Fox will televise the first ever live EPL match "on free-to-air television" in the U.S. on Feb. 5, according to a source cited by EPLTALK.com. The Chelsea-Manchester United matchup "will be shown live on Super Bowl Sunday" at 10:30am ET. In addition, Fox will air three EPL matches on tape delay during the '11 NFL season: ManU-Chelsea on Sept. 18; Tottenham-Arsenal on Oct. 2; and Chelsea-Liverpool on Nov. 20. All three tape-delayed games "will air adjacent to live NFL games" starting either at 2:00pm or 4:30pm, "depending on local NFL/Fox programming." Previously, "the biggest Premier League match on Super Bowl Sunday had been shown" on Fox Soccer. February's Chelsea-Liverpool game was the "most-watched Fox Soccer broadcast of all time with 418,000 average viewers." Fox's coverage of a "live Premier League match on US television will give MLS and NBC some competition" (EPLTALK.com, 8/24). The Chelsea-ManU game reportedly airing on Fox is scheduled for Feb. 4, but could be moved to Feb. 5 to accommodate television coverage (THE DAILY).
KICKING IT UP A NOTCH: MULTICHANNEL NEWS' Mike Reynolds noted Fox Soccer reached a multiyear deal with UEFA to broadcast its Europa League tournament. The deal, financial terms of which were not disclosed, kicks in with the '12-13 season and extends through the '14-15 tournament. The exclusive contract makes Fox Soccer the "only network in the U.S. and the Caribbean to air both the top-flight UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League." DirecTV and Gol TV "currently hold Europa League rights, concluding with the end of this campaign" (MULTICHANNEL.com, 8/24).
