Zero Sum Universe: Comcast Adds BeIN Sport's English-Language Feed, Drops GolTV

Comcast has “delivered on its promise to add beIN Sport's English-language feed to its cable systems,” but the move “has come at a cost: the nation's largest cable provider has dropped Gol TV,” according to Jonathan Tannenwald of the PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS. beIN Sport's English-language feed “took the slot previously occupied by Gol TV's standard definition English feed." The channel that was occupied by GolTV's Spanish-language feed "is now dark." beIN Sport is “only available on Comcast in standard definition.” No timeline was given “for the addition of HD feeds.” Comcast in a statement said, “Recently, GolTV lost its most popular programming -- La Liga, the top division of the Spanish soccer league -- which chose to give its games to beIN Sport.” Tannenwald wrote GolTV's "lack of carriage is a serious problem.” Tannenwald: “I suspect that it will now be very hard for Gol TV to secure advertisers, given its lack of exposure. We will see how long the network lasts, especially if another channel is able to win the next round of Bundesliga rights bidding” (PHILLY.com, 12/15).

JOINING THE TEAM: beIN Sport on Friday announced soccer announcer Kay Murray has joined the network. Murray initially will be part of the net’s pre- and post-game show “The Express" (beIN Sport).