GOL TV
Encyclopedia
This article is about the American sports network. For the similarly named and themed network in Spain, see Gol Televisión
.
GOL TV is the first television network dedicated fully to soccer in the United States
. It is based in North Bay Village, Florida
and is owned by GOLTV Inc. The network broadcasts selected football matches of the Spanish League
, German Bundesliga
, Coppa Italia
, the Copa América
, and many leagues from South America
, such as the Colombia
and Brazil
leagues. GOL TV is a 100% bilingual channel, all programs on it are broadcast in both English
and Spanish
. Subscribers can get both audio feeds and choose which one to hear using the Secondary audio program (abbreviated as "SAP") feature on their television sets.
is its CEO and Managing Director.
and European Championship.
high definition simulcast of GOL TV that launched on August 1, 2010. DirecTV
added it on August 4, 2010. Time Warner Cable
in New York City added it on August 27, 2010.
Gol Televisión
This article is about the Spanish sports network. For the similarly named and themed network in the United States, see GOL TV.Gol Televisión commonly known as Gol T, is a Spanish sports pay tv network dedicated fully to football...
.
GOL TV is the first television network dedicated fully to soccer in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is based in North Bay Village, Florida
North Bay Village, Florida
North Bay Village is a city located in Miami-Dade County, Florida. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 6,733. As of 2010, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 7,137.North Bay Village is located at ....
and is owned by GOLTV Inc. The network broadcasts selected football matches of the Spanish League
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
, German Bundesliga
Fußball-Bundesliga
The Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
, Coppa Italia
Coppa Italia
The Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
, the Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
, and many leagues from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
, such as the Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
leagues. GOL TV is a 100% bilingual channel, all programs on it are broadcast in both English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. Subscribers can get both audio feeds and choose which one to hear using the Secondary audio program (abbreviated as "SAP") feature on their television sets.
Ownership
An independent company (C Corp of Florida, USA). Enzo FrancescoliEnzo Francescoli
Enzo Francescoli Uriarte is a former uruguayan football player of Italian and Spanish origin, who retired in 1997. An elegant and highly skillful dribbler, passer, and goal-scorer, Francescoli was nicknamed El Príncipe or Le Prince...
is its CEO and Managing Director.
Europe
- Spain Primera División (La LigaLa LigaThe Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
)
Contract with MEDIAPRO for all 380 matches each season plus highlights and magazine shows runs through 2011-2012 season. GolTV will usually air 2 or 3 matches each round. 3 matches each round (114 matches total) have been sublicensed to ESPN, Inc.. GolTV and ESPN, Inc. alternates picks each round, with one company having picks 1, 4 and 5 and the other company having picks 2, 3 and 6. 3 matches each round (114 matches total, usually picks 7, 8 and 9) have been sublicensed to DirecTV, Inc. in exchange for 45 UEFA Europa League matches from the Group Stage through the final. - Copa del ReyCopa del ReyThe Copa del Rey is an annual football cup competition for Spanish football teams. Its full name is Campeonato de España – Copa de Su Majestad el Rey de Fútbol ....
Contract with MEDIAPRO to matches from the 1st Leg of the Round of 32 through the 2nd Leg of the Semifinals. GolTV alternates "1st pick" with ESPN, Inc. for each round, with one company holding picks 2, 3, and 6 and the other company holding picks 1, 4, and 5. Contract with MEDIAPRO does NOT cover the final. A separate contract with Santa Monica Sports covers the 2011 Copa del Rey Final and the 2011 Supercopa. - German BundesligaFußball-BundesligaThe Fußball-Bundesliga is a professional association football league in Germany. At the top of Germany's football league system, it is the country's primary football competition. It is contested by 18 teams and operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the 2. Bundesliga...
Contract runs through 2014-2015 season. GolTV will usually air 1 or 2 matches each round. 2 matches each round have been sublicensed to ESPN, Inc. for Spanish-language telecast on ESPN DeportesESPN DeportesESPN Deportes is a cable television and radio network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day to the Spanish-speaking community in the United States...
and Internet streaming at ESPN3.com. GolTV and ESPN, Inc. alternates picks each round, with one company having picks 1 and 4 and the other company having picks 2 and 3. GolTV has the option to use the 5th pick to air a 3rd match. - Coppa ItaliaCoppa ItaliaThe Coppa Italia is an Italian football annual cup competition. Its first edition was held in 1922, but the second champions were not crowned until 1936. Roma and Juventus lead the way with nine wins. Roma has contested more finals, 16, while Torino and Juventus follow with 13...
Contract runs through 2011-2012 season for exclusive TV rights in English and Spanish, plus non-exclusive Internet streaming rights, to matches from the Round of 16 through the final. - AC Milan Channel
AC Milan matches in the Serie ASerie ASerie A , now called Serie A TIM due to sponsorship by Telecom Italia, is a professional league competition for football clubs located at the top of the Italian football league system and has been operating for over eighty years since 1929. It had been organized by Lega Calcio until 2010, but a new...
delayed to Tuesday afternoons at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific, and AC Milan matches in the UEFA Champions LeagueUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
delayed to Friday afternoons at 5pm Eastern/2pm Pacific. - UEFA Europa League
45 matches from the Group Stage through the final (including live coverage each match day through the semifinal round. The final will air via same-day tape delay.) Sublicensed from DirecTV, Inc. in exchange for 114 La Liga matches each season. Sublicense runs through 2011-2012 season. GolTV and DirecTV alternates "1st pick" in each time slot on each match day, with GolTV holding "1st pick" in both time slots on Group Stage Match Days 2, 4, and 5 and "2nd pick" in both time slots on Group Stage Match Days 1, 3, and 6. During the Round of 32, Round of 16, Quarterfinal, and Semifinals, DirecTV usually holds "1st pick" in both time slots for the 1st leg while GolTV holds the "1st pick" in both time slots for the 2nd leg.
