Jul 31
I was hoping someone could help me. I know this question may have been asked, but I am new to Arsenal America. I am an Arsenal fan for a few years now, and last year I tried to get a EPL package, only to find that cable/satellite providers are absolute morons. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone had information on purchasing a plan or service that could provide if not all, the majority of the Arsenal games? Any information would be fantastic. Thank you for any help.
Drew Strong
31 Responses to “Watching Arsenal”
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July 31st, 2007 at 8:00 am
Hi Drew,
If you want to watch at home, you would need to subscribe to DirecTV satellite. After picking a base package, the cheapest being $49.99 per month, you would need to add their Sports Pack, to get Fox Soccer Channel, for $12.00 per month and Setanta for $14.99 per month.
Last season on Saturdays, Setanta showed the 12:45pm kickoff (UK time)game live. There was then 3 live games from the 3pm kickoff (1 on FSC and 2 on Setanta and Setanta Xtra). FSC then showed the 5:15pm kickoff game live, and then a tape delayed game.
On Sundays, the 1:30pm kickoff game was on Setanta and the 4pm game was on FSC, both live, and FSC usually showed a tape delayed game later in the afternoon if there was more than two Sunday games.
Setanta showed Champions League and Coca Cola Cup Games. ESPN2, which is part of the base package, also showed Champions league games. There were usually 2 FA Cup games on Saturdays and Sundays, one on FSC and one on pay-per-view.
With these 2 packages I was able to see all but two or three of Arsenal’s Premiership games and all of their Champions League games.
Of course, if you don’t want to get these services yourself, as long as you have a sports bar with those channels, you can watch the games there.
Hope this helps.
Rob.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:20 am
I like my experience with DirecTV. I saw nearly every Arsenal EPL, CL, FA Cup, and even most of the Carling Cup matches last season. And if that failed, there is always ArsenalTV online and ESPN Gamecast to keep up while at work.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:23 am
Drew,
I have Comcast Cable and pay the extra $5 a month for the premium sports package which includes Fox Soccer Channel and GolTV (although apparently GolTV is not included in all areas of the country). I also use a service called ITVN (itvn.com) which uses a set-top box that uses my broadband internet connection. Through ITVN I’m subscribed to Setanta Sports for $14.99 a month.
I would agree with Rob that DirecTV is the way to go, because you’ll also get Setanta Xtra, but if a dish isn’t an option, then you may want to look into mirroring my setup.
Good luck!
July 31st, 2007 at 9:31 am
Setanta is excellent. I agree. Not to get off the subject, but I’m new here, and I can’t get my post to appear on here. Once I finish writing the post or draft it only gives me the option to save and continue editing or just save. Where is the actual submit button?
July 31st, 2007 at 9:32 am
That’s by design. Once you save, it gets added to a queue to be reviewed by site admins.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:37 am
Oh ok. Thanks, I thought I was doing something wrong.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:45 am
Last year at school I had the Direct TV setup with FSC/GOL and Setanta. It was wonderful and I miss it dearly. Right now I have FSC and GOL on Comcast digital.
Setanta is a gem. I highly recommend it. I am thinking about going the ITVN route right now.
In Atlanta, we have a few places that show games, but I don’t like buying food and drinks at inflated prices while watching. I’d rather just pay for the channels myself and watch in the comfort of home.
July 31st, 2007 at 1:02 pm
As indicated in previous posts DirecTV is the way to go w/ FSC & Setanta.
July 31st, 2007 at 3:59 pm
One more for DirecTV. With Setanta Extra, I don’t think I missed a Prem or Champions League match all last season. League Cup doesn’t show until later rounds, but, ummm, it’s the League Cup, so…
July 31st, 2007 at 4:00 pm
Agree I have D/tv w/ FSC and Setanta catch almost every game and than all the big ones im going to a pub to watch anyway
but would like more info on the ITVN rought
I am thinking of dumping the satillite because i can only get DSL and have to pay for a phone line. Its like paying almost triple instead of just getting comcast and broudband.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:18 pm
DirecTV is the only way to go for an Arsenal fan. There were very few matches not seen last season.
