GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports?

[Jimplication]

I've been a subscriber of GolTV and Fox Soccer Channel (they're part of a sports package) since they've been made available in the United States, but recently switched to Direct TV, which also offers Setanta Sports.

GolTV and FSC are included in Direct TV's "Sports Pack," ($12 a month), while Setanta Sports is a standalone fee of $15 a month, and I can't justify spending close to $30 a month for three soccer/international sports channels. With the rugby season approaching and soccer coverage having been broken and distributed across more channels (with FSC getting the short end of the deal, in my mind), Setanta is looking like a pricey, but tempting, alternative.

If given the choice of GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports, which would you choose, and why?

[pk500]

Re: GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports?

Jimp:

Setanta, if the English Premier League is your favorite.

If you're into the Premiership, Setanta gets the better games. Period. FSC gets sloppy seconds, usually the teams down the table, with a few Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal games tossed in to keep people somewhat happy.

FSC also has dedicated more time to U.S. soccer programming, with a much heavier emphasis on MLS, USL and NCAA game telecasts. I really don't care about any of those entities.

Setanta also shows more Champions League qualifiers than FSC and has Coca-Cola Championship coverage from England (not on FSC). Plus if you're a ManU or Chelsea supporter, Setanta shows MUTV and ChelseaTV.

Finally, Setanta has a GREAT rugby lineup. World Cup, Six Nations, Tri-Nations, Heineken Cup, Super 14, Guinness Premiership, etc., etc. If you're even the slightest bit interested in rugby, Setanta is the way to go. And if you're not, then watch. Rugby union is fantastic!

Good luck with your decision.

Take care,
PK

[Jimplication]

Re: GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports?

Jimp:

Setanta, if the English Premier League is your favorite.

If you're into the Premiership, Setanta gets the better games. Period. FSC gets sloppy seconds, usually the teams down the table, with a few Liverpool, Man U, Chelsea and Arsenal games tossed in to keep people somewhat happy.

FSC also has dedicated more time to U.S. soccer programming, with a much heavier emphasis on MLS, USL and NCAA game telecasts. I really don't care about any of those entities.

Setanta also shows more Champions League qualifiers than FSC and has Coca-Cola Championship coverage from England (not on FSC). Plus if you're a ManU or Chelsea supporter, Setanta shows MUTV and ChelseaTV.

Finally, Setanta has a GREAT rugby lineup. World Cup, Six Nations, Tri-Nations, Heineken Cup, Super 14, Guinness Premiership, etc., etc. If you're even the slightest bit interested in rugby, Setanta is the way to go. And if you're not, then watch. Rugby union is fantastic!

Good luck with your decision.

Take care,
PK

Thanks for the quick reply.

FSC has really gone downhill in my mind. I don't care much about American soccer at all, as I find it to be inferior to the Eruo leagues, in general. I do like GolTV and if I make the switch, that is where I will notice the void.

I've only been exposed to rugby in the last year or so, and that was primarily through online feeds and a game download or two from MediaZone. I find it to be a very intriguing sport and it would be great to be able to watch it on TV instead of my PC. I noticed the Six Nations starts up this weekend, and thus it might be a nice time to add Setanta to get a taste for what it has to offer.

My view of Fox Soccer Channel has turned quite sour since it was initially introduced. It used to be you could turn on FSC or GolTV on a weekend and have a full slate of great games to choose from, whereas now I'll be lucky to find one game I care about on a given weekend. I did record the Inter / Juventus game yesterday, but I think even that was on GolTV. Furthermore, I am not really a fan of the commentators/presentation of Fox Soccer Channel, and I am intrigued to see how Setanta's coverage is.

GolTV on the other hand, I consider to be solid. Their presentation seems much more genuine and loyal to the clubs they are covering, and their game offerings are far superior. I really enjoy the BundesLiga, as well as watching the top Spanish/Italian clubs, but even so, I am intrigued by Setanta's coverage. Soccer coverage in general seems to be half a decade or more behind in America, and that's a shame as it is a very solid and enjoyable sport. One on hand it was great when it was a niche sport and one channel would show all the premier teams without a lot of advertising, but even in the last five years, its become more popular, which resulted in the games being spread out among more channels, and advertising becoming much more prevalent.

That being said, Setanta does seem like a breath of fresh air, and I think I may try it out, at least for a month or so. Direct TV seems to be pretty liberal in allowing one to add/remove packages, and with the rugby season rapidly approaching, it may be a nice time to give Setanta a try.

[Stu]

Re: GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports?

Personally, I would choose FSC and GolTV. I like the EPL but really enjoy watching the other leagues as well. GolTV has a pretty full slate of games from Bundesliga, Serie A and La Liga. While I agree that FSC has gone downhill, the FSC/GolTV combo provides a better mix for my tastes.

[pk500]

Re: GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports?

I'm with you on FSC, Jimp. It has gone straight into the sh*tter. Just four years ago, it had this exclusive lineup:

EPL (exclusive, no split rights)
SPL
Bundesliga
Eredivisie
Argentine Apertura and Clausura
Brazilian League
Ligue 1

Now it has sloppy seconds of the EPL, non-marquee matches from Serie A and still the Argentine Apertura and Clausura. FSC is trying to find its niche with its support and telecasts of U.S. soccer, but I don't care too much about the inferior domestic product here.

About the only non-match programming on FSC that entertains me is "Dream Team" and "FanZone."

The idea combination would be Setanta and GolTV. That's footie nirvana.

Take care,
PK

[JRod]

Re: GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports?

If you get DTV premium package you get FSC and Gol TV included.

FSC is doing a lot of the US games because it's losing out on EPL games due to Sentanta. I'm sure FSC would love to have every EPL game on.

It's funny because Sky Sports has every EPL game and Sky and Fox is owned by the news Corp. Murdoch's effort to take over the global media.

[devilsjaw]

Re: GolTV/FSC or Setanta Sports?

I get all of them, but Setanta is the best. On top of what PK listed, they also show SPL, Ligue 1, Eredivisie and Carling Cup. Not to mention the Football League playoffs at the end of the season, Euro and World Cup qualifiers. you cant' beat it.