New Format scheduled for 2010 U.S. Championships

[RUKen]

Quoted from Tonichelle: ESPN 360 will only be able to show those competitions that ESPN has a contract for. Which could be nothing after this year.

That is a possibility, but I would like to see that in writing since ESPN360 has nothing to do with USFS but with the ISU. Can you provide any real news on this. We all have opinions and yours can be correct. Can you show me more concrete data on this?
Joe

Actually, it is a fact, not an opinion, that ESPN does not have a contract to broadcast ISU events after this season, and that they have the option of choosing not to continue to broadcast skating, which would eliminate skating shown on ESPN360. There is nothing concrete to show when there is no contract yet. We just have to wait and hope.

 

[Tonichelle]

Joe - ESPN 360 is owned by ABC/ESPN - it's not an independant network. I'm not stating an opinion, this is how TV - both internet and cable - work!

ESPN 360 can only show what it's people are contracted for. Which means anything NBC has already is out for them. Which is why I listed the competitions I did - they're the ones that NBC has reported as having a contract with (artciles/press releases came out earlier this year, and no I don't save the links - honestly didn't think I needed to.). I'm not saying anything that hasn't been discussed in other threads at length all season. ESPN's contract with the ISU expires this year. They've yet to come out and say yes or no to renewing the contract. Again not an opinion, but as RUKen has already said - it's fact.

I brought in IceNetwork because they are the exception to the rule for broadcasting the events that NBC has lined up to broadcast. Going by this season Skate America AND Nationals have been shown as it happens all skaters shown etc. Again not my opinion, but you can go to their website and see that they showed everybody. Because they are OWNED by the USFSA they have a little more leeway in how the contracts work.

They mentioned in a recent email to the FSUers that emailed them that they are hoping to expand and show more international events - take it for what you will. *shrugs*

I am well aware that the USFSA is not in control of ESPN 360, but neither is the ISU. ESPN 360 is owned by the Mouse. Whether or not 'he' wants to continue coverage at all is up to him alone.

The way $peedy has been treating television networks in N. America lately I could see the GP series being blacked out (save for S. America on NBC/IceNetwork) in the US both on TV and on the Internet (because it's really all one and the same.)

That last statement is opinion, based on information we've had for at least a season.

 

[Sylvia]

BTW, a separate discussion thread re. ESPN360 can be found at: http://www.goldenskate.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19882

 

[Sylvia]

Well two events would happen over one weekend (men and pairs) and then the other two events would happen the next weekend. Skaters from the first weekend wouldn't have to stick around for the second weekend, and skaters for the second weekend wouldnt have to get there the same time the first weekend skaters do.

so it's not going to be any longer for the athletes, I would assume.

What I heard *unofficially* at Nationals is that the men and pair teams named to the 2010 Olympic team would, in theory, be able to go home and start training for Vancouver after they are done competing the first weekend of Nationals. I assume this would mean that they wouldn't have to come back to skate in an Exhibition on the second weekend, but only time will tell.

 

[Tonichelle]

That's what I figured, Sylvia.... It would be so frustrating to have to come back and I'd be the skater to tell them to stuff it

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

Actually, it is a fact, not an opinion, that ESPN does not have a contract to broadcast ISU events after this season, and that they have the option of choosing not to continue to broadcast skating, which would eliminate skating shown on ESPN360. There is nothing concrete to show when there is no contract yet. We just have to wait and hope.

isn't that all tied in with the present contract expiring after Worlds 2008? ESPN360 did not even exist at the time of that contract and no mention of it was made about being included with demise of ESPN regular.

I'm not saying that NBC will sue ABC in terms of the contract. I'm just saying the same as you, we should wait until after the 2008 Worlds to see exactly what ESPN360 does about figure skating which is just another sport in its treasure chest along with Soccer, Swimming, Diving, all of whom also have parent companies of their own and are committed to other channels.

ESPN360 can show international competitions which NBC will not do except for SA and Worlds 2009.

No point in jumping to conclusions. Unless someone has a copy of a revised conract, it is a wait and see.

Joe

Joe - ESPN 360 is owned by ABC/ESPN - it's not an independant network. I'm not stating an opinion, this is how TV - both internet and cable - work!

I really can't believe this is news.

 

[R.D.]

we know very little. but what has been CONFIRMED is the following.

NBC has US Nats/SA up to 2010 Olys

ESPN has Worlds 2008.





Awaiting confirmation:

NBC has worlds 2009

X will show the 08 and 09 GP series