Only GolTV Delivers Live and Premiere Coverage of Nine Qualifying Matches Featuring FIFA’s Top-Ranked Teams Spain, Germany, Netherlands & Italy

MIAMI – March 26, 2009 - GolTV, the only live bilingual channel delivering 24/7 soccer, will deliver live and premiere coverage of nine European 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches on March 28 and April 1 - 2.  Five of FIFA’s top 10 internationally ranked teams, Spain (1), Germany (2), Netherlands (3), Italy (4), and Russia (8), will take the field to compete for a berth in the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
The all-soccer network will also telecast new episodes of 2010 Report on March 29 and April 1. 2010 Report brings the race for the World Cup to life with animated debates and engaging analysis from GolTV’s top broadcast personalities.

Saturday, March 28
LIVE - Wales vs. Finland at 11 a.m. ET
LIVE - Germany vs. Liechtenstein at 3 p.m. ET
LIVE - Spain vs. Turkey at 5 p.m. ET
Premiere - Holland vs. Scotland at 7 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 29
New - 2010 Report at 10 p.m. ET

Wednesday, April 1
LIVE - Wales vs. Germany at 2:45 p.m. ET
Premiere - Holland vs. Macedonia at 4:45 p.m. ET
Premiere - Scotland vs. Iceland at 7:30 p.m. ET
Premiere - Liechtenstein vs. Russia at 9:30 p.m. ET
New - 2010 Report at 11:30 p.m. ET

Thursday, April 2
Premiere - Italy vs. Ireland at 1 a.m. ET

AT 12:30 PM (ET)/ 9:30 AM (PT) ON SETANTA SPORTS

England to unveil new uniforms

TORONTO (March 26, 2009) – England will be sporting a new look when they take to the pitch at Wembley Stadium in an international friendly versus Slovakia Saturday, March 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET/ 9:30 a.m. PT LIVE on Setanta Sports.

The match is available to all digital cable and satellite customers on select distributors across Canada as part of the Magnificent March Preview on Setanta Sports.

The 24-man England squad that takes on Slovakia will be the same group that faces Ukraine in a 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifier at Wembley four days later. Manager Fabio Capello named David Beckham, who has revived his career playing this season in Serie A with AC Milan, to the squad.

England has split a pair of matches with the world’s top-two teams in their last two outings. They closed out 2008 with an impressive 2-1 victory on November 19 over number-two ranked Germany at Olympic Stadium in Berlin. John Terry scored the winner in the 84th minute after Germany had drawn level 63 minutes into the match.

The latest encounter for England February 11 versus Spain ended with the Brits on the short end of a 2-0 result. Spain, the defending UEFA Euro Cup champs, currently sit atop the FIFA world rankings. England dropped one spot to sit ninth in the most recent FIFA ranking.

England also unveils a new jersey when they host Slovakia Saturday. English soccer gear manufacturer Umbro designed the new kit in consultation with England players as well as manager Capello.

TORONTO, March 25, 2009 – Below is a list of soccer matches that will air live or on tape delay on GolTV from March 27 to April 3, 2009.

GolTV Match Schedule for March 27 to April 3, 2009 *

Saturday, March 28th
Time               League                                   Match                                     Coverage
11:00 AM         UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Wales vs Finland                    LIVE
3:00 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Germany vs Liechtenstein      LIVE
5:00 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Spain vs Turkey                      LIVE
7:00 PM           Major League Soccer              Columbus vs Toronto FC       DELAYED
9:30 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Holland vs Scotland                DELAYED

Sunday, March 29th
Time               League                                   Match                                     Coverage
12:00 PM        Brazil                                        Sao Paulo vs Palmeiras     DELAYED

Wednesday, April 1st
Time               League                                   Match                                     Coverage
2:45 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Wales vs Germany                 LIVE
4:45 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Holland vs Macedonia             DELAYED
7:30 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Scotland vs Island .                 DELAYED
9:30 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Liechtenstein vs Russia         DELAYED

Thursday, April 2nd
Time               League                                   Match                                     Coverage
9:00 PM           UEFA World Cup Qualifier      Italy x Ireland                           DELAYED

*All times eastern.  Schedule subject to change.

ESPN2 and ESPN360.com will present two 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and one ESPN MLS Game of the Week contest in six days beginning Saturday, March 28, at 9 p.m., with the U.S. Men’s Soccer National Team vs. El Salvador National Team live from Estadio Cuscatlán in San Salvador. Highlights:
* U.S. National Team in El Salvador is the team’s second match of the final round of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying series

* On Wednesday, April 1, the U.S. Team returns home to host Trinidad and Tobago at the LP Field in Nashville, Tenn., for their third match of the round

* ESPN MLS Game of the Week returns with a matchup featuring the 2008 MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew, led by midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto, at Real Salt Lake, 2008 MLS Western Conference finalist.

* JP Dellacamera and John Harkes will call the two U.S. National Team matches, while Glenn Davis and Kyle Martino will call the MLS match, with sideline reporters Pedro Gomez (Nashville) and Allen Hopkins (Salt Lake City). Alexi Lalas will provide studio analysis for all the matches, joined by host Rob Stone on Wednesday and Thursday.

Saturday, March 28 at 9 p.m. the U.S. National Team play at El Salvador.
Commentators: JP Dellacamera and John Harkes  on ESPN2/ESPN360.com

Wednesday, April 1 at 7:30 p.m. Trinidad & Tobago play the U.S. National Team
Commentators: Dellacamera and Harkes  on ESPN2/ESPN360.com

Thursday, April 2 at 9:00 p.m.  Columbus Crew at Real Salt Lake
Glenn Davis and Kyle Martino    ESPN/ESPN Deportes /ESPN360.com

Adriano Galliani, chief executive of AC Milan, has stated his support for a US-style cap on footballers’ salaries to help football through the economic crisis.

