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Morning Ticker: EPL to ESPN, FC Dallas wins again and more

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ESPN may still be reeling from losing the rights to the UEFA Champions League, but that isn't stopping it from building up its collection of soccer offerings.

According to EPL Talk, ESPN has added the English Premier League and will show up to two matches a week, starting next week. The network initially made some waves when it secured rights to EPL games in England, a move that was part of ESPN's plan to launch an ESPN UK channel, but now ESPN appears set to show EPL games here in the United States.

The first of those games? The Aug. 15th clash between Chelsea and Hull City, which happens to be Jozy Altidore's new club. While it remains unclear whether Altidore will have a work permit in time to play in that match, the news of EPL games on ESPN is big for American soccer fans considering many more fans have access to ESPN than to Fox Soccer Channel and Setanta Sports, the two channels that previously showed EPL matches.

ESPN has yet to confirm the deal, but EPL Talk has usually been spot-on when it comes to EPL broadcasting news. (UPDATE-Sources tell me no deal is finalized yet, but that talks are underway. In other words, you might want to hold off on the celebration until something official is announced.)

Here are some more stories to get your day going:

Cunningham leads FC Dallas past Houston

FC Dallas looks to be awakening and striker Jeff Cunningham is helping lead the way.

Fresh from a four-goal performance last week, Cunningham delivered the game-winning goal on Thursday night as FC Dallas posted a 1-0 victory against the Houston Dynamo.

The victory, Dallas' third in five matches, suddenly has Cunningham's club closing in on the teams atop the Western Conference, while it also leaves the Dynamo looking for answers after dropping its third loss in five matches.

For those of you who missed Cunningham's goal, here it is:

DirecTV sets up mun2

For those of you with DirecTV who were wondering how you would be able to watch USA-Mexico next week, the satellite company has taken the guesswork out of the process by moving mun2 to channel 203 a week before the World Cup qualifier.

Telemundo is offering mun2 for free to all cable and satellite providers on Aug. 12 in order to give as many fans access to the USA-Mexico match as possible. DirecTV took the step move the network well in advance so subscribers would be able to find the channel without a problem.

Dempsey and Johnson help Fulham roll

Clint Dempsey and Eddie Johnson both recorded assists to help Fulham cruise to a 3-0 victoryagainst FK Vetra on Thursday.

The victory earned Fulham a LONG trip through Russia to face Amkar after the Europa League Playoff Round draw was held early Friday. Amkar is 4,500 miles from London.

USMNT roster vs. Mexico to be named today

Those of you wondering when the USA roster for the qualifier for Mexico will be named, your wait should end today.

The U.S. national team is expected to reveal its roster for the match at some point today, with Thursday night's Houston-FC Dallas match and Fulham Europa League match causing U.S. coach Bob Bradley to hold off the announcement for one more day.

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What do you think of the news? Excited at the prospects of ESPN showing EPL matches? Think FC Dallas is for real? Happy to see Eddie Johnson contributing for Fulham?

Share your thoughts below.

Comments

  1. Having the EPL being shown on ESPN is brilliant, but what I think a lot of people are forgetting about is the UEFA Champions League which in my mind shows the greatest competition from around Europe fight for Title of Europes Best Team. Anyway I hope this EPL Deal shows the whole season and not just like 2 or 3 games a month.

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  2. Fan-tastic!! If those games are in HD…well let’s not put the cart before the horse, but this is great news, great news. E-S-P-N!

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  3. How about Mun2 on DISH? I think it’s 800 something. But, because I don’t normally get that channel, I don’t know if I can set the TIVO.

    Posted by: Doug | August 07, 2009 at 10:09 AM

    Hey Doug…I have DISH and the DVR let me set it to record the MUN2

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  4. @ Andy in Atlanta

    Thanks! I was going to watch the Telemundo feed even if I had Mun2. But if it is Balboa, then that just cements it for me watching it on Telemundo.

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  5. Can the other American Idol judges kick off one of their own for lack of talent? Cos if so, Victoria is gonna be in a lot of trouble.

    AND AMERICA VOTED… VICTORIA, YOUR DREAM IS OVER!!!

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  6. YESSSSS! I know what my Saturdays are gonna look like… EPL in the morning, barbeque, and then MLS in primetime!!! Good move, ESPN.

    Also, I imagine that Fox wouldn’t have outbid ESPN for Champions League rights if they didn’t have HD in the works…

    Oh, and here’s a letter to Fulham:

    Dear Fulham,

    Think it’s crazy to fly 4,500 miles for a game? Suck it up. Welcome to Major League Soccer.

    Sincerely,

    MEXICO SUCKS

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  7. The early Saturday morning and Monday afternoon games fit perfectly into ESPN’s existing channel infrastructure and allow them to avoid the 800 lbs gorilla that is college football, while also getting something that will generate a decent rating number (compared to the lame hunting/fishing/bowling/etc stuff that is usually on in those slots.

    Setanta-i should be forced to drop their price to like $10 a month though, as they have basically lost half of the games they used to televise.

    If this agreement gets done, the LFC-Aston Villa game would be the first Monday afternoon game right (Aug 24)?

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  8. Breaking News: Last night’s match likely has caused Bob Bradley to consider including Jeff Cunningham in the squad for Azteca over Brian Ching. Sources suggest Bradley may have forgotten Cunningham still played in MLS. This is has caused the delay. 😉

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  9. I have to apoplogize for not hitting the link before commenting. It’s a personal pet peeve of mine. oops..

    Tony in Quakeland – 🙂 ‘Mats rule….

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  10. “According to EPL Talk, ESPN has added the English Premier League and will show up to two matches a week, starting next week.”

    Live or are we going to get tape delayed games after college and pro football gameday shows?

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  11. Eddies been having a pretty good pre-season with Fulham. He’s yet to get a start, but he’s played a half in a number of games and has registered a goal and a number of assists. Looks like he’s in Fulham’s plans for this year….

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  12. The first encounter between Hull City and Fulham is on a Monday afternoon(10/19). If ESPN gets the rights mentioned in the article, that game will definitely be on the Worldwide Leader. Sweet!

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  13. oh yea the mlb network is in that also I think, as I have that also. It might just be on the basic digital package though, not sure.

    Reply

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