The UEFA European Football Championship,[1] commonly known as the UEFA European Championship and informally as the Euros, is the primary football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), determining the continental champion of Europe. Held every four years since 1960, in the even-numbered year between World Cup tournaments, it was originally called the European Nations' Cup, changing to the current name in 1968.

History

Setanta Sports (2000–2004)

See also: Fox_Soccer_Plus § Soccer_2, Soccer on Fox Sports, UEFA Euro 2000 broadcasting rights, and UEFA Euro 2004 broadcasting rights

Coverage of the 2000 Euros was only available to Americans via pay-per-view. More specifically, via closed-circuit television, DirecTV, the DISH Network, and iNDemand cable pay-per-view. Viewers had the option of paying $20 per match, or $149 for the entire tournament.[2] Setanta also charged bars $3,000[3] for the privilege to carry their coverage. This often meant a $20 cover charge. Fox Sports World did however, offer the rebroadcasts of games on a week-long delay.

Pay-per-view was still the primary option come the 2004 Euros. This time, the price for the entire tournament was worth $179 while the price for bars rose to $4,000. Five live games were however, broadcast on Fox Sports World and Fox Sports Espanol. All quarters and semis would be broadcast on a five-day tape delay, with the final airing on a three-day delay. According to Setanta CEO Michael O'Rourke, they we offered the events to ESPN and Fox Sports Net. Setanta even offered to pay them to put it on, but there just was no appetite.

ESPN/ABC (2008–2020)

Main articles: Soccer on ESPN/ABC, UEFA Euro 2008 broadcasting rights, UEFA Euro 2012 broadcasting rights, UEFA Euro 2016 broadcasting rights, and UEFA Euro 2020 broadcasting rights

ESPN first aired the UEFA Euros in 2008 after reached an agreement with UEFA in December 2006.[4] With UEFA wanting the reverberations of the Euros to reach an international audience, ESPN decided to broadcast all matches live and online in 2008. After receiving good reaction from viewers, ESPN and UEFA continued to work by becoming official broadcasters of 2012, 2016 and 2020 tournament.

Distribution of match broadcasts

Fox Sports (2024–present)

In 2021, Fox Sports outbid ESPN for the rights of Euro 2024 and Euro 2028.[11]

On-air talent

Year Networks Play-by-play Color commentator(s) Reporters Studio host(s) Studio analyst(s)
2020[10][12] ESPN
ESPN2
ABC[13] 		Ian Darke
Jon Champion
Derek Rae
Steve Cangialosi
Mark Donaldson 		Stewart Robson
Taylor Twellman
Efan Ekoku
Alejandro Moreno
Matteo Bonetti 		Sam Borden
Martin Ainstein
Archie Rhind-Tutt
Alexis Nunes 		Rece Davis[14][15][16]
Kelly Cates
Kay Murray
Sebastian Salazar
Dalen Cuff 		Steve McManaman, Alessandro Del Piero, Julie Foudy, Tim Howard, Chris Coleman, Sami Khedira, Frank Leboeuf, Nedum Onuoha, Kasey Keller, Craig Burley, Christian Fuchs, Luis García, Taylor Twellman, Efan Ekoku, Alejandro Moreno, Matteo Bonetti, and Mark Clattenburg (Rules)[17]
2016 ESPN
ESPN2 		Ian Darke
Jon Champion
Derek Rae
Adrian Healey
Mark Donaldson
Max Bretos 		Taylor Twellman
Steve McManaman
Stewart Robson
Tommy Smyth
Alejandro Moreno
Kate Markgraf
Paul Mariner 		Jeremy Schaap
Marty Smith
Alison Bender 		Steve Bower
Mike Tirico
Bob Ley 		Craig Burley, Michael Ballack, Santiago Solari, Vincent Kompany,[18] Steve McManaman, Taylor Twellman, Julie Foudy, Roberto Martínez, Frank Leboeuf, and Kasey Keller
2012 Ian Darke
Adrian Healey
Derek Rae 		Steve McManaman
Robbie Mustoe
Kasey Keller
Taylor Twellman 		Alicia Ferguson
Darrell Currie 		Bob Ley
Max Bretos
Rebecca Lowe 		Michael Ballack, Alexi Lalas, Kasey Keller, Tommy Smyth, Taylor Twellman, Glenn Hoddle, and Roberto Martínez
2008[5] ESPN
ESPN2
ABC[6][7] 		Adrian Healey
Derek Rae 		Andy Gray
Robbie Mustoe
Tommy Smyth 		Pedro Gomez Rece Davis
Rob Stone 		Julie Foudy, Alexi Lalas, Andy Gray, and Tommy Smyth

Notes

Spanish-language television

Euro 2012

ESPN Deportes giving comprehensive coverage of the event with more than 6.5 live hours daily with 27 matches is shown live, and 4 tape-delayed matches (due to simultaneous group stage matches on last matchday). Jorge Ramos and Hernan Pereyra led the broadcast teams with the other is included: Fernando Palomo and Rafa Puente, and Ricardo Ortiz and José Antonio Noriega. José Ramón Fernández hosted studio coverage with analysts Andres Agulla, Jose Hernandez, Mario Kempes, Richard Mendez, Noriega, and Barak Fever. Reporters included Martin Ainstein, Vito De Palma, Alex de la Rosa.

