Hey Fox Sports!
The football crowd in the Philippines has grown steadily in the last few years. Thanks in large part to the Men's National Team, the Philippine Azkals. Their phenomenal performance during the 2010 edition of the Southeast Asian Championship, The Suzuki Cup, thrust the sport into the common Filipino's consciousness.
Fox-Star Sports Asia announced last week the winners of a contest they were running to promote the Barclays Premiere League. The promo was sponsored by Thai beer brand Chang. The winners get to go England, join the Everton players in training, and watch a live match at Goodison park against the noisy neighbors, Manchester City. Surprisingly, all but one of the winners came from the Philippines! Further evidence that Filipinos are watching more football than usual. The beautiful game has finally set a foothold in the land where basketball reigns supreme.
Which now brings me to my rant. Not a few months back, I complained to Star Sports presenter, Renai Mattu about the rubbish programming we're getting here in the Philippines. It was a Saturday, and a number of marquee games were scheduled in the Premiere League. Manchester United, the noisy neighbors, and Chelsea were all playing that evening. But ESPN (renamed Fox Sports a few weeks back) decided to stick to its normal scheduled program of delayed telecast of an NBA game featuring the Hawks and the Rockets. They probably fell in love with that game, they showed it twice that evening. And to cap this joke with a punchline, they had a Super Sunday the following day that featured QPR vs Reading.
Tonight is dejavu night, I guess. Another full matchday schedule in the Premiere League. And what's scheduled on Fox Sports? NBA replays, same game, shown twice. Rubbish! I can't wait for tomorrow's punchline.
Fox-Star Sports Asia announced last week the winners of a contest they were running to promote the Barclays Premiere League. The promo was sponsored by Thai beer brand Chang. The winners get to go England, join the Everton players in training, and watch a live match at Goodison park against the noisy neighbors, Manchester City. Surprisingly, all but one of the winners came from the Philippines! Further evidence that Filipinos are watching more football than usual. The beautiful game has finally set a foothold in the land where basketball reigns supreme.
Which now brings me to my rant. Not a few months back, I complained to Star Sports presenter, Renai Mattu about the rubbish programming we're getting here in the Philippines. It was a Saturday, and a number of marquee games were scheduled in the Premiere League. Manchester United, the noisy neighbors, and Chelsea were all playing that evening. But ESPN (renamed Fox Sports a few weeks back) decided to stick to its normal scheduled program of delayed telecast of an NBA game featuring the Hawks and the Rockets. They probably fell in love with that game, they showed it twice that evening. And to cap this joke with a punchline, they had a Super Sunday the following day that featured QPR vs Reading.
Tonight is dejavu night, I guess. Another full matchday schedule in the Premiere League. And what's scheduled on Fox Sports? NBA replays, same game, shown twice. Rubbish! I can't wait for tomorrow's punchline.
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