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Sports

World Cup studio shows on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC

By Ryan Berenz ESPN details its studio programming schedule for the World Cup, including a few technological elements in its production. From ESPN: 85 Hours of 2010 FIFA World Cup Studio Programming on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC will combine to present more than 85 hours of studio programming during the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa beginning Thursday, June 10.  World Cup Live, the daily news, highlights and analysis program, and World Cup PrimeTime, the new nightly program featuring condensed versions of the day’s matches, will anchor the schedule.  ESPN is covering its seventh FIFA […]

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Sports

ESPN analysts make World Cup predictions

By Ryan Berenz ESPN surveyed its World Cup broadcasters to get their predictions for the tournament. As you’d imagine, there’s lot of Brazil, Spain, Netherlands, Argentina … you know, the favorites. The only one of them to really go out on a limb is Tommy Smyth, who picks Germany over England in the final. Me? I have Paraguay, Honduras, Cameroon and the USA in our World Cup office pool, which means I am pretty much a loser before the tournament even starts. Aside from those four, I am throwing my support behind Slovakia. I’ll take Netherlands over Portugal in the […]

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Interview

How will England fare at the World Cup? We asked actor Ian McShane

While interviewing actor Ian McShane for the upcoming Starz miniseries The Pillars of the Earth, Channel Guide Magazine‘s Karl Paloucek had a chance to pick McShane’s brain about the World Cup, particularly his native England’s chances of winning (or choking away) this tournament. McShane knows a little about football — his father, Harry McShane, played for Manchester United from 1951-54. Here’s what McShane had to say about the Three Lions’ hopes in South Africa: I’m surprised they haven’t come out with another song again, about, “Football’s coming home!” or one of those pathetic songs they bring out every four years, […]

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Sports

Fox Soccer Channel in-studio show highlights World Cup coverage

Starting June 10, Fox Soccer Channel will include among its hundreds of hours of World Cup programming a daily in-studio show called Ticket to South Africa, which will air at 4:30pm ET throughout the soccer competition, after the final whistle blows each matchday. The 4:30pm airings are live, and are repeated throughout the evening. The program presents daily previews and recaps of World Cup action, plus live reports from FSC’s correspondents in South Africa. Richard Keys of Britain’s Sky Sports hosts the one-hour show, which features analysis from Andy Gray, also of Sky Sports. Additional in-studio experts include former U.S. […]

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Sports

ESPN2 and ESPN Classic to reair all 64 World Cup matches

By Ryan Berenz The first live match of the World Cup hasn’t aired yet, and we’re already talking about reruns! Since a lot of the matches air live in the mornings and afternoons, ESPN2 and ESPN Classic will reair matches in the evenings. And ESPN3.com will archive matches available for viewing on demand. Here’s the complete release from ESPN: 166 Hours of 2010 FIFA World Cup Match Re-airs on ESPN Classic and ESPN2 All 64 Matches to be Archived on ESPN3.com and Available for Replay Through End of Year ESPN Classic and ESPN2 will combine to re-air all 64 matches […]

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Sports

24-hour Countdown to Kickoff for World Cup on ESPN2

By Ryan Berenz ESPN2 is devoting all of its programming to the World Cup on June 10-11, gearing up for the kickoff match on June 11. Here’s the complete info from ESPN: ESPN2’s 24-Hour Countdown to Kickoff for 2010 FIFA World Cup June 10-11 Preview Show Featuring Former World Cup Stars Shaun Bartlett, Ruud Gullit, Jürgen Klinsmann and Alexi Lalas; Celebration Concert; MLS Match; and More ESPN will kick off its month long coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup with a 24-hour soccer-themed “Countdown to Kickoff” programming block on ESPN2 beginning Thursday, June 10 at 10 a.m. ET, and […]

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Sports

ESPN Digital Media brings multiplatform coverage of the World Cup

By Ryan Berenz ESPN’s coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup doesn’t stop at the TV. The Worldwide Leader has everything from mobile apps, games, tweets, text alerts, podcasts and more on its various digital platforms. Here’s the complete release from ESPN: ESPN Digital Media to Bring Unprecedented Coverage of the 2010 FIFA World Cup to Multiple Platforms ESPN is ramping up its biggest overhaul of multiplatform coverage ever with the 2010 FIFA World Cup.  Across all digital platforms – online, mobile, social media, fantasy, games and digital audio – ESPN will dedicate a full month of 24/7 news, analysis, […]

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Sports

Where to watch the 2010 Belmont Stakes

By Ryan Berenz Forgive us if we lack excitement about this year’s Belmont Stakes. Not only is there no Triple Crown winner this year, but Kentucky Derby winner Super Saver and Preakness winner Lookin At Lucky are skipping the race. So who’s left? How about Dave in Dixie (20-1) jockeyed by Calvin Borel? Or how about trainer Nick Zito’s Ice Box (3-1) or Fly Down (9-2)? Sure. Makes no nevermind to me. ABC sort of takes a gamble every year they broadcast this race, hoping the Triple Crown will be at stake. They’ve been lucky at lot the past few […]