South America
- ArgentinaArgentine Football AssociationThe Argentine Football Association is the governing body of football in Argentina. It organises the Argentine football league and the Argentina national football team. It is based in Buenos Aires...
- all league matches involving Boca JuniorsBoca JuniorsClub Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
and River PlateClub Atlético River PlateClub Atlético River Plate is an Argentine sports club based in the Nuñez neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently competes in Nacional B, the second tier of Argentine football....
through June 2014
- Campeonato BrasileiroCampeonato Brasileiro Série AThe Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
- São Paulo ChampionshipCampeonato PaulistaThe Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
- Colombian Professional Football
- Primera División UruguayaPrimera División UruguayaThe Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
Other matches
GOL TV broadcasts select international matches, including friendlies and qualifiers for the FIFA World CupFIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
and European Championship.
Other programs
- AC Milan Channel Report - A weekly magazine show featuring Italian club AC Milan that airs on Thursdays at 9pm US Eastern Time.
- GOAL! Bundesliga magazine - A weekly series that focuses on the lifestyles of the stars of the German Bundesliga, which airs on Thursdays at 9:30pm US Eastern Time.
- La Liga Report - A weekly series that previews the upcoming weekend in La Liga, which airs on Fridays at 7:30pm and 10:30pm US Eastern Time.
- GOLTV News - A daily newscast that airs twice each day and is devoted exclusively to soccer. It features goals, interviews, analysis and transfer news. It airs Monday through Friday at 7pm and 10pm US Eastern Time.
- FootBrazil - A weekly series that provides a recap and highlights of all the games from the Sao Paulo State Championship and the Brasileirão Serie A, as well as interviews with the biggest stars of Brazilian football. It airs on Wednesdays at 7:30pm and 10:30pm US Eastern Time.
- Hallo! Bundesliga - A weekly series that provides a recap and highlights of all the games from the Bundesliga in Germany. The program airs on Mondays at 7:30pm and 10:30pm US Eastern Time.
- La Liga 360 - A weekly highlights program covering all matches from the Spanish Primera Division. The program airs on Sundays at 9:00pm US Eastern Time.
Latest deals and growth
- On January 11, 2005, GOL TV Inc. reached a distribution agreement with DirecTVDirecTVDirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
to offer GOL TV and distribute it as part of the DirecTV Mas and the Sports Pack. Dish NetworkDish NetworkDish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
previously had satellite exclusivity.
- On July 21, 2005, Coca-ColaCoca-ColaCoca-Cola is a carbonated soft drink sold in stores, restaurants, and vending machines in more than 200 countries. It is produced by The Coca-Cola Company of Atlanta, Georgia, and is often referred to simply as Coke...
reached an agreement with GOL TV to promote not only its products but advertising channels as well. The new airing of 'Sabor a Gol' every Friday at 8:50pm and at 1:20am US eastern time is a weekly five minute segment showing goals from local and international leagues and tournaments from around the world that are sponsored by Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola deal comes after a similar deal with Volkswagen much earlier this year which resulted in the airing of a show called 'Volkswagen Gol'. 'Volkswagen Gol' was formerly called 'A Todo Gol'. After two years, GOL TV now has close to eight million viewers.
- In March 2007, SCP Worldwide announced that it had offered to buy 80% of GolTV for $200 million. The deal fell through, but SCP Worldwide and GolTV agreed to produce and distribute the first four rounds of South American FIFA World Cup 2010 qualifying2010 FIFA World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL)The South American zone of 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification saw 10 teams competing for places in the finals which were held in South Africa. The format is identical to that used for the previous three World Cup qualification tournaments held by CONMEBOL...
games. GolTV showed all 20 games on their own network, 4 live, and 16 premiered 48 hours later. All games were shown live on pay-per-view, broadband and cable.
- In August 2008, Dish NetworkDish NetworkDish Network Corporation is the second largest pay TV provider in the United States, providing direct broadcast satellite service—including satellite television, audio programming, and interactive television services—to 14.337 million commercial and residential customers in the United States. Dish...
permanently removed GOL TV from its programming because of alleged contract disputes. This gives DirecTVDirecTVDirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
satellite exclusivity to GOLTV.
GOL TV HD
GOL TV HD is a 1080i1080i
1080i is the shorthand name for a high-definition television mode. The i means interlaced video; 1080i differs from 1080p, in which the p stands for progressive scan. The term 1080i assumes a widescreen aspect ratio of 16:9, implying a frame size of 1920×1080 pixels...
high definition simulcast of GOL TV that launched on August 1, 2010. DirecTV
DirecTV
DirecTV is an American direct broadcast satellite service provider and broadcaster based in El Segundo, California. Its satellite service, launched on June 17, 1994, transmits digital satellite television and audio to households in the United States, Latin America, and the Anglophone Caribbean. ...
added it on August 4, 2010. Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable is an American cable television company that operates in 28 states and has 31 operating divisions...
in New York City added it on August 27, 2010.
Competitors
Channels with similar content include:- Fox Soccer and Fox Soccer PlusFox Soccer PlusFox Soccer Plus is an American premium channel dedicated to soccer and rugby. It was formed as a spin-off of Fox Soccer when its owner Fox Entertainment Group re-acquired rights from competitor Setanta Sports USA in January 2010, putting the latter channel out of business...
air mostly soccer but are only available in English. - Fox Deportes
- ESPN DeportesESPN DeportesESPN Deportes is a cable television and radio network dedicated to broadcasting sports-related programming 24 hours a day to the Spanish-speaking community in the United States...