Awal, I have had DirecTV almost since its inception and I have not had a home phone line for nearly ten years. The only reason you need it is to instantly order PPV. With access to your account online, you can perform all these functions in real time. Drop the phone line if that’s the only reason you have it. That will pay for Setanta every month.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:10 am
Setanta is a must for the season. They covered the Emirates Cup last week. Fox soccer channel didn’t have those games, so it’s the only place to see some of the games live.
Definitely worth the $15/month……and kbarham is right about the phone line. We don’t have ours hooked up either, no reason to, unless you’re doing PPV.
August 1st, 2007 at 12:39 pm
I have DirecTV and recommend it fully. Until recently, it was the only option for getting Setanta, which broadcasts half the Premiership matches. But it should be noted that Setanta just annouced a deal with Dish Network, so there is another option on the horizon.
August 1st, 2007 at 6:23 pm
theres also programs like TVants and sopcast online which are totally free and cover every Arsenal game as well as sporting events all over the world.. not sure if you knew about that but its a free alternative instead of buying cable.. although $15 bucks a month for Setanta sounds appealing…
August 1st, 2007 at 10:02 pm
This is a perfect thread for me, I have been thinking about this all summer. I have comcast and am just trying to figure out how much directTV will cost me. OTOH, since the only reason I have cable is to watch arsenal, setanta is probably worth it regardless of cost.
Is there any way to get Arsenal games on HDTV? Since Setanta doesn’t mention it, I guess its only standard def. I think FSC just gets some European feed and so also standard def. Any other options? What is the quality of the broadband options, ArsenalTV and ITVN? and TVants and sopcast online?
On a related tangent, soccertv.com is going to be auctioned. I hope the new owner doesn’t wreck it.
Greg
August 2nd, 2007 at 11:15 am
Just subscribe to Arsenal TV its pretty cheap and the commentary will be far better as they actually know what they are talking about (football in general) and you can see most Arsenal games on there.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Dish Network now offers Setanta Sports as well. It’s on a free preview channel until September, then it will switch to another one, which is also $15/month. I’m not sure if Setanta Xtra will eventually be included, but it may. With FSC + ESPN + Setanta, I think that’s about 90% coverage. There’s a few games that the BBC may get their hands on (like FA cup). And don’t expect to get many Carling Cup games.
August 2nd, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Probably the only chance for HDTV Arsenal football is on ESPN. Usually they don’t broadcast from Europe in HD, but I think the CL final may have been. Many Arsenal matches are broadcast in HD on Sky HD, but that’s not coming any time soon.
August 6th, 2007 at 9:30 am
What about this week’s game v.s. Fulham? This Website says it’s broadcast on Setanta Xtra, but I’ve looked at the Setanta Xtra site and there’s no mention of it. As far as I can tell, none of the available satellite channels will be carrying it. Does anybody here know something that I don’t?
August 6th, 2007 at 9:42 am
I also noticed the Arsenal match is now not on Setanta, and it was showing it was a week ago. Now, they are showing a Ligue match?? What the hell is going on?? Does anyone know about a discontinued merger between Arsenal and Setanta?? I use ITVN myself, and they played almost every Arsenal match last year. I noticed they are not playing the Champions League game either. I am very nervous right now!!!!!!!
ITVN is (was??) great, because you can take it to your friends house, on vacation, etc. as long as there is a cable broadband modem/hookup. Just brought it to Cape Cod last week to watch the Emirates Cup games.
August 7th, 2007 at 12:44 pm
I wrote to Setanta and asked about whether Setanta Xtra would be carrying the game v. Fulham and they said they don’t have it (altough the person there could be wrong). I have direct tv (Setanta and FSC), are there any other options? Can you watch live full games on Arsenal TV? If so do they start on time? Thanks.
August 7th, 2007 at 3:31 pm
the arsenal site has it listed as ATVO (Arsenal TV online) so it looks like you can watch it there (I think that’s around $10 a month, not sure if it’s avail in the US though)
It’s also listed according to Soccertv.com as being on FOXsoccer.com - Internet Broadband. I’m not sure what that is, but if anyone knows the details. I’d like to watch this.
does anyone know if GOL still shows the games during midweek?
