SPORTS ON EARTH's Will Leitch wrote soccer is a sport that ESPN "lets breathe," and "much of this" is due to Bob Ley. The longtime ESPN voice "is one of the two original ESPN anchors still on the network ... and every time he's on screen, he's a reminder of why everyone was so excited that they had created a 24-hour sports network." He "is smart and funny and light and yet still has appropriate gravitas." Just by "showing up, Ley elevates the proceedings." Meanwhile, when you are "in the hands of an excellent soccer broadcaster like Jon Champion, it's pleasurable simply just to listen" (SPORTSONEARTH.com, 5/28).
LANDIN' LANDON: SI.com's Richard Deitsch wrote Galaxy F Landon Donovan "would be a huge get for either ESPN or Fox" for the upcoming FIFA World Cup. Donovan "spent time in the Fox studio previously, and a post-career in broadcasting is always a possibility for someone of his standing." ESPN Senior VP & Exec Producer Jed Drake said, "We have assembled a world-class team of soccer experts for the World Cup in Brazil and we'd be interested in including Landon in that mix." A Fox Sports spokesperson: "We've been fans of Landon for a long time. We've enjoyed working with him in the past and would be supportive of whatever he decides to do in the future" (SI.com, 5/26).
JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON: VARIETY's Brian Steinberg noted cable network Fusion will take its weekly "Soccer Gods" program, typically aired at 10:00pm ET on Mondays, and "make it a regular part of its primetime lineup seven nights a week while the World Cup is in play." It "will have reporters on the ground to cover developments." The net "will pre-empt" its regular 10:00pm programming on 33 nights and "turn its air over to Nando Vila and Simon Carr, the regular 'Soccer Gods' hosts." For Fusion, the World Cup coverage "gives the network, which launched last fall, an opportunity to grab World Cup fans and perhaps convert them to watch other parts of its programming day" (VARIETY.com, 5/27).
NWSL GETS DEAL: The AP noted ESPN "will broadcast nine games of the National Women's Soccer League this season as part of a one-year deal." Three regular-season games "will be on ESPN2," as well as two playoff semifinals and the league championship on Aug. 31. Three additional matches "will be streamed" on ESPN3 and the WatchESPN app (AP, 5/28).
