either find an English-language feed on the internet or watching the game at a soccer bar.
Should USA fans be upset with this development? Yes, but they should also realize that, prior to the 2005 World Cup qualifier at Azteca, the USA-Mexico road qualifiers were never shown on English-language television. As one U.S. soccer official told me last week, it's not an ideal scenario, but isn't unheard of either.
That isn't stopping some fans from organizing petitions to try and put pressure on NBC Universal, parent company of Telemundo, to air the match on another NBC network.
What do you think of this development? Will you be ordering mun2? Will you watch the match at a soccer bar or via web feed instead? Planning to make the trip to Mexico City instead?
Share your thoughts below.
I have time warner cable in upstate new york… i have the hd digital package. mun2 is channel 917
Mexico Goal = Golazo
U.S. Goal = Ay Dios mio
If only the home team is given the television rights in qualfiers then something needs to be done to change that. Two different teams still play in that game. The USSF should still be able to have control over their product. FMF should get Spanish language rights where they want and the USSF at the least should be able to get the rights to English language broadcasts in the States.
@Aaron
“Goal = Gol
Ball = Pelota
USA/American = Gringo
Donovan = Donovan
Bradley = Bradley
Dempsey, Onyewu, etc., etc.”
Heh. That’s one great thing about soccer on TV. Once you see the lineups, you’re set. Doesn’t matter what language it’s in. Gooch will always be in the center of defense. He won’t be playing forward sometimes, and goalkeeper at others. Danny Califf won’t be coming in and out of the game for him.
It’s not like football or basketball, where you HAVE to be informed of the substitutions, or baseball, where there’s so much down time that you need the announcers to fill the time. You can figure it out.
My only concern is not being able to watch it at the pub. They have FSC, but Telemundo is on a separate package here, (along with Gol TV and ESPN Deportes)
If I watch on Mun2, will there be the normal amounts of sweet, sweet booty shaking that I’m accustomed to seeing on said channel?
Posted by: Aquaman | July 20, 2009 at 02:25 PM
OMG. LMAO! second that!
I’m going to be in Canada for the week of this game. Does anyone know if any Canadian broadcaster is airing this game? Will I be able to watch it up there!?!
The Spanish broadcasts are better anyway. The American English ones are unbelievably terrible. Getting a couple of stock EPL announcers from Sky or Setanta would do wonders…
Tell you what, Mexican pregame shows beat the hell out of American pregame shows. I just saw the Mexico-Haiti pregame show and they really know how to use female reporters. I don’t mind that these games are in Spanish. I just turn off the sound because the Spanish annoucers tend to get way too excited anyway. Instead of watching what the announcers tell you to watch, I believe you pay more attention to the actual game that way.
Although I get Mun2 and Telemundo at home this is seriously effed up. It seems like a major step backwards. Will NBC come to their senses? If they want to keep this in their “family” then surely there is a better more widely available channel to put the game on. Mun2 is a music video channel for phucs sake.
And Pico, saying that this is merely the free markets at work doesn’t suffice. Something just as American as free markets is grassroots protest and getting businesses and government to change their policy by letting them know how the people feel.
And for the record, I don’t think Mexico or FMF has anything to do with it. I personally have no problem with watching it in Spanish, but it’s so obvious that this game should also be available on a more widely-accessible channel in English. The demand is there.
Another setback for American Soccer. I will not buy any products advertised during the game.
I seriously refuse to accept this. I will be e-mailing and calling whoever I possibly can to let them know how many people care about this. Certainly NBC will hear my voice. And I expect the rest of you to make yourself heard as well. This is a bleeping national team match, and a really important one at that, at a time of critical mass in USA’s history
And Christian, most of us are tired of your name-calling. If you don’t have anything nice to say, keep your hands off the keyboard thanks
Fine, put it on a channel we can all watch it. Otherwise, NBC will not get the ad revenue they should get for that telecast.
Telemundo has as much class as the Mexican National Team (about zero).
“Why would an American company, NBC, do this to US national team fans? Oh wait, I forgot, they are own by the FMF according to the whiners here. This is capitalism, if you don’t like it leave and to Cuba.”
Or just wait another couple years here…
USSF and other US Soccer supporter websites need to publish Soccer Bars that will be showing the game in English….with that said….anyone know of bars in the LA area that have a great American atmosphere for the game?????????
Please help a half Mexican find a US-supporting soccer pub to hear the game in English!!!!!!
Well I don’t speak Spanish and I don’t get mun2, so I guess it looks like I’ll be watching it illegally on the internet. Thanks a lot NBC!
I think his is a bid by Telemundo to popularize Mun2. I can’t imagine executives at Telemundo under NBC would last long putting any Mexican favoritism ahead of profits. Clearly they think this game will bring huge ratings and purchases of Mun2 cable/satellite packages.