Euro 2016

ESPN Deportes airing 45 matches live, and six matches were tape-delayed (due to simultaneous group stage matches on last matchday). Fernando Palomo and José Antonio Noriega was the lead broadcast team. Other play-by-play announcers were: Ricardo Ortiz, Omar Orlando Salazar and Emilio Fernando Alonso. Color commentators: Mario Kempes, Roberto Gomez Junco, Ricardo Mayorga and Hernan Pereyra. Jorge Ramos leads studio coverage while Andres Agulla, Carolina Guillen and Tony Cherchi also presenting. Studio analysts were: Kempes, Mauro Camoranesi, Barak Fever, Richard Mendez, Ortiz, Alex Pareja, Pereyra, Rafael Puente del Rio and Jose del Valle. Martin Ainstein and Manu Martin are the reporters.

Euro 2020

This event marked a new era for Spanish language broadcasts with Univision being selected as the official broadcaster. 40 matches will be broadcast and streamed on PrendeTV, Univision's newly launched, ad-supported streaming service with the remaining 11 matches will airing on Univision and TUDN including the Turkey vs. Italy opening game at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, both semifinals, and the final. Coverage is led by presenters Adriana Monsalve, Lindsay Casinelli, and Alejandro Berry who joined by numerous commentators, such as play-by-play Luis Omar Tapia, Paco Villa, José Luis López Salido, and José Hernández, and color commentators: Diego Balado, Iván Zamorano, Hristo Stoichkov, Tony Cherchi, Marc Crosas and Hugo Salcedo. Also contributing as studio analysts and co-commentators is former players Carles Puyol, Mauro Camoranesi, and Javier Zanetti. Daniel Chanona and Cristina Romero reporting on location from Europe.[21]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Regulations of the UEFA European Football Championship 2018–20". UEFA.com. Union of European Football Associations. March 9, 2018. Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
  2. ^ "DISH Network Satellite TV offers Euro 2000 three-week soccer tournament on pay-per-view". Business Wire. June 7, 2000. Archived from the original on March 5, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  3. ^ Penner, Mike (June 1, 2000). "Euro 2000 Options Limited". Los Angeles Times.
  4. ^ Welsh, James (December 11, 2006). "Euro 2008 matches to air on ABC, ESPN". Digital Spy. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  5. ^ a b Barbaro, Nick (June 4, 2008). "Euro 2008 Around the Corner". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "MLS Sunday Preview: D.C. United - L.A. Galaxy | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Euro 2008 Final: Spain vs. Germany (Your Running Commentary)". SBI Soccer. June 29, 2008. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  8. ^ "ESPN Inc. at UEFA EURO 2012". ESPN Press Room U.S. June 7, 2012. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  9. ^ "ESPN Inc. at UEFA EURO 2016". ESPN Press Room U.S. June 10, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "ESPN Networks and ABC to Present All 51 Matches of UEFA European Football Championship 2020, June 11 – July 11". ESPN Press Room U.S. May 24, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  11. ^ "FOX Sports Scores Media Rights to UEFA European Championship in Landmark Deal". foxsports.com/presspass. Fox Sports. November 3, 2021. Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  12. ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 3, 2019). "European Soccer Championships Returning To U.S. Network TV In 2020". Deadline. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  13. ^ "ABC to broadcast five Euro 2020 matches". SportBusiness Media. December 4, 2019. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  14. ^ "ESPN Re-Signs Veteran Studio Host and Play-by-Play Commentator Rece Davis". ESPN Press Room U.S. March 1, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  15. ^ "ESPN re-signs Rece Davis as 'College GameDay' host". AP NEWS. April 21, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  16. ^ "ESPN re-signs Rece Davis as 'College GameDay' host". USA TODAY. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  17. ^ "ESPN Assembles an All-Star Roster of Hosts, Analysts and Reporters for UEFA EURO 2020, June 11 – July 11". ESPN Press Room U.S. May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 28, 2021.
  18. ^ "Vincent Kompany Joins ESPN for UEFA EURO 2016; ESPN and ESPN Deportes Commentator Assignments". ESPN Press Room U.S. June 7, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  19. ^ Hipes, Patrick (June 8, 2016). "ESPN To Air Muhammad Ali Funeral Live". Deadline. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  20. ^ "UEFA EURO 2016 Programming Update: France vs. Romania Opener Moved to ESPN2". ESPN Press Room U.S. June 8, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  21. ^ "Univision's TUDN Unveils Multi-Platform Coverage for UEFA EURO 2020". Univision. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2021.

External links

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