August 8th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Okay, as it becomes obvious the match isn’t going to be televised, I am growing more frustrated/angry. I was tempted to start a new thread, but I’ll bury it here (for now), I guess.
How is an opening day match featuring one of the Big Four versus the team with (I’m guessing) the most US players not being aired here? Using my DTV guide, I can’t even see that it’s going to be shown on delay or replay? WTF?
If this match turns out to be bait for Fox’s new broadband service, announced at the very last minute, I will be p*ssed. On top of everything else, I bet it won’t even be compatible with Macs.
If there are any other Mac using Gooners out there, I’d be very interested to hear what your plans are for Sunday.
August 8th, 2007 at 10:49 am
I feel the same vibe4arsenal!!
Last season, I saw every Arsenal match on either ITVN or Fox Soccer Channel. FSC is playing some bullshit 07 U.S. Youth Soccer National Championship?? Make that a replay and show us what all soccer fans want to see. Who is managing these companies???
Anyway, for all of you looking for a good site for game schedules, I use:
http://www.livesoccertv.com
Thanks,
Pissed off Gooner
August 8th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
mwel (and everyone else), Okay so I sent Setanta an e-mail and actually got a quick response. Passing the buck, of course. The guy said it was an FSC game.
Five minutes ago I got an e-mail from a buddy who got an e-mail that said, indeed, it will be available exclusively through Fox’s new broadband service. This is serious, serious BS.
August 8th, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Where can you find Fox’s new broadband service? I have been on FoxSoccer Channel site and can’t find it.
August 8th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
The Latest — I just saw this on Fox Soccer Channel’s website, updated as of one hour ago (6:40pm eastern). Listing of live games to be shown on FSC………
Sun. Aug. 12 Premiership Arsenal Fulham 7:00 a.m.
Sun. Aug. 12 Premiership Manchester United Reading 11:00 a.m.
Sun. Aug. 12 Soccer Super Sunday+ 1:00 p.m.
August 8th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
Thanks for the heads up, rose. (Hopefully, this isn’t a tease as it was on the Setanta site.) This certainly makes more sense, as it was too good a match-up for US TV to not be on here. Anyway, this would be really great. I was seriously bummed at the thought of having to watch opening day in a little box on my 15″ laptop.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:23 pm
I have Direct TV, and last year I purchased the “sports package” for $12 per month. This package included both FSC and Gol TV.
Every Monday (and Tuesday AM) GolTV had “Arsenal TV”, which ran for three hours and showed all of the previous weeks match. This was the WHOLE REASON I bought this package. I loved this show!
Now it seems that GolTV has dropped both Arsenal TV and Liverpool TV (although I see that Setanta has retained both Man U TV and Chelsea TV). So now I am at the mercy of FSC for viewing Arsenal games. I do not want to purchase Asenal TV online, as my wife would pitch a fit. The same goes for Setanta, which has some EPL games, but also a lot of rugby, cricket, and Australian rules football.
Any one know what ever happened to Gol’s weekly “Arsenal TV” program?
August 15th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
Hello to all you american gooners out there. There are other ways to watch live arsenal matches, some for free, some not. The best coverage will probably be from Arsenal tv online, which you can subscribe to at the arsenal website (arsenal.com). Another way to watch for free is using a programme called Sopcast. once you have downloaded and installed the programme, head to http://www.freefootball.org and click on live on tv to find a list of matches, the channels they are on, and the kick off time (UK time). it takes a couple of minutes to kick in and understandably there is a 2-5 min delay but its free! most matches are available on channels with english commentary, but sometimes you have to brave chinese or spanish. Please note that i am from the uk, and all this works fine here, but availability may depend on your service provider.
August 15th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
Sorry for the follow on. you can also watch all the goals from around the world for free at http://www.101greatgoals.com which is full of links to youtube and various other providers who have the goals.