UEFA European Championship on United States television
The UEFA European Football Championship,[1] commonly known as the UEFA European Championship and informally as the Euros, is the primary association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), determining the continental champion of Europe. Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the European Nations' Cup, changing to the current name in 1968.
History
Setanta Sports (2000–2004)
Coverage of the 2000 Euros was only available to Americans via pay-per-view. More specifically, via closed-circuit television, DirecTV, the DISH Network, and iNDemand cable pay-per-view. Viewers had the option of paying $20 per match, or $149 for the entire tournament[2]. Setanta also charged bars $3,000[3] for the privilege to carry their coverage. This often meant a $20 cover charge. Fox Sports World did however, offer the rebroadcasts of games on a week-long delay.
Pay-per-view was still the primary option come the 2004 Euros. This time, the price for the entire tournament was worth $179 while the price for bars rose to $4,000. Five live games were however, broadcast on Fox Sports World and Fox Sports Espanol. All quarters and semis would be broadcast on a five-day tape delay, with the final airing on a three-day delay. According to Setanta CEO Michael O'Rourke, they we offered the events to ESPN and Fox Sports Net. Setanta even offered to pay them to put it on, but there just was no appetite.
ESPN (2008–present)
ESPN firstly airing UEFA Euros in 2008 after reached a agreement with UEFA in December 2006[4]. With UEFA wanting the reverberations of the Euros to reach an international audience, ESPN decided to broadcast all matches live and online in 2008. After receiving good reaction from viewers, ESPN and UEFA continued to work by becoming official broadcasters of 2012, 2016 and 2020 tournament.
Distribution of match broadcasts
- 2008: ESPN (7 matches), ESPN2 (17 matches), ESPN Classic (5 matches), ABC (2 matches including final)
- 2012: ESPN (22 matches including Final), ESPN2 (9 matches)
- 2016: ESPN (39 matches including Final), ESPN2 (12 matches)
- 2020: ESPN (39 matches including Final), ESPN2 (7 matches), ABC (5 matches)
On-Air Talent
Year | Play-by-play | Color commentator(s) | Reporters | Studio Host(s) | Studio Analyst(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | |||||
2016 | Ian Darke Jon Champion Derek Rae Adrian Healey Max Bretos Mark Donaldson |
Taylor Twellman Steve McManaman Stewart Robson Kasey Keller Kate Markgraf Alejandro Moreno |
Jeremy Schaap Marty Smith Alison Bender |
Mike Tirico Bob Ley Steve Bower |
Craig Burley, Michael Ballack, Santiago Solari, Vincent Kompany, Steve McManaman, Taylor Twellman, Julie Foudy, Roberto Martinez, Frank Leboeuf and Kasey Keller |
2012 | Ian Darke Adrian Healey Derek Rae |
Steve McManaman Robbie Mustoe Kasey Keller Taylor Twellman |
Alicia Ferguson Darrell Currie |
Bob Ley Rebecca Lowe |
Michael Ballack, Alexi Lalas, Kasey Keller, Taylor Twellman and Tommy Smyth (Bristol) Glenn Hoddle and Roberto Martinez (Poland and Ukraine) |
2008 | Adrian Healey Derek Rae |
Andy Gray Robbie Mustoe Tommy Smyth |
Rece Davis Rob Stone |
Julie Foudy and Alexi Lalas |
References
- "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2018–20" (PDF). UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. 9 March 2018. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
- "DISH Network Satellite TV offers Euro 2000 three-week soccer tournament on pay-per-view". Business Wire. 7 June 2000. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
- Penner, Mike (June 1, 2000). "Euro 2000 Options Limited". Los Angeles Times.
- Welsh, James (2006-12-11). "Euro 2008 matches to air on ABC, ESPN". Digital Spy. Retrieved 2020-07-18.