Footie For Me? For free?
May 4, 2010 11:39 AM Subscribe
Where can I watch live online streams of World Cup matches? Note: I am in Canada.
So I'm one of those people you've been reading about who have dropped my cable subscription in favor of using a number of online sources for my televised programming. However, the World Cup is fast approaching, and I'm considering getting the cable turned back on for the duration of the tournament.
I'd like to know if the matches are going to be streamed anywhere that I can easily access in Canada. Obviously, free streams would be preferred, but pay options will certainly be considered if no cost-free alternative exists.
I'm basically wondering if there will be anything like the CBC stream of the Olympic Hockey final, which I watched with ease by running an HDMI cable from my laptop to my television. Because that would be awesome.
So I'm one of those people you've been reading about who have dropped my cable subscription in favor of using a number of online sources for my televised programming. However, the World Cup is fast approaching, and I'm considering getting the cable turned back on for the duration of the tournament.
I'd like to know if the matches are going to be streamed anywhere that I can easily access in Canada. Obviously, free streams would be preferred, but pay options will certainly be considered if no cost-free alternative exists.
I'm basically wondering if there will be anything like the CBC stream of the Olympic Hockey final, which I watched with ease by running an HDMI cable from my laptop to my television. Because that would be awesome.
Response by poster: Yup, that pretty much completely answers my question.
posted by joelhunt at 12:05 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by joelhunt at 12:05 PM on May 4, 2010
I hope it's okay at this point to piggyback... What about in the US?
posted by cmoj at 3:40 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by cmoj at 3:40 PM on May 4, 2010
Fox Soccer Plus should have the full schedule of world cup fixtures, probably in a combination of live and delayed play. Between that (it is a premium subscription service, approximately $15/month on Dish Network, Direct TV and FiosTV, not certain of availability on comcast) and the non premium sub Fox Soccer Channel we should be covered. Fox Soccer Plus replaced Setanta Sports in the US market after Setanta pulled out in March '10. I was worried at first (I subscribe primarily to keep up with my southern hemisphere rugby fix) about programming when the switch happened, but FSP actually has kept their promise of lots of Rugby content, and the feeds are of much better quality (some in HD). Their football coverage is top shelf as well, so I have no worries about the World Cup. Hope this helps.
posted by chosemerveilleux at 5:28 PM on May 4, 2010
posted by chosemerveilleux at 5:28 PM on May 4, 2010
Fox Soccer Plus should have the full schedule of world cup fixtures
ESPN/ABC has those rights, and ESPN3 will be streaming.
posted by holgate at 6:09 PM on May 4, 2010
ESPN/ABC has those rights, and ESPN3 will be streaming.
posted by holgate at 6:09 PM on May 4, 2010
ESPN/ABC has those rights, and ESPN3 will be streaming
Let us hope that they don't muck it up with loads of commercials breaking up game play. There were few things more pitiful than ESPN/ABC's televising of some of the matches from the last Rugby World Cup. Luckily for that Setanta aired every match, and did so with advertising breaks only at the half time of each. Hopefully ABC has learned that neither rugby nor football plays in a way that works well with loads of commercials suited to the on again/off again play of baseball, basketball and the NFL. But I won't hold my breath.
posted by chosemerveilleux at 7:41 PM on May 4, 2010
Let us hope that they don't muck it up with loads of commercials breaking up game play. There were few things more pitiful than ESPN/ABC's televising of some of the matches from the last Rugby World Cup. Luckily for that Setanta aired every match, and did so with advertising breaks only at the half time of each. Hopefully ABC has learned that neither rugby nor football plays in a way that works well with loads of commercials suited to the on again/off again play of baseball, basketball and the NFL. But I won't hold my breath.
posted by chosemerveilleux at 7:41 PM on May 4, 2010
Let us hope that they don't muck it up with loads of commercials breaking up game play.
If Germany '06 and Euro 2008 is any guide, then it'll be lots of commercials pre-match, half-time and post-match, and very little analysis, which is annoying, but nothing too intrusive during the match. Here's the schedule, with news that the entire coverage will be hosted from South Africa (good); there'll be a proper framing for the matches (we'll see) and that Martin Tyler has been borrowed from Sky (which has no World Cup rights) to lead commentary (good). If it's on ESPN/ESPN2, it'll be streamed; the ABC matches are, obviously, available over the air.
(Andy Gray's with FSC for the tournament, doing studio segments, but he's going to be dining on gruel.)
posted by holgate at 9:12 PM on May 4, 2010
If Germany '06 and Euro 2008 is any guide, then it'll be lots of commercials pre-match, half-time and post-match, and very little analysis, which is annoying, but nothing too intrusive during the match. Here's the schedule, with news that the entire coverage will be hosted from South Africa (good); there'll be a proper framing for the matches (we'll see) and that Martin Tyler has been borrowed from Sky (which has no World Cup rights) to lead commentary (good). If it's on ESPN/ESPN2, it'll be streamed; the ABC matches are, obviously, available over the air.
(Andy Gray's with FSC for the tournament, doing studio segments, but he's going to be dining on gruel.)
posted by holgate at 9:12 PM on May 4, 2010
Response by poster: Just a follow up for interesated parties.. here is a link to a Lifehacker post that has a pretty comprehensive round-up of streaming World Cup sources.
posted by joelhunt at 6:35 AM on June 10, 2010
posted by joelhunt at 6:35 AM on June 10, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
"Between June 11 and July 11, 2010 watch every game streamed LIVE on CBCSports.ca"
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/fifaworldcup/
posted by urbanlenny at 11:43 AM on May 4, 2010 [1 favorite]