When is the actual date for FSC HD availability?

[BadaBing1]

Anyone from verizon FiOS - please advise the actual date of Fox Soccer Channel HD availability date.

Or at least the aproximate date

Thanks

[lancers1]

Sure hoping we get this channel added and Plus as well before 4/21. There are some sports that will always be bigger than soccer in the USA but Golf and Tennis have very small audiences. Comical they added Tru for what amounted to a handful of NCAA tournament games. If the SD feed weren't so bad I wouldn't kick so much about it but it has to be the worst feed I have ever seen. 

[PsUMattDE]

Lancers-

As my previous post stated, rollout will begin before 4/21 - but FSC + is not on tap for right now...only FSC HD.

[kabloom123]

I'm encouraged by the posts about a late April launch for FSC HD but I want to know what the basis is for those claims?

[film111]

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@bobbo527 wrote:

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Sorry but I could NOT disagree with you more. Soccer is a lot more popular in the US than you obviously think. Sorry but I'd rather watch an EPL fixture in HD on FSC than waste a single second of my life watching the lame brained Kardashians or some other mind numbingly stupid reality show on E! The same with Tru Crap TV, now that the tourney is over that channel could go for all I care.

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While I agree with you regarding some of the bad programming out there, soccer is definitely not that popular in the U.S.  Nor is FSC, despite the very loud and numerous comments from fans. 

Some facts and numbers from From August 2010:

For the first 14 MLS games televised by ESPN2 this season, the average viewing audience is 251,000. And these are for games that are shown during mostly prime-time hours. The TV ratings are so bad that the WNBA has better ratings on ESPN2. Yes, the WNBA.

During the 2009-2010 Premier League season on ESPN2, all of the top ten highest rated games had higher ratings than the average ESPN2 rating for MLS of 251,000. And that doesn't even include the record breaking audience for a Premier League game on US television last season when 526,000 people watched the 4:30am PT/7:30am ET kick-off between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Meanwhile at Fox Soccer Channel, the TV ratings for Major League Soccer are even worse with an average of just 53,000 viewers per game. In comparison, the average viewing audience for the Premier League on Fox Soccer Channel was 90,000 as of the 2008-2009 season.

Based on viewing numbers such as these, it would be no surprise if Fox Soccer Channel decides not to renew its contract with Major League Soccer to broadcast games in the future, which ends at the end of this season. Versus has been in talks with Major League Soccer regarding picking up those rights. However, it's going to be tough for MLS to negotiate a decent TV rights fee when the ratings on Fox Soccer Channel have been so poor.

[crearian]

Nobody watches MLS. We watch; UEFA Champions League, English Premiere League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Premiera, German Bundesleguea.

[film111]

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@crearian wrote:

Nobody watches MLS. We watch; UEFA Champions League, English Premiere League, Italian Serie A, Spanish Premiera, German Bundesleguea. Please dont come in here and comment about football (soccer) if you dont know where its at.

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Well, if you read the article, the Premiere League average viewing audience on Fox Soccer Channel was 90,000 as of the 2008-2009 season.  If that were the viewership for any standard show on a cable network, that show would be cancelled after one or two episodes.

Fox Soccer Channel, perhaps wisely from a business perspective has decided to build its brand almost exclusively around English Football. Not European Football (even though the network now has UEFA Champions League rights) but around anything English. The network has made little outward effort to build the brand recognitions of Serie A, Argentine Football, WPS, USL, etc when compared to the Premier League.  Series A

continues to struggle on FSC (per The Kartik Reort). and the network has stated it has little interest in building the brands of WPL, USl, or even college soccer. 

As for commenting here (A) these are not MY comments (which is why they are in italics).  And (B)  This is a VERIZON board, and not a soccer board (some sites of which have sent many soccer fans here).  I'm quite pleased that soccer fans will soon have FSC.  But it is valid for others to comment as the addition of FSC may delay the addition of other higher-rated, more desirable (for others) channels.  In addition, FSC is expensive...and no one wants a rate hike just to appease soccer fans.  Hopefully, Verizon can avoid that...but if they can't, I'd hope that any increase would be directed at those who might wish to pay for the channel (I've heard that some providers actually charge an additional $10 or so for FSC, but I haven't tried to verify that.)

[crearian]

To tell the truth I only watch FSC when champions league is on. Because I can watch the league matches in HD on ESPN 360 on my XBOX. I find it very hard to watch non HD channels.

[Pippo2]

Even if the FSC picture quality is worst than what people used to watch in the 70s or 60s ... still 90.000 viewers for a EPL, Serie A or Champions league match is to low AND it must be a mistake.

Most of the people get DVR because of the soccer matches being played early in the morning on Saturday and Sunday or during working hours in the midweek ... so that's extra 15-20$ for Verizon.

There are way bigger reason to ADD the channels than not adding them.

I have already made my mind to cancel fios if they dont add FSC HD and maybe Gol HD or FSC+HD, by the time i can cancel it without paying a penalty ... in a couple of months.

PS this is disgrace for Verizon AND I am reluctant to even get a wireless contract with verizon because of this ... this shows that they are not leading the technology ... even Time warner has FSC HD, + HD and Gol HD ....

[film111]

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@Pippo wrote:

I have already made my mind to cancel fios if they dont add FSC HD and maybe Gol HD or FSC+HD, by the time i can cancel it without paying a penalty ... in a couple of months.

PS this is disgrace for Verizon AND I am reluctant to even get a wireless contract with verizon because of this ... this shows that they are not leading the technology ... even Time warner has FSC HD, + HD and Gol HD ....