If you don’t like it, vote with your wallets. Don’t buy packages with Mun2, watch the game in Spanish (not that unbearable), go to a soccer bar, or find the feed online. If it’s a ratings failure for Mun2, Telemundo’s executives will have a lot to answer for to their NBC overlords.
Just an FYI for Boston residents… I have Comcast in Boston and get Mun2 on channel 705. I think I have digital deluxe (on my non HD TV) and the sports package, which is basically all non movie channel cable, and I get it. Who knew?
Hope this helps.
watching via internet.
Well, here is another reason taking French in High School was a lousy idea. Guess I’ll be watching on Telemundo. I wonder if President Obama has mun2 or knows Spanish?
How about fans of US Soccer threaten to boycott NBC if they don’t order their own division to broadcast the game in English on a channel almost everyone gets.
Yes – the time issue is a bigger deal than the channel. We’ll all have to figure out different plans with work and what not. But seriously, any Irish pub will play the game as long as they have a TV. Worst case just call ahead that week and I’m sure they’d have it on. I can’t imagine any bar (especially Irish/Scottish/English pub) would refuse that request at 2 or 3 (or even earlier for you Best Coasters) in the afternoon on a Wednesday.
looks like i’ll be watching in spanish. mun2 costs extra money! doesn’t come with Cox digital cable with the sports package. bastards.
USA soccer,.. Not ready for Prime Time
EVERYBODY SIGN THE PETITION! PLEASE!!!
I don’t have the Latin package from DirecTV (silly me, I only bought every single sports package available and thought that would suffice to cover all my viewing needs!), I turn 21 THE NEXT DAY so I can’t go to a bar (I’m not even kidding about that. I
m unbelievably pissed), and I refuse to pay for the Latin package for one day! My parents have a 52″ plasma HDTV, and they told me I could come and watch the game on their TV, but instead, I’ll apparently have to watch it on a 5″ computer monitor. And my computer is old and shitty, so the feed will be choppy and slow.
So PLEASE sign that petition, people!!
Could they make it any more obvious that they fear losing this match?
Between the mid-day start and hiding the English-language broadcast on timbuk2, I think the FMF and its conspirators are doing everything they can to insure that as few people as possible witness the beatdown that will inevitably take place.
Jotos.
Posted by: Texas 1836
—————–
The game starts at 4 PM ET, maybe it’s midday in Cali but not here in the East Coast.
I’ll repeat myself so delusional fanboys like this guy can understand.
MEXICO AND THE FMF HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
They sold the rights to the highest bidder, NBC/Telemundo, so take it up with them.
My god. What an idiot.
Why would an American company, NBC, do this to US national team fans? Oh wait, I forgot, they are own by the FMF according to the whiners here. This is capitalism, if you don’t like it leave and to Cuba.
I was raised in schools that taught a second language from an early age…..unfortunately (in this situation at least) that second language is French
Sounds like the Mexicans who run telemundo were getting jealous of all of the success and fame US soccer is getting and decided to put a damper on it. Shame on you jeaous Mexicans, shame on you. Just because our C team is preparing to wipe the floor with your A team, shame shame shame.
MEXICAN RESTAURANT IN THE MEXICAN LANGUAGE (SPANISH FOR THOSE OUT OF THE LOOP)
I don’t think that I’ll be able to watch this game, and I’m not going to pay extra money just to watch it on Dish. This really sucks.
If the hardcore fan isn’t going to go out of their way to watch the game, there is no way in hell the casual fan will. This just kills all momentum that the US gained from the confed cup in terms of fan support.
Someone is to blame for these tv rights being screwed up. I don’t know if it’s USSF for not putting a clause in their deal that would allow for a broader English speaking channel to show the match or if it’s CONCACAF/FIFA that only allows the home team to control the television rights… but this is beyond stupid.
P.S. I was talking today with a Mexico-supporter here at work. He actually said this today: “I would rather miss the World Cup than see the U.S. beat Mexico at Azteca.”
Oddly enough, I think it will actually be a good thing for Mexico when we finally punch their Azteca cherry. I think they’re obsessed about it right now, and after we actually do it, they can just get back on about the business of playing soccer.
We are in their head so bad it’s funny.
Al17,
Being bilingual in this case has everything to do with it. It completely negates the dope business decisions of others. What is more, it gives you the ability to choose if options are available.
Cheers
Posted by: Pico | July 20, 2009 at 04:51 PM
It’s just dumb business. They’d make more money from selling the rights to ESPN. Someone else said it best that it pads their numbers for Q4 to keep MUN afloat. What happens when those numbers are lower than projected? Seeing how much more revenue they can pull in by distributing to another outlet, being just above average in viewers for this match might not be good enough. What happens if the number of viewers is below average? Disaster for that network.