“I think it would be opportune to have a salary cap,” Galliani said, as reported by Reuters. “There are discussions at Uefa to introduce this system in the Champions League sooner or later.”

Galliani said the “wind of crisis” was blowing through the English and Spanish top divisions, as well as the Italian league, and predicted a weak summer transfer market “with player swaps but very little money movement.”

ESPN Major League Soccer Update
March 19, 2009

With the 2009 Major League Soccer season kicking off tonight - New York Red Bulls at the Seattle Sounders FC - on ESPN2 at 9 p.m. ET, two of the network’s lead soccer analysts John Harkes and Alexi Lalas preview the season.  Tonight’s ESPN MLS Game of the Week telecast, originating live from Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash., will be the Sounders’ inaugural match.

Harkes, a former U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team captain, serves as game analyst for ESPN MLS Game of the Week.  Lalas, a former National Team player and former executive with three MLS teams, is entering his first full year as a studio analyst.

(Read full article…)

Watch the reds back in action in their first match of the year this Saturday night in Kansas City to take on the Wizards. This is the first game of many for Toronto FC this year right here on GolTV. Catch all the action Saturday, March 21st at 8:30 p.m. ET.

Be sure to catch a pair of German Bundesliga matches featuring Bayern Munich vs. Karlsruhe, live on Saturday, March 21st at 10:30 a.m. ET followed by Stuttgart vs. Hertha Berlin at 12:30 p.m. ET.

Tune in for three Spanish La Liga matches this weekend including Sevilla vs. Valladolid on Saturday, March 21st, live at 5:00 p.m. ET. And on Sunday, March 22, Real Madrid takes on Almeria, live at 12:00 p.m. ET followed by Mallorca vs. Atletico Madrid at 4:00 p.m.

The action doesn’t stop there. Check out the Brazil Paulista Championship match on Sunday, March 22 featuring Corinthians vs. Santos at 6:00 p.m. ET.

TORONTO, March 18, 2009 – Below is a list of soccer matches that will air live or on tape delay on GolTV from March 20 to March 27, 2009.

GolTV Match Schedule for March 20 to 27, 2009 *

Saturday, March 21st
Time                League            Match                                                   Coverage
10:30 AM          Germany           Bayern Munich vs. Karlsruhe       LIVE
12:30 PM          Germany           Stuttgart vs. Hertha Berlin                       DELAYED
2:30 PM            Uruguay            Peñarol vs. Defensor Sp.                        LIVE
5:00 PM            Spain                Sevilla vs. Valladolid                   LIVE
8:30 PM            MLS                 Toronto FC vs. Kansas City        LIVE

Sunday, March 22nd
Time                League            Match                                                   Coverage
12:00 PM          Spain                Real Madrid vs. Almeria              LIVE
4:00 PM            Spain                Mallorca vs. Atl.Madrid               LIVE
6:00 PM            Brazil                Corinthians vs. Santos                DELAYED

Fastest Growing All-Soccer Network Secures U.S. and Canada TV Rights for FC Barcelona and Real Madrid League Play through 2012

MIAMI - March 18, 2009 - GolTV, the only live bilingual channel delivering 24/7 international soccer, has inked a multi-year TV rights deal for the U.S. and Canada for Spain’s La Liga through 2012.  The country’s fastest growing all-soccer network has also secured four original shows offering in-depth coverage of La Liga’s 20 club teams throughout the season, including world-renowned clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid.

“GolTV is North America’s most popular all-soccer network and consistently delivers top audience ratings that speak to La Liga’s passionate fan base,” said Gerard Romy, Officer of Mediapro.  “As the only bilingual soccer TV network, GolTV is uniquely poised to deliver our world-class teams to both English and Spanish speaking viewers.”

Spain’s La Liga boasts several of the world’s strongest soccer club brands and powerhouse players like Eto’o, Raul, Cannavaro, Márquez, Henry and Messi.  GolTV has held TV rights to La Liga since 2003, where the league consistently delivers year-over-year stellar ratings.  When FC Barcelona and Real Madrid went head-to-head in “El Clasico”, GolTV scored the highest ratings of any TV sports network in the U.S. Hispanic market in December 2008 according to AC Nielsen.

“Frankly, La Liga features the biggest soccer stars in the world and its non-stop action is unmatched. These teams, including Real Madrid and Barcelona, deliver our highest-rated games,” said Enzo Francescoli, founder and CEO of GolTV.  “La Liga along with our other international leagues provide the ideal channel for soccer fans, where they can see the best matches played across every corner of the world.  We couldn’t be more pleased to renew our relationship.”

GolTV currently offers live and premiere coverage of the 2009 La Liga season, as well as the weekly program Ole! La Liga, which showcases the best highlights from the Spanish league and airs on Mondays at 7:30 p.m

An English-led group has declared an interest in taking over Premier League side West Ham United and plans to spend £100 million on the club.

According to the Observer, West Ham hope that settling their long running legal dispute with Sheffield United will facilitate the sale of the club to new investors. The club are believed to have agreed compensation of around £25 million to the over the illegal registration of player Carlos Tevez and Sheffield United’s subsequent relegation.

“We just continue the process we’ve been working on the last four months,” said Vice Chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson . “We’re engaged in conversation with 5 and 10 parties. We still don’t have any binding offers. There is a growing interest.”

West Ham says the club does not expect to change hands until the summer. The club’s owners won an extension of a moratorium that prevents banks from seizing its assets and forcing the sale of the club before the end of the season.

Hansa, the London club’s holding company, is controlled by Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, who was the majority shareholder of an Icelandic bank seized by government regulators. In November, the holding company applied to enter administration because of Gudmundsson’s financial troubles.