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Then Time Warner is a disgrace for dropping HDNEt and  HDNet Movies. (Two FULL-TIME HD channels!)  Direct TV is a disgrace for not carrying AMC-HD (which must surely upset fans of MAD MEN, BREAKING BAD, etc.).    FIOS is certainly no disgrace just because they don't carry an expensive channel that has a low viewership...and they ARE going to be adding FSC this month. 

As for not getting their wireless service, the only person you are hurting is yourself.  I have one of their lowest speeds (15/2 mps) and it blows away anything I ever had with Comcast or DSL.  Yes, there is a channel or two that I'd like to see on FIOS...but I'm not going to cut off my nose to spite my face just because they are not carried as of yet.  What they DO have is provided  better than anyone else...and I'm happy with that.

[Tested]

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@film11 wrote:

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@bobbo527 wrote:

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Sorry but I could NOT disagree with you more. Soccer is a lot more popular in the US than you obviously think. Sorry but I'd rather watch an EPL fixture in HD on FSC than waste a single second of my life watching the lame brained Kardashians or some other mind numbingly stupid reality show on E! The same with Tru Crap TV, now that the tourney is over that channel could go for all I care.

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While I agree with you regarding some of the bad programming out there, soccer is definitely not that popular in the U.S.  Nor is FSC, despite the very loud and numerous comments from fans. 

Some facts and numbers from From August 2010:

For the first 14 MLS games televised by ESPN2 this season, the average viewing audience is 251,000. And these are for games that are shown during mostly prime-time hours. The TV ratings are so bad that the WNBA has better ratings on ESPN2. Yes, the WNBA.

During the 2009-2010 Premier League season on ESPN2, all of the top ten highest rated games had higher ratings than the average ESPN2 rating for MLS of 251,000. And that doesn't even include the record breaking audience for a Premier League game on US television last season when 526,000 people watched the 4:30am PT/7:30am ET kick-off between Manchester United and Chelsea.

Meanwhile at Fox Soccer Channel, the TV ratings for Major League Soccer are even worse with an average of just 53,000 viewers per game. In comparison, the average viewing audience for the Premier League on Fox Soccer Channel was 90,000 as of the 2008-2009 season.

Based on viewing numbers such as these, it would be no surprise if Fox Soccer Channel decides not to renew its contract with Major League Soccer to broadcast games in the future, which ends at the end of this season. Versus has been in talks with Major League Soccer regarding picking up those rights. However, it's going to be tough for MLS to negotiate a decent TV rights fee when the ratings on Fox Soccer Channel have been so poor.

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Let me try to put this in perspective for you:  Many local TV stations in the top 20 markets have far more viewers in prime time - just in their local market - than FSC has nationwide.   The game is just not a hit on TV in this country.  Many other sports have far bigger audiences.  It's for sure that many of the other cable networks Fios is considering have far better ratings than that and are therefore in much higher demand.

I'm not belittling soccer or even saying Fios shouldn't add FSC in HD.   I'm just saying that the facts show it's more logical for Fios to put other networks as a bigger priority.  It seems to me like FSC is probably next on the list to be added.  I hope that happens and I hope it happens before the assorted soccer seasons are over. 

[tamu_bu]

I am beaten down by the late arrival of HD for Fox Soccer.  Often, the resolution on FSC seems worse than standard. 

However, I am holding out hope.  At least in the DFW area, channel 577 is "off the air" but seems to be testing sports from within the Fox family.  They have been showing a mix of sports, but the other day it was the recent ManU game against Fulham - and the picture quality was surely HD.  Last night, I caught the Premier League Review Show in HD. 

Don't want to give too much hope though... I have seen other sports altogether on the channel including nascar.   But maybe, just maybe....

[PsUMattDE]

Tamu-

In your area (TX) - 577 is Fox Sports Southwest HD - that's what you're seeing.

FSC HD will be on 584 - beginning the week of 4/11 - it's getting closer!

[Ian81]

4/11? Where did you hear that from? I am not sure how official that is.

[film111]

Seems to be the scuttlebut.

[tomison1]

See post..

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Verizon-at-Home/MASN2-HD-Availability-Expands-on-FiOS-TV/ba-p/296915

[BrianC]

It's now showing up on 584 as of this morning in Tampa.  But it's not listed in the program guide yet.

[Ian81]

I can't wait for it to be available in Northern Virginia, would love confirmation from anyone in that area it comes! Will definitely be checking tonight when I get home!

[mdr227]

This is really ridiculous how long it takes to get FSC and other HD channels added.    I was told 3 months ago by FIOSTV on twitter that FSC was next to go to HD.  Now it's bumped back to 4th and who knows how much further down it will go or even when more HD capacity will be added.    By the time it is added all of the CL and EPL matches will be done for the year.    As many have said on this forum and twitter Verizon could really manage the expectations with a simple communication about an estimated timeline, even if they say 3rd quarter or another far off date. 

[lancers1]

Now FSC is in group 2 to become an HD channel? So wasn't this channel bumped off a prior group that became HD and now has been pushed back from the next group to the group after that? Don't know why Verizon is keeping the launch such a deep dark secret.

[spacedebris]

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@WillieFromTX wrote:

Can someone from Verizon give us an estimated date range?.

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The biggest problem is that this is a peer-to-peer forum. While there are a few employees that visit occasionally, there is no official presence here. Twitter seems to be where Verizon is putting out information. All you are going to get here, is those of us that have heard rumors.

[Keyboards]

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@spacedebris wrote:
Twitter seems to be where Verizon is putting out information. All you are going to get here, is those of us that have heard rumors.

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And all you'll get there is the marketing spin that Twitter Joe spews which is rarely accurate.