This has nothing to do with bilingual options, it’s just a dumb business move. It might actually cost more for such a production since you need more personnel to support those announcers in the two languages despite using the same video feed. It’s just a thought and note it’s a maybe. You’re not necessarily bringing in different sponsors for both feeds and what happens if you’ve got sponsors like Budweiser which supports the US Nats and Miller Lite which is a El Tri sponsor – I’d love to be at that meeting of Know you won’t….
Not that it matters but I’m multilingual, so the bias I have is the lack of outlets for the biggest WCQ match between these two teams.
This is just dumb business!!! If they allowed people to tap into the MUN feed via one of the Telemundo Digital channels, it would be a great business move. A great way to promote that part of the network and to a hell of alot more people, kinda like what HBO does with their free TV week-ends.
Could they make it any more obvious that they fear losing this match?
Between the mid-day start and hiding the English-language broadcast on timbuk2, I think the FMF and its conspirators are doing everything they can to insure that as few people as possible witness the beatdown that will inevitably take place.
Jotos.
this makes me very angry
Goal = Gol
Ball = Pelota
USA/American = Gringo
Donovan = Donovan
Bradley = Bradley
Dempsey, Onyewu, etc., etc.
Posted by: Aaron | July 20, 2009 at 03:32 PM
_____
Actually Goal: is GOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
and some others:
Penalty: penalty
offside: Fuera de lugar
corner kick: tiro de esquina
and this one needs no translation:
Dos-a-Cero
Channel 126 in NYC! NBC won’t move the broadcast. The ratings mun2 will get will be big enough for them to set their advertising for Q4.
LOL
gotta love the whining around here.
Geez, some of you are pathetic.
This has nothing to do Mexico or the FMF.
Take it up with NBC you whiny fools.
Channel 126 if you’re in NYC and get Time-Warner. mun2 appeals to a young Latino population which means NBC will most likely not want the game switched to another network they own because they’ll sell a load of ad time appealing to the young male Latino 18-24 demographic if the game stays on mun2. It’s about ad dollars, not satisfying the footie fan! That’s the way the cookie crumbles!
I live in upstate New York, I don’t get ****ing Telemundo or mun2. This is trash.
anyone in NYc, Mun2 is available on Time Warner, I just checked
Al17,
Being bilingual in this case has everything to do with it. It completely negates the dope business decisions of others. What is more, it gives you the ability to choose if options are available.
Cheers
For those who want to know, Comcast and Dish in the Atlanta market get MUN2.
If there is a lesson to be learned here is that the sooner we raise our children to learn and master two or more languages the better…..
Cheers
Posted by: Pico | July 20, 2009 at 04:25 PM
Hunh????
Makes no sense at all. Hell, if wasn’t for an FCC ruling Spanish and other TV stations broadcasting in a foreign language in the USA probably wouldn’t exist. I grew up watching the RAI show in Chicago and I have friends who grew up in other parts of the country that saw Soccer in Germany and other such shows but the game has grown and evolved to the point where we have more stuff to watch for free than damn nearly any other place on the planet. This match should be broadcast in English on an outlet that we can all access easily. Telemundo could have sold the broadcast rights to ESPN and still made much more coin than they’ll ever make off of airing it on some obscure TV channel that very few people have access to.
Learning another language doesn’t have a damn thing to do with this issue. The business side of this doesn’t make much sense at all. It’s just dumb.
I don’t see what the big deal is, just watch it on Telemundo. Also this is a win-win for NBC. People that don’t have Telemundo or Mun2 and want to see this game badly enough will pay subscription to get it, even if it’s for one month like Ives suggested, it’ll bring the network a ton of cash. No amount of protesting is going to erase the dollar signs NBC and Telemundo have in their sights right now.
P.S.
To all those outraged about NBC/Telemundo’s handling of the situation, it does not get any more American than this. It is the free markets at work. They know there is a demand and if someone wants it, they have to pay for it.
Cheers
looks like i’ll be ordering the spanish package of direcTv for the month of august.
i’m sure the picture will be crap compared to and HD feed but I guees it’s better than nothin
Don’t go crazy yet since I’m not so sure about this but if you’re going to be watching this at a bar on Telemundo you might get the caption in English like Telemundo does for many of their shows.
Posted by: Michael Cuello | July 20, 2009 at 04:10 PM
When have they ever done this for a football match? They won’t do it for this match.
Those of you saying a petition won’t work shouldn’t discourage others from trying. Remember NBC’s response when they screwed up Olympic broadcasts for soccer? Changed their tune mighty damn fast thanks to people phoning them.
We actually need to put the bug in the ear of someone at US Soccer to return the favor to Mexico. El Tri can play many matches in the USA to make a buck but the FMF wants to screw us over on this one? F… them!!!! Maybe if they have to go pay per view for a USA-Mexico match in Mexico then this crap will stop and only with an English feed.
Simple solution to stopping this crap. It is so simple.