GOL TV

'GOLTV' is the first television network dedicated fully to football (soccer) 24/7 in the United States.
GOLTV is based in North Bay Village, Florida and is owned by GOLTV Inc. The network covers a wide range of football matches all over the world, including the Spanish League, German League, Brazilian League, and many leagues from South America and Central America. GOLTV is broadcast in both English and Spanish Language. Many subscribers can get both audios and choose which one to hear using the Secondary audio program (abbreviated as "SAP") feature on their television sets.

Contents

The Foundation

Programming

Europe

South America

Central America

Other matches

Other programs

Latest deals and growth

Rival Channels

References

See also

External links

The Foundation

Officially launched in February 2003, GOLTV was founded by two respected former professional football people who together also own a Montevideo, (Uruguay)-based broadcasting corporation called Tenfield which holds the commercial rights to the Primera División Uruguaya and internationally represents several television networks as well as 300 European and South American soccer stars. Tenfield was founded in 1998 as Tenfield SA and is the parent company of GOLTV.
The two founders are Francisco Casal, and Enzo Francescoli. Francisco Casal is the President, who with more than twenty years of experience managing the careers of over a hundred soccer stars from all over the world, founded GOLTV. Enzo Francescoli is the CEO and Managing Director who is another former player who is still respected and admired to this day. Enzo Francescoli had a great career starting at Wanderers in his native country of Uruguay to Argentina, France, Italy and back to Argentina winning league titles in Argentina, France as well as the Copa América and Copa Libertadores de América. Nicknamed "El Principe", Pelé named him one of FIFA'a 100 greatest players of all time. As Vice-President and Managing Director, Francescoli oversees the channel's day-to-day operations and growth.

Programming

GolTV broadcasts the matches of several leagues from Europe, South America and Central America, as well as special programming.

Europe

★ Spanish Primera Division (La Liga) - contract runs through 2008-2009 season. GolTV has sublicensed a "1st choice" match each week to Voom HD Networks for live exclusive broadcast on World Sport HD, except for those between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, which air live on both channels. Phil Schoen and Ray Hudson provide English-language commentary remotely from GolTV's Florida studio.

★ German Bundesliga and German League Cup - contract runs through 2008-2009 season

South America

★ Dimayor of Colombia

★ Campeonato of Uruguay

★ Copa America 2007 (coverage in English ONLY)

Central America

★ Liga Mayor of El Salvador

★ Liga Nacional of Guatemala - Comunicaciones and Municipal home games

★ League of Honduras - Marathon home games

Other matches

GolTV broadcasts select international matches, including friendlies and qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup, European Championship, and UEFA Champions League.

Other programs

★ ''Sacachispas'' - Chronicles the experiences of the devoted fans of the Argentinian club, including violent encounters with rival fans.

★ ''45/45'' - Debate show that airs Fridays at 8pm US eastern time (note new day and time for 2007-2008 season) with analysis by experts Sammy Sadovnik, Ricardo Ortiz, Oscar Restrepo and special appearances by Omar Fuentes and Omar Orlando Salazar.

★ ''American Soccer'' - A show that reviews what's happening in soccer in the United States from the World Cup to youth soccer. American Soccer covers all levels of soccer with weekly updates from Major League Soccer, USL First Division and the growing number of US players abroad. The show is hosted by veteran soccer announcer Phil Schoen with Ray Hudson, Lindsey Dean, and Kelly O'Donnell who provide analysis, debate, discussion and interviews that airs Wednesdays at 8pm US Eastern Time.

★ ''Mexico, Lindo, y Futbol'' - A weekly Mexican Futbol "lifestyle" magazine show which airs on Thursdays at 8pm US Eastern Time (note new day and time for 2007-2008 season).

★ ''FIFA Futbol Mundial'' - An in-depth weekly magazine show that features mini documentaries, interviews and human interest stories that highlights the most significant and current happenings from the world of soccer. Airs Fridays at 6:30pm US Eastern Time. (note new time for 2007-2008 season.)

★ ''GolTV News'' - Daily newscast that airs twice each day that is devoted exclusively to Soccer. With all the goals, exclusive interviews, analysis and transfer news. Mondays-Fridays at 7pm and 11pm US Eastern Time and Saturdays-Sundays at 10pm US Eastern Time (starting August 25, 2007)

★ ''Ole, La Liga'' - A weekly series that provides a re-cap and highlights of all the games from La Liga in Spain, airs Mondays at 8pm US Eastern Time.

★ ''Hallo Bundesliga'' - A weekly series that provides a recap and highlights of all the games from the Bundesliga in Germany, airs on Tuesdays at 8pm US Eastern Time.

Latest deals and growth

★ On September 16 of 2004, GOL TV Inc. reached a 3-year agreement with the United States Soccer Federation to televise the US Open Cup final for 2004-2006. The agreement was terminated after the 2005 season, as the US Open Cup final will air on FOX Soccer Channel starting with the 2006 season.

★ On January 11 of 2005, GOL TV Inc. reached a distribution agreement with DIRECTV to offer GOL TV and distribute it as part of the DIRECTV PARA TODOS and the DIRECTV SPORTS packages.

★ On June 21 of 2005, GOL TV renewed its deal to broadcast the Italian 'Serie A' as well as the Brazilian League. (Both deals have ended as of May 2007 and will not be renewed.)

★ On July 21 of 2005, Coca-Cola reached an agreement with GOL TV to promote not only its product but advertising channels as well. The new airing of 'Sabor a Gol' every Friday at 8:50pm and at 1:20am US eastern time is a weekly five minute segment showing goals from local and international leagues and tournaments from around the world that are sponsored by Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola deal comes after a similar deal with Volkswagen much earlier this year which resulted in the airing of a show called 'Volkswagen Gol'. 'Volkswagen Gol' was formally called 'A Todo Gol'. After two years, GOL TV now has close to eight million viewers.

★ In March 2007, SCP Worldwide announced that it had offered to 80% of GolTV for $200 milion. SCP kicks in coin for soccer's GolTV John Dempsey

Rival Channels

★ Fox Soccer Channel

★ Setanta Sports North America

References

★ Gol TV Celebrates First Anniversary

★ "http://www.pressi.com/int/printable/75212.html"

★ "http://www.pressi.com/int/printable/59034.html"

See also

★ 'GolTV Canada'

★ List of DirecTV channels

★ List of Dish Network channels

External links

★ Official Site

★ Gol TV Canada

★ Gol TV Latinoamérica

★ EPL Talk Video Podcast featuring GolTV and